Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51695-51697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21008]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0945; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-18-AD; 
Amendment 39-17161; AD 2012-16-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-20R, -20AR, -20BR, -40, -40AR, -
40R, -50R, and -60 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by a report 
of a quality escape of about 8,000 2nd stage low-pressure turbine 
(LPT2) rotor blades, manufactured by Honeywell Chihuahua Manufacturing 
Operation since 2009. This AD requires removing and inspecting certain 
LPT2 rotor blades. We are issuing this AD to correct an unsafe 
condition caused by these blades installed on these engines.

DATES: This AD is effective October 1, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of October 1, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Honeywell International Inc., 111 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-
2802; Web site: http://portal.honeywell.com; or call Honeywell toll 
free at phone: 800-601-3099 (U.S./Canada) or 602-365-3099 
(International Direct).
    You may view this 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: Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-
627-5246; fax: 562-627-5210; 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 January 9, 2012 (77 FR 
1043). That NPRM proposed to require removing and inspecting certain 
LPT2 rotor blades.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM.

[[Page 51696]]

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 3,000 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 
work-hour per engine to perform the record review, and that the average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. For an estimated 500 engines with 
discrepant blades, blade rework cost was estimated at $2,380 per engine 
with a replacement parts cost about $1,100 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be 
$1,430,100.

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.

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):

2012-16-14 Honeywell International Inc. (Formerly Allied Signal Inc. 
and Garrett Turbine Engine Company): Amendment 39-17161; Docket No. 
FAA-2011-0945; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-18-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective October 1, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    (1) This AD applies to Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-20R, 
-20AR, -20BR, -40, -40AR, -40R, -50R, and -60 turbofan engines:
    (i) With an engine model number and serial number (S/N) listed 
in Table 4 of Honeywell Service Bulletin (SB) TFE731-72-5221, 
Revision 0, dated November 11, 2010, or
    (ii) With 2nd stage low-pressure turbine (LPT2) rotor assembly 
part numbers (P/Ns) 3060608-2, 3060608-3, or 3060608-5 that had any 
LPT2 rotor blades P/N 3075424-2 replaced between March 2009 and 
September 2010, inclusive, or that had any LPT2 rotor blades P/N 
3075424-3 replaced between July 2010 and September 2010, inclusive.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of a quality escape of about 
8,000 LPT2 rotor blades, manufactured by Honeywell Chihuahua 
Manufacturing Operation since 2009. During LPT rotor acceleration, 
these blades may contact and damage the 3rd stage LPT (LPT3) nozzle 
seal carrier that may subsequently fatigue and contact the adjacent 
rotor and damage the rotor. Also, these blades could deform the 
blade retainers, which could lead to blade movement that may cause 
rotor damage. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition 
caused by these blades installed on these engines.

(e) Compliance

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

(f) Remove LPT2 Rotor Blades

    (1) At the next major periodic inspection, not to exceed 3,000 
hours time-since-new, or within 5 years after the effective date of 
this AD, or at the next access, whichever occurs first, do the 
following using Section 3.0, Accomplishment Instructions, of 
Honeywell SB TFE731-72-5221, Revision 0, dated November 11, 2010:
    (i) Remove any suspect LPT2 rotor blades from service.
    (ii) Inspect suspect LPT2 rotor blades.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Los Angeles Certification Office, FAA, may approve 
AMOCs to this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make 
your request.

(h) Definition

    For purposes of this AD, next access is defined as when the LPT 
module is disassembled.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Joseph Costa, 
Aerospace Engineer, Los Angles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 
90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5246; fax: 562-627-5210; email: 
[email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Honeywell SB TFE731-72-5221, Revision 0, dated November 11, 
2010.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Honeywell International Inc. service information 
identified in this AD, contact Honeywell International Inc., 111 S. 
34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-2802; Web site: http://portal.honeywell.com; or call Honeywell toll free at phone: 800-601-
3099 (U.S./Canada) or 602-365-3099 (International Direct).
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 781-238-7125.
    (5) You may view this service information at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: 
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.


[[Page 51697]]


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 6, 2012.
Mark C. Fulmer,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21008 Filed 8-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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