Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Division Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 1, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75686-75687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26183]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-5423; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-09-AD; 
Amendment 39-18694; AD 2016-22-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Division 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 
Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW4164, PW4164-1D, PW4168, PW4168-1D, PW4168A, 
PW4168A-1D, and PW4170 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by 
several instances of fuel leaks on PW engines installed with the Talon 
IIB combustion chamber configuration. This AD requires initial and 
repetitive inspections of the affected fuel nozzles and their 
replacement with parts eligible for installation. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent failure of the fuel nozzles, which could lead to engine 
fire and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective December 6, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 6, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Pratt & Whitney Division, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 
06108; phone: 860-565-8770; fax: 860-565-4503. You may view this 
service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. It is also available on 
the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2016-5423.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
5423; 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: Besian Luga, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 
District Avenue, 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 by adding an AD that would apply to certain PW PW4164, PW4164-
1D, PW4168, PW4168-1D, PW4168A, PW4168A-1D, and PW4170 turbofan 
engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 20, 2016 
(81 FR 23217) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by several 
instances of fuel leaks on PW engines installed with the Talon IIB 
combustion chamber configuration. The NPRM proposed to require initial 
and repetitive inspections of the affected fuel nozzles and their 
replacement with parts eligible for installation. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent failure of the fuel nozzles, which could lead to engine 
fire and damage to the airplane.

Comments

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

Request To Change Definition of Engine Shop Visit

    Delta Air Lines (Delta) requested that the definition of an 
``engine shop visit'' be defined as the induction of an engine into the 
shop for maintenance involving the separation of pairs of major mating 
engine flanges. Delta requested this change so that the definition of 
an engine shop visit in this AD would be consistent with prior ADs.
    We disagree. The redefined shop visit interval as requested would 
result in less frequent replacements of fuel nozzles and an 
unacceptable fleet risk. We did not change this AD.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed PW Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) PW4G-100-A73-45, dated 
February 16, 2016. The ASB describes procedures for inspecting and 
replacing the fuel nozzles. This service information is reasonably 
available because the interested parties have access to it through 
their normal course of business or by the means identified in the 
ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 72 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 
2.2 hours per engine to perform each inspection and 48 hours per engine 
to replace the fuel nozzle. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. We 
also estimate that parts cost would be $15,780 per engine. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$1,443,384.

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:

[[Page 75687]]

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):

2016-22-05 Pratt & Whitney Division: Amendment 39-18694; Docket No. 
FAA-2016-5423; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-09-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective December 6, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney (PW):
    (1) PW4164, PW4168, and PW4168A model engines that have 
incorporated PW Service Bulletin (SB) PW4G-100-72-214, dated 
December 15, 2011, or PW SB PW4G-100-72-219, Revision No. 1, dated 
October 5, 2011, or original issue, and have fuel nozzles, part 
number (P/N) 51J345, installed;
    (2) PW4168A model engines with Talon IIA outer combustion 
chamber assembly, P/N 51J100, and fuel nozzles, P/N 51J345, with 
serial numbers CGGUA19703 through CGGUA19718 inclusive or CGGUA22996 
and higher, installed;
    (3) PW4168A-1D and PW4170 model engines with engine serial 
numbers P735001 thru P735190 inclusive and fuel nozzles, P/N 51J345, 
installed; and
    (4) PW4164-1D, PW4168-1D, PW4168A-1D, and PW4170 model engines 
that have incorporated PW SB PW4G-100-72-220, Revision No. 4, dated 
September 30, 2011, or earlier revision, and have fuel nozzles, P/N 
51J345, installed.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by nine instances of fuel leaks on PW 
engines with the Talon IIB combustion chamber configuration 
installed. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the fuel 
nozzles, which could lead to engine fire and damage to the airplane.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Within 800 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, 
and thereafter within every 800 flight hours accumulated on the fuel 
nozzles, do the following:
    (i) Inspect all fuel nozzles, P/N 51J345. Use Part A of PW Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) PW4G-100-A73-45, dated February 16, 2016, to 
do the inspection.
    (ii) For any fuel nozzle that fails the inspection, before 
further flight, remove and replace it with a part that is eligible 
for installation.
    (2) At the next shop visit after the effective date of this AD, 
and thereafter at each engine shop visit, remove all fuel nozzles, 
P/N 51J345, unless fuel nozzles were replaced within the last 100 
flight hours. Use Part B of PW ASB PW4G-100-A73-45, dated February 
16, 2016, to replace the fuel nozzles with parts eligible for 
installation.

(f) Definitions

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, an ``engine shop visit'' means 
the induction of an engine into the shop for any maintenance.
    (2) For the purpose of this AD, a part that is ``eligible for 
installation'' is a fuel nozzle, with a P/N other than 51J345, that 
is FAA-approved for installation or a fuel nozzle, P/N 51J345, that 
meets the requirements of Part A, paragraph 4.B., or Part B, 
paragraph 1.B. of PW ASB PW4G-100-A73-45, dated February 16, 2016.

(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. You may email your request to: [email protected].

(h) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Besian Luga, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7750; 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) Pratt & Whitney (PW) Alert Service Bulletin PW4G-100-A73-45, 
dated February 16, 2016.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For PW service information identified in this AD, contact 
Pratt & Whitney Division, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108; 
phone: 860-565-8770; fax: 860-565-4503.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 25, 2016.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-26183 Filed 10-31-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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