Airworthiness Directives; Engine Alliance Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 216 (Thursday, November 9, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51979-51981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24462]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0988; Product Identifier 2017-NE-37-AD; Amendment 
39-19097; AD 2017-23-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Engine Alliance Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2017-21-51 for all Engine Alliance (EA) GP7200 series turbofan engines. 
AD 2017-21-51 was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and 
operators of GP7200 series turbofan engines. AD 2017-21-51 required 
visual inspections of all fan hubs for damage. This AD retains the same 
required actions as AD 2017-21-51 and clarifies the compliance 
requirements. This AD was prompted by the failure of a GP7200 fan hub. 
We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective November 24, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 24, 
2017.
    We must receive any comments on this AD by December 26, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this final rule, contact 
Engine Alliance, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108, M/S 169-10; 
phone: 800-565-0140; email: [email protected]; Web site: 
www.engineallianceportal.com. You may view this service information at 
the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 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-2017-0988.

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-2017-
0988; or in person at the Docket

[[Page 51980]]

Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. 
The street address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in 
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Bethka, Aerospace Engineer, ECO 
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7129; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On October 12, 2017, we issued Emergency AD 2017-21-51, (``AD 2017-
21-51''), which was immediately effective to owners and operators of EA 
GP7200 series turbofan engines. AD 2017-21-51 required visual 
inspections of the GP7200 series engine fan hubs for damage. AD 2017-
21-51 resulted from an uncontained engine failure that occurred on an 
EA GP7270 turbofan engine. We issued AD 2017-21-51 to prevent an 
uncontained release of the fan hub, damage to the engine, and damage to 
the airplane.

Actions Since AD 2017-21-51 Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2017-21-51, we determined a need to clarify the 
compliance requirements. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe 
condition on these products.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed EA Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) EAGP7-A72-383, Revision 
No. 1, dated October 12, 2017. The ASB describes procedures for visual 
inspections of all fan hubs for damage. 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.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires visual inspections of all fan hubs for damage.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD interim action. An investigation to determine 
the cause of the failure is on-going and we may consider additional 
rulemaking if final action is identified.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to 
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public 
justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule 
because no U.S. operators are affected. Therefore, we find good cause 
that notice and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable. 
In addition, for the reason stated above, we find that good cause 
exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite 
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this final 
rule. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES 
section. Include the docket number FAA-2017-0988 and product identifier 
2017-NE-37-AD at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite 
comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy 
aspects of this final rule. We will consider all comments received by 
the closing date and may amend this final rule because of those 
comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this final rule.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects no engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
               Action                         Labor cost            Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fan hub inspection.................  2 work-hours x $85 per hour              $0            $170              $0
                                      = $170.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and 
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.

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,

[[Page 51981]]

    (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 part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (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):

2017-23-03 Engine Alliance: Amendment 39-19097; Docket No. FAA-2017-
0988; Product Identifier 2017-NE-37-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective November 24, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes Emergency AD 2017-21-51, Product Identifier 
2017-NE-37-AD, issued on October 12, 2017.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Engine Alliance (EA) GP7270, GP7272, and 
GP7277 model turbofan engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by failure of a fan hub. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent failure of the fan hub. The unsafe condition, if 
not corrected, could result in uncontained release of the fan hub, 
damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Perform a visual inspection of the fan hub in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 1.B., 1.C., and 
1.D., of EA Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) EAGP-A72-383, Revision No. 
1, dated October 12, 2017, at the times specified in paragraphs 
(g)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD.
    (i) For fan hubs with 3,500 cycles since new (CSN) or more on 
the effective date of this AD, inspect within 2 weeks after the 
effective date of this AD.
    (ii) For fan hubs with 2,000 CSN or more, but less than 3,500 
CSN, on the effective date of this AD, inspect within 5 weeks after 
the effective date of this AD.
    (iii) For fan hubs with less than 2,000 CSN on the effective 
date of this AD, inspect within 8 weeks after the effective date of 
this AD.
    (2) If defects or damage to the fan hub are found outside the 
serviceable limits specified in Table 1 of EA ASB EAGP7-A72-383, 
Revision No. 1, dated October 12, 2017, remove the hub from service 
and replace with a part that passed the inspection specified in 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, prior to further flight.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for the inspection required by paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD if you performed the inspection before the 
effective date of this AD, using EA ASB EAGP7-A72-383, dated October 
7, 2017.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
certification office, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (j) of this AD. Information may be emailed 
to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact David Bethka, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7129; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].

(k) 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) Engine Alliance Alert Service Bulletin EAGP7-A72-383, 
Revision No. 1, dated October 12, 2017.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Engine Alliance service information identified in this 
AD, contact Engine Alliance, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108, 
M/S 169-10, phone: 800-565-0140; email: [email protected]; Web site: 
www.engineallianceportal.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine and 
Propeller Standards Branch, 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 6, 2017.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-24462 Filed 11-8-17; 8:45 am]
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