Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 67 (Friday, April 6, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14741-14743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06738]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0668; Product Identifier 2017-NE-17-AD; Amendment 
39-19236; AD 2018-07-05]
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 all 
General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80A, -80A1, -80A2, and -80A3 turbofan 
engines. This AD was prompted by high cycle fatigue (HCF) cracking of 
the low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage 3 nozzles. This AD requires 
replacement of the LPT stage 3 nozzles, part numbers (P/Ns) 9290M52P05 
and 9290M52P06, installed. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 11, 2018.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact General Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, 
Cincinnati, OH 45215, phone: 513-552-3272; fax: 513-552-3329; email: 
[email protected]. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759. It is also available on the 
internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2017-0668.

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-
0668; or in person at Docket Operations 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 address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Docket Operations, 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: Herman Mak, Aerospace Engineer, ECO 
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7147; 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 all GE CF6-80A, -80A1, -
80A2, and -80A3 turbofan engines. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on September 12, 2017 (82 FR 42752) and an NPRM correction 
published on September 21, 2017 (82 FR 44127). The NPRM was prompted by 
an LPT uncontainment on a GE CF6-80A2 engine. An investigation 
determined the uncontainment was the result of HCF cracking of the LPT 
stage 3 nozzles. The NPRM proposed to require replacement of the LPT 
stage 3 nozzles. We are

[[Page 14742]]

issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Comments

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

Request To Change the Parts Eligible for Installation

    The Boeing Company (Boeing) requested that we reference GE CF6-80A 
Service Bulletin (SB) 72-0749, Revision 2, dated August 31, 2016, for 
parts that are eligible for installation. They justified this is 
necessary to ensure that the correct parts are used.
    We disagree. It is possible to have parts that are eligible for 
installation that are not listed in GE SB 72-0749. Listing eligible 
parts in an AD is not necessary to address the unsafe condition. We did 
not change this AD.

Request To Change Compliance Time

    Atlas Air requested we change the compliance time to the engine's 
next shop visit instead of a calendar driven date requirement. Atlas 
Air stated that HCF cracking of the LPT stage 3 nozzles is not 
environmentally induced. Therefore, a calendar driven date compliance 
time requirement is not needed to maintain a safe condition for the 
engine and airplane.
    We agree. We adjusted the compliance time in the AD to allow for 
compliance at the engine's next shop visit or within the next 36 
months, after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.

Supportive Comments

    The Air Line Pilots Association International expressed support for 
this AD.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this final rule with the changes described previously and minor 
editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this final 
rule.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed GE CF6-80A SB 72-0749, Revision 2, dated August 31, 
2016. The SB describes procedures for replacement of the LPT stage 3 
nozzles.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects seven 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement of LPT stage 3 nozzles....  0 work-hours x $85 per          $368,260        $368,260      $2,577,820
                                         hour = $0.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code (U.S.C.) 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,
    (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):

2018-07-05 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-19236; Docket No. 
FAA-2017-0668; Product Identifier 2017-NE-17-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective May 11, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

[[Page 14743]]

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to General Electric (GE) CF6-80A, -80A1, -80A2, 
and -80A3 turbofan engines with low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage 3 
nozzles, part numbers (P/Ns) 9290M52P05 and 9290M52P06, installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine 
Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by high cycle fatigue (HCF) cracking of the 
LPT stage 3 nozzles resulting in LPT uncontainment. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent cracking of the LPT stage 3 nozzles. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in LPT uncontainment, 
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

    Within 36 months or during the next engine shop visit after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, replace LPT stage 
3 nozzles, P/Ns 9290M52P05 and 9290M52P06, with a part eligible for 
installation.

(h) Definition

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, an engine shop visit is defined 
as the induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance 
involving the separation of any major mating engine flanges. The 
separation of engine flanges is not considered an engine shop visit 
for the following purposes:
    (i) Transportation of an engine not attached to an aircraft 
without subsequent engine maintenance.
    (ii) Removing the turbine rear frame (TRF) for repair of TRF 
cracking.
    (iii) Removing the top or bottom high-pressure compressor (HPC) 
case for HPC airfoil maintenance.
    (iv) Removing only the accessory gearbox and/or transfer 
gearbox.
    (2) Reserved.

(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 
ECO Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (j) of this AD. You may email your request 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 Herman Mak, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7147; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 29, 2018.
Robert Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-06738 Filed 4-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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