Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Corp. (PW) JT9D-7R4H1 Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 238 (Monday, December 12, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77107-77108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31342]



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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 238 / Monday, December 12, 2011 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 77107]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0731; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-39-AD; 
Amendment 39-16886; AD 2011-25-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Corp. (PW) JT9D-7R4H1 
Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all PW 
JT9D-7R4H1 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks 
in five high-pressure compressor (HPC) shafts. This AD requires 
removing certain HPC shafts before their certified life limits and 
establishes a new, lower life-limit for these parts. We are issuing 
this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt 
& Whitney, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108; phone: (860) 565-
1605. You may review copies of the referenced service information at 
the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (781) 238-7125.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (phone: (800) 647-5527) is Document Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen K. Sheely, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7750; fax: (781) 238-7199; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 13, 2011 (76 FR 
41144). That NPRM proposed to require:
    <bullet> For HPC shafts that have more than 4,500 cycles-since-new 
(CSN) on the effective date of this AD, removing the HPC shaft from 
service within 500 cycles-in-service (CIS) after the effective date of 
this AD or at the next shop visit after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs first.
    <bullet> For HPC shafts that have 4,500 or fewer CSN on the 
effective date of this AD, removing the HPC shaft from service before 
exceeding 5,000 CSN.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal 
and the FAA's response to this comment.

Request To Clarify Exemption for JT9D-7R4E1 and JT9D-7R4E1H Engine 
Models

    One commenter, FedEx Express, requested that the FAA clearly state 
the exemption of JT9D-7R4E1 and -7R4E1H engine models from this 
requirement.
    We partially agree. We do not agree that it is necessary to 
specifically exempt the JT9D-7R4E1 and -7R4E1H engine models because 
the Applicability paragraph clearly states that this AD applies only to 
the PW JT9D-7R4H1 turbofan engine model. All other models (including 
the JT9D-7R4E1 and -7R4E1H models) are automatically excluded from the 
compliance requirements. However, we do agree that the installation 
prohibition statement could be misinterpreted to go beyond the scope of 
the AD applicability. Therefore, we revised this AD by adding ``JT9D-
7R4H1'' to paragraph (i)(2).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD with the changes described previously and minor editorial changes. 
We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (76 FR 41144, July 13, 2011) for correcting the unsafe condition; 
and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (76 FR 41144, July 13, 2011).
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD does not affect any engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

[[Page 77108]]

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2011-25-10 Pratt & Whitney Corp: Amendment 39-16886; Docket No. FAA-
2011-0731; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-39-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective January 17, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    Pratt & Whitney Corp (PW) JT9D-7R4H1 turbofan engines with a 
high-pressure compressor (HPC) shaft, part number (P/N) 808070 or 
808071, installed.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of cracks in five HPC shafts. We 
are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these 
products.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(f) Engines With an HPC Shaft, P/N 808071, That Has More Than 4,500 
Cycles-Since-New (CSN)

    For engines with an HPC shaft, P/N 808071, that has more than 
4,500 CSN on the effective date of this AD, remove the HPC shaft 
from service within 500 cycles-in-service (CIS) after the effective 
date of the AD or at piece-part exposure, whichever occurs first.

(g) Engines With an HPC Shaft, P/N 808071, That Has 4,500 or Fewer CSN

    For engines with an HPC shaft, P/N 808071, that has 4,500 or 
fewer CSN on the effective date of this AD, remove the HPC shaft 
from service before exceeding 5,000 CSN.

(h) Engines With an HPC Shaft, P/N 808070, Removal From Service

    For engines with an HPC shaft, P/N 808070, remove the HPC shaft, 
P/N 808070, from service before exceeding 1,200 CSN.

(i) Installation Prohibition

    (1) After the effective date of this AD, do not install or 
reinstall into any engine any HPC shaft removed in accordance with 
paragraphs (f), (g), or (h) of this AD.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install or 
reinstall into any JT9D-7R4H1 engine:
    (i) Any HPC shaft, P/N 808071, that is at piece-part exposure 
and exceeds the new lower life limit of 5,000 CSN, or
    (ii) Any HPC shaft, P/N 808070, that is at piece-part exposure 
and exceeds the new lower life limit of 1,200 CSN.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the authority 
to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures 
found in 14 CFR 39.19.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Stephen K. Sheely, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7750; fax: 
(781) 238-7199; email: [email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, MA, on November 29, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-31342 Filed 12-9-11; 8:45 am]
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