Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72552-72554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28293]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0475; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-18-AD; 
Amendment 39-17669; AD 2013-23-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company 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 
General Electric Company model GEnx-2B67 and GEnx-2B67B turbofan 
engines. This AD was prompted by the original equipment manufacturer's 
disclosure that certain critical rotating life-limited parts (LLPs) 
used in Boeing 747-8 flight tests had consumed more cyclic life than 
they would have in revenue flight cycles. These parts were then 
installed into engines and introduced into revenue service without 
adjustment to remaining cyclic life. This AD requires a one-time 
adjustment to the cycle counts of those LLPs to account for the 
additional low cycle fatigue (LCF) life consumed during flight tests. 
We are issuing this AD to prevent the failure of critical rotating 
LLPs, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective January 7, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 7, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, 
Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: [email protected]. 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 provided in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carlos Fernandes, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-
7189; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would

[[Page 72553]]

apply to the specified products. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on August 5, 2013 (78 FR 47235). The NPRM proposed to require 
a one-time adjustment to the cycle counts of certain critical rotating 
LLPs to account for the additional LCF life consumed in Boeing 747-8 
flight tests.

Comments

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

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed, except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (78 FR 47235, August 5, 2013) for correcting the unsafe condition; 
and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 4 engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 hour per 
engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. 
The prorated cost of required parts will be about $50,000 per engine. 
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to U.S. 
operators to be $200,340.

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 to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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):

2013-23-14 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-17669; Docket No. 
FAA-2013-0475; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-18-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective January 7, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to certain serial number General Electric 
Company (GE) model GEnx-2B67 and GEnx-2B67B turbofan engines. The 
affected engine serial numbers are: 959-102 through 959-104; 959-
107; 959-110 through 959-111; 959-113 through 959-118; 959-121; 959-
124 through 959-133; 959-159 through 959-161; 959-164; 959-176; and 
959-191.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by GE's report that certain critical 
rotating life-limited parts (LLPs) used in Boeing 747-8 flight tests 
had consumed more cyclic life than they would have in revenue 
service flights. These parts were then installed into engines and 
introduced into revenue service without adjustment to remaining 
cyclic life. We are issuing this AD to prevent the failure of 
critical rotating LLPs, uncontained engine failure, and damage to 
the airplane.

(e) Compliance

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

(f) Adjust the Cycle Counts of Certain Critical Rotating LLPs

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, perform a 
one-time adjustment to the cycle count of each part identified in 
paragraph 4, Appendix A, of GE Service Bulletin No. GEnx-2B S/B 72-
0116, Revision 1, dated April 23, 2013.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(h) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Carlos Fernandes, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: (781) 238-7189; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: 
[email protected].

(i) 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) General Electric (GE) Service Bulletin No. GEnx-2B S/B 72-
0116, Revision 1, dated April 23, 2013.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For GE service information identified in this AD, contact 
General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, 
Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: [email protected].
    (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 72554]]


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 14, 2013.
Frank P. Paskiewicz,
Acting Director, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-28293 Filed 12-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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