Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6666-6667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2893]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0946; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-02-AD; 
Amendment 39-16926; AD 2012-02-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. 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 certain 
CFM International, S.A. model CFM56-5B series turbofan engines. This AD 
was prompted by a normal quality sampling at CFM International, S.A. 
that isolated a production batch of fan blades with nonconforming 
geometry of mid-span shroud tips of the fan blades. This AD requires 
removing from service certain serial number (S/N) fan blades. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent an inflight shutdown (IFSD) of one or more 
engines following foreign object damage (FOD) or a bird strike.

DATES: This AD is effective March 15, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of March 15, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact CFM 
International, Inc., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D 
Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; International Phone: 1-(513) 552-3272; 
USA Phone: (877) 432-3272; International Fax: 1-(513) 552-3329; USA 
Fax: (877) 432-3329; email: [email protected]; or CFM International S.A., 
Customer Support Center, International Phone: 33 1 64 14 88 66; Fax: 33 
1 64 79 85 55; email: [email protected]. You may review copies of 
the referenced service information at the 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.

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: Martin Adler, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-
7157; 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 October 18, 2011 (76 FR 
64293). That NPRM proposed to require removing from service within 
5,000 flight hours (FHs) after the effective date of the AD, any fan 
blade, P/N 338-002-114-0, that has an S/N listed in CFM International 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. CFM56-5B S/B 72-0777, Revision 1, dated April 
11, 2011. After the effective date of the AD, it would also prohibit 
installing any fan blade, P/N 338-002-114-0, that has an S/N listed in 
Appendix A of CFM International SB No. CFM56-5B S/B 72-0777, Revision 
1, dated April 11, 2011.

Comments

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

Request to Reword the Unsafe Condition Statement

    One commenter, CFM International, S.A., requested that we reword 
the unsafe condition statement ``This defect would cause the upper 
panel of the fan blade to be liberated following FOD or a bird strike 
and likely result in an in-flight shutdown (IFSD)'' to ``This non-
conforming condition could increase the potential for damage during a 
foreign object impact. This secondary damage could include liberation 
of the upper panel of the blade, which increases the potential for in-
flight shutdown.'' The commenter stated that the outcome of FOD or bird 
strike event will not necessarily result in an outer panel release, 
therefore it is suggested that the sentence be replaced to more 
accurately reflect the possible outcome.
    We agree. The unsafe condition increases the likelihood of 
separation after an event, but will not result in separation in every 
case. We changed paragraph (d) of the AD, which is the only place in 
the final rule that this information appears, to state that this defect 
could cause the upper panel of the fan blade to be liberated following 
FOD or a bird strike and likely result in an IFSD.

Request for Terminating Action

    One commenter, American Airlines, requested that we establish a 
terminating action that would specify a point at which the AD would be 
considered closed. This would allow the airline to limit the time that 
it must verify compliance with the AD and reduce operating costs.
    We do not agree. The AD as written clearly limits the fan blade 
serial numbers affected. The affected blades must never be installed in 
operating engines. We have no mechanism to assure that the affected fan 
blades have been completely purged from all inventories and so we can 
not stipulate when the AD is no longer applicable. We did not change 
the AD.

[[Page 6667]]

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the AD with the changes described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 16 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 6 
work-hours per engine to perform the required actions and that the 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about 
$47,830 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost 
of this AD to U.S. operators to be $773,440.

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):

2012-02-03 CFM International, S.A.: Amendment 39-16926; Docket No. 
FAA-2011-0946; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-02-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective March 15, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to CFM International, S.A. CFM56-5B1/3, CFM56-
5B2/3, CFM56-5B3/3, CFM56-5B4/3, CFM56-5B5/3, CFM56-5B6/3, CFM56-
5B7/3, CFM56-5B8/3, CFM56-5B9/3, CFM56-5B3/3B1, and CFM56-5B4/3B1 
engines equipped with fan blades part number (P/N) 338-002-114-0 
that have a serial number (S/N) listed in Appendix A of CFM 
International Service Bulletin (SB) No. CFM56-5B S/B 72-0777, 
Revision 1, dated April 11, 2011.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a normal quality sampling at CFM 
International. S.A. that isolated a production batch of fan blades 
with nonconforming geometry of mid-span shroud tips of the fan 
blades. This defect could cause the upper panel of the fan blade to 
be liberated following foreign object damage (FOD) or a bird strike, 
and likely result in an inflight shutdown (IFSD). We are issuing 
this AD to prevent an IFSD of one or more engines following FOD or a 
bird strike.

(e) Compliance

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

(f) Remove Fan Blades From Service

    For engines that have fan blades, P/N 338-002-114-0, with S/Ns 
listed in Appendix A of CFM International SB No. CFM56-5B S/B 72-
0777, Revision 1, dated April 11, 2011, remove the fan blades from 
service within 5,000 flight hours after the effective date of this 
AD.

(g) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install any fan 
blade, P/N 338-002-114-0, that has a S/N listed in Appendix A of CFM 
International SB No. CFM56-5B S/B 72-0777, Revision 1, dated April 
11, 2011, onto any engine.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Martin Adler, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: (781) 238-7157; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: 
[email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use the following service information to identify 
the fan blade S/Ns affected by this AD. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the following service 
information.
    (2) CFM International Service Bulletin No. CFM56-5B S/B 72-0777, 
Revision 1, dated April 11, 2011.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact CFM 
International, Inc., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D 
Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; International Phone: 1-(513) 552-
3272; USA Phone: (877) 432-3272; International Fax: 1-(513) 552-
3329; USA Fax: (877) 432-3329; email: [email protected]; or CFM 
International SA, Customer Support Center, International Phone: 33 1 
64 14 88 66; Fax: 33 1 64 79 85 55; e-mail: [email protected].
    (4) 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.
    (5) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 19, 2012.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-2893 Filed 2-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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