Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15939-15943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6504]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27023; Directorate Identifier 98-ANE-47-AD; 
Amendment 39-16971; AD 2012-04-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D series turbofan engines. That AD 
currently requires revisions to the Airworthiness Limitations Section 
(ALS) of the manufacturer's Instructions for Continued Airworthiness 
(ICA) to include required enhanced inspection of selected critical 
life-limited parts at each piece-part opportunity. This new AD requires 
additional revisions to the JT9D series engines ALS sections of the 
manufacturer's ICA. This AD was prompted by the need to require 
enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts of JT9D 
series engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent critical life-limited 
rotating engine part failure, which could result in an uncontained 
engine failure and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective April 23, 2012.

ADDRESSES: 

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: Ian Dargin, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
& Propeller Directorate, FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7178; 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 supersede AD 2007-05-17, Amendment 39-14978 (72 FR 10350, 
March 8, 2007). That AD applies to the specified products. That NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on November 22, 2011 (76 FR 72130). 
That NPRM proposed to continue to require revisions to the ALS of the 
manufacturer's ICA to include required enhanced inspection of selected 
critical life-limited parts at each piece-part opportunity. That NPRM 
also proposed to require additional revisions to the JT9D series 
engines ALS sections of the manufacturer's ICA.

Comments

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

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 438 JT9D series engines are installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry and will be affected by this AD. We also estimate that 
about 4 work hours per engine are needed to perform the actions, and 
that the average labor rate is $85 per work hour. Since this is an 
added inspection requirement that will be part of the normal 
maintenance cycle, no additional parts costs are involved. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators 
to be $148,920.

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:


[[Page 15940]]


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

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing airworthiness directive (AD) 
2007-05-17, Amendment 39-14978 (72 FR 10350, March 8, 2007) and adding 
the following new AD:
2012-04-15 Pratt & Whitney: Amendment 39-16971; Docket No. FAA-2007-
27023; Directorate Identifier 98-ANE-47-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective April 23, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2007-05-17, Amendment 39-14978 (72 FR 
10350, March 8, 2007).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-3A, -7, -7A, -7H, -
7AH, -7F, -7J, -20J, -59A, -70A, -7Q, -7Q3, -7R4D, -7R4D1, -7R4E, -
7R4E1, -7R4E4, -7R4G2, and -7R4H1 series turbofan engines.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD results from the need to require enhanced inspection of 
selected critical life-limited parts of JT9D series turbofan 
engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent critical life-limited 
rotating engine part failure, which could result in an uncontained 
engine failure and damage to the airplane.

(e) Compliance

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

(f) Inspections

    Within the next 30 days after the effective date of this AD, add 
the following section to the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) 
of your copy of the manufacturer's Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness (ICA) and, for air carrier operations, to your 
continuous airworthiness air carrier maintenance program:
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    (g) Except as provided in paragraph (h) of this AD, and 
notwithstanding contrary provisions in section 43.16 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (14 CFR 43.16), these mandatory inspections 
shall be performed only in accordance with the ALS of the 
manufacturer's ICA.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)

    (1) You must perform these mandatory inspections using the ALS 
of the ICA and the applicable Engine Manual, unless you receive 
approval to use an AMOC under paragraph (h)(2) of this AD. Section 
43.16 of 14 CFR may not be used to approve AMOCs or adjustments to 
the times in which these inspections must be performed.
    (2) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, has the authority 
to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures 
found in 14 CFR 39.19.

(i) Maintaining Records of the Mandatory Inspections

    (1) You have met the requirements of this AD when you revise 
your copy of the ALS of the manufacturer's ICA as specified in 
paragraph (f) of this AD. For air carriers

[[Page 15943]]

operating under part 121 of 14 CFR, you have met the requirements of 
this AD when you modify your continuous airworthiness air carrier 
maintenance program as specified in paragraph (f) of this AD. You do 
not need to record each piece-part inspection as compliance to this 
AD, but you must maintain records of those inspections according to 
the regulations governing your operation. For air carriers operating 
under part 121, you may use either the system established to comply 
with section 121.369 or an alternative accepted by your principal 
maintenance inspector if that alternative:
    (i) Includes a method for preserving and retrieving the records 
of the inspections resulting from this AD;
    (ii) Meets the requirements of section 121.369(c); and
    (iii) Maintains the records either indefinitely or until the 
work is repeated.
    (2) These record keeping requirements apply only to the records 
used to document the mandatory inspections required as a result of 
revising the ALS of the manufacturer's ICA as specified in paragraph 
(f) of this AD. These record keeping requirements do not alter or 
amend the record keeping requirements for any other AD or regulatory 
requirement.

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Ian Dargin, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine & Propeller Directorate, FAA, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7178; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 22, 2012.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-6504 Filed 3-16-12; 8:45 am]
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