Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61527-61529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26038]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0633; Product Identifier 2018-NE-22-AD; Amendment 
39-19470; AD 2018-21-12]
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 (GE) GEnx-2B67, -2B67B, and -2B67/P turbofan 
engines. This AD was prompted by low-cycle fatigue (LCF) cracking of 
the fuel manifold leading to an engine fire. This AD requires removal 
from service of certain fuel manifolds at the next engine shop visit 
and their replacement with parts eligible for installation. We are 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 4, 2019.

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; 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-2018-0633.

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-2018-
0633; 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 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 certain GE GEnx-2B67, -
2B67B, and -2B67/P turbofan engines. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on August 3, 2018 (83 FR 38086). The NPRM was prompted by LCF 
cracking of the fuel manifold leading to an engine fire. The NPRM 
proposed to require removal from service of certain fuel manifolds at 
the next engine shop visit and their replacement with parts eligible 
for installation. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

Revision to Related Service Information

    GE published GEnx-2B Service Bulletin (SB) 73-0038 R03, dated 
August 17, 2018, to provide operators with instructions for replacing 
the lower fuel manifold system when in the intermixed configuration. 
This SB eliminates the need to replace the top main and lower fuel 
manifolds in the shop.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this final rule. We have considered the comment received. The Boeing 
Company supported the NPRM.

Conclusion

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

Related Service Information

    We reviewed GE GEnx-2B SB 73-0038 R02, dated November 19, 2015, and 
GEnx-2B SB 73-0038 R03, dated August 17, 2018. GE GEnx-2B SB 73-0038 
R02, dated November 19, 2015 describes procedures for removing and 
replacing the fuel manifold system with parts eligible for 
installation. GE GEnx-2B SB 73-0038 R03, dated August 17, 2018 
describes procedures for replacing the fuel manifold system when in the 
intermixed configuration.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects two engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S.

[[Page 61528]]

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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace fuel manifolds.............  220 work-hours x $85 per           $119,485        $138,185        $276,370
                                      hour = $18,700.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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,
    (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):

2018-21-12 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-19470; Docket No. 
FAA-2018-0633; Product Identifier 2018-NE-22-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective January 4, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-2B67, -
2B67B, and -2B67/P turbofan engines with top main fuel manifolds, 
part numbers (P/Ns) 2419M11G01, 2561M11G01, or 2546M11G01, or lower 
fuel manifolds, P/Ns 2419M12G01, 2561M12G01, or 2546M12G01, 
installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7310, Engine Fuel 
Distribution.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by low-cycle fatigue cracking of the fuel 
manifold leading to an engine fire. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent the failure of the fuel manifold. The unsafe condition, if 
not addressed, could result in failure of the fuel manifold, engine 
fire, and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    At the next engine shop visit, remove the applicable fuel 
manifolds from service and replace with parts eligible for 
installation.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install top main 
fuel manifolds, P/Ns 2419M11G01, 2561M11G01, or 2546M11G01, or lower 
fuel manifolds, P/Ns 2419M12G01, 2561M12G01, or 2546M12G01.

(i) 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 case flanges, except for 
the following situations, which do not constitute an engine shop 
visit:
    (1) Separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of 
transportation of the engine without subsequent maintenance.
    (2) Separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of 
replacing the fan or propulsor without subsequent maintenance.

(j) 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 (k) 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.

(k) 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].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.


[[Page 61529]]


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 27, 2018.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-26038 Filed 11-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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