Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines AG Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 242 (Friday, December 16, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 90969-90971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30064]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-7099; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-15-AD; 
Amendment 39-18737; AD 2016-25-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines AG 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 
International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2527-A5, 
V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2530-A5, V2533-A5, V2525-D5, V2528-D5, and 
V2531-E5 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by nine in-flight 
shutdowns (IFSDs) that resulted from premature failure of the No. 3 
bearing. This AD requires inspections and corrective actions for 
bearing damage. This AD also requires removal of the No. 3 bearing from 
service at the next engine shop visit. We are issuing this AD to 
correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 20, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 20, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact International Aero Engines AG, 400

[[Page 90970]]

Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06118; phone: 860-565-0140; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: http://fleetcare.pw.utc.com.
    You may view this referenced 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-
7099.

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-
7099; 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: Brian Kierstead, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7772; 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 IAE V2522-A5, 
V2524-A5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2530-A5, V2533-A5, V2525-D5, 
V2528-D5, and V2531-E5 turbofan engines. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on July 21, 2016 (81 FR 47313). The NPRM was prompted 
by nine IFSDs resulting from premature failure of the No. 3 bearing. 
This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the No. 3 
bearing, failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and 
loss of the airplane. The NPRM proposed to require removal of the No. 3 
bearing from service at the next engine shop visit. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent failure of the No. 3 bearing, failure of one or more 
engines, loss of thrust control, and loss of 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. Boeing supported the NPRM.

Request To Add Terminating Action

    MTU Maintenance Hanover GmbH (MTU) requested that IAE Non 
Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) V2500-ENG-72-0673, dated June 3, 
2016, be added as a terminating action in this AD. MTU also requested 
IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0673 be included in credit for previous action. 
They reason that following the issue of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0671, 
dated March 22, 2016, IAE released IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0673, which 
recommends removal of No. 3 bearing serial numbers (S/Ns) identical to 
those listed in IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0671.
    We partially agree. We agree that the removal of the suspect 
bearing in accordance with IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0673, dated June 3, 
2016 would accomplish both the (e)(3) compliance and (f) terminating 
action requirements of this AD because both IAE service documents 
reference identical bearing S/Ns.
    We disagree that including IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0673 as a 
terminating action or listing as credit for previous action is 
necessary since replacement of a bearing S/N per IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-
0673, dated June 3, 2016, makes the engine no longer applicable to the 
AD. We did not change this AD.

Request To Remove Certain Engine Models From Applicability

    IAE and MTU request engine models V2525-D5, V2528-D5, and V2531-E5 
be removed from the applicability section of this AD. IAE states that 
the suspect No. 3 bearings referenced by this AD have all been 
installed in A5 series engines as specified in IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-
0671, dated March 22, 2016 and requests alignment with the service 
instructions in order to provide consistency between the IAE NMSB 
V2500-ENG-72-0671 and this AD. MTU reasons that the IAE NMSBs V2500-
ENG-72-0671 and V2500-ENG-72-0673 do not list V2525-D5, V2528-D5, and 
V2531-E5 engine models, therefore, this AD should not be applicable to 
these models.
    We disagree. The applicability section of this AD identifies all 
V2500 engine models of the same type design where the suspect bearing 
could be installed. This AD further refines the applicability section 
with identification of specific No. 3 bearing S/Ns listed in IAE NMSB 
V2500-ENG-72-0671, Appendix 1, dated March 22, 2016. We did not change 
this AD.

Request To Identify Applicability by Either Engine S/N or Bearing S/N

    Cathay Pacific Airways (CPA) requests the applicability section be 
revised to identify either the engine S/N or the No. 3 bearing S/N 
listed in IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0671, dated March 22, 2016. CPA 
suggests that operators might identify engine applicability based on 
the No. 3 bearing S/N or the engine S/N, as both are listed in IAE NMSB 
V2500-ENG-72-0671, Appendix 1, dated March 22, 2016.
    We disagree. Determining applicability by engine S/N in lieu of the 
No. 3 bearing S/N is not adequate, as the suspect bearing may have been 
reinstalled in another engine. We did not change this AD.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments 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 IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0671, dated March 22, 2016. The 
NMSB describes procedures for inspecting the MMCD and further actions 
if metallic debris is found. 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.

Other Related Service Information

    We reviewed IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0673, dated June 3, 2016. The 
NMSB describes procedures for removal and replacement of the No. 3 
bearing.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 11 engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry. We estimate that it would take about 1 hour to 
perform the inspection. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. We 
estimate the cost to replace a No. 3 bearing to be $54,510. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$600,545.

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 90971]]

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):

2016-25-11 International Aero Engines AG: Amendment 39-18737; Docket 
No. FAA-2016-7099; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-15-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective January 20, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2522-A5, 
V2524-A5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2530-A5, V2533-A5, V2525-
D5, V2528-D5, and V2531-E5 turbofan engines with No. 3 bearing 
serial numbers (S/Ns) listed in Appendix 1 of IAE Non-Modification 
Service Bulletin (NMSB) V2500-ENG-72-0671, dated March 22, 2016.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by several in-flight shutdowns that 
resulted from premature failure of the No. 3 bearing. We are issuing 
this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Prior to accumulating 125 flight hours (FH) after the 
effective date of this AD, inspect the master magnetic chip detector 
(MMCD) for metallic debris. If no metallic debris is found during 
the MMCD inspection, repeat the inspection within every 125 FH.
    (2) If metallic debris is found during the MMCD inspection, 
evaluate the debris using paragraph 2.B. of the Accomplishment 
Instructions in IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0671, dated March 22, 2016. 
Perform additional inspections or remove the engine from service in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions in IAE NMSB V2500-
ENG-72-0671.
    (3) Remove the No. 3 bearing from service at the next engine 
shop visit and replace it with a bearing part/serial number 
combination not listed in Appendix 1 of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0671, 
dated March 22, 2016.

(f) Mandatory Terminating Action

    Removal of the No. 3 bearing from service at the next engine 
shop visit and replacement with a bearing not listed in Appendix 1 
of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0671, dated March 22, 2016, is terminating 
action to this AD.

(g) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, an ``engine shop visit'' is the 
induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the 
separation of pairs of major mating engine flanges, except that the 
separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of 
transportation without subsequent engine maintenance does not 
constitute an engine shop visit.

(h) 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].

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Brian Kierstead, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7772; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0673, dated June 3, 2016, can be 
obtained from IAE using the contact information in paragraph (j)(3) 
of this AD.

(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) International Aero Engines AG (IAE) Non-Modification Service 
Bulletin V2500-ENG-72-0671, dated March 22, 2016.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For IAE service information identified in this AD, contact 
International Aero Engines AG, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 
06118; phone: 860-565-0140; email: [email protected]; Internet: 
http://fleetcare.pw.utc.com.
    (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 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 November 28, 2016.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30064 Filed 12-15-16; 8:45 am]
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