Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Division Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11211-11214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05708]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0924; Product Identifier 2018-NE-34-AD; Amendment 
39-19600; AD 2019-06-02]
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 Division (PW) PW4158 turbofan engines. This AD was 
prompted by several reports of high cycle fatigue (HCF) cracks found in 
the fuel nozzle supply manifold. This AD requires replacement of the 
affected fuel nozzles and fuel nozzle manifold supply assemblies with 
parts eligible for installation. This AD also requires installation of 
new brackets and clamps on the fuel nozzle supply manifold assemblies. 
We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 30, 2019.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 30, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108; 
phone: 860-565-8770; fax: 860-565-4503. 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-2018-0924.

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-
0924; 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: Scott Hopper, Aerospace Engineer, ECO 
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803; phone: 781-

[[Page 11212]]

238-7154; 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 PW4158 turbofan 
engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 19, 
2018 (83 FR 58199). The NPRM was prompted by several reports of HCF 
cracks found in the fuel nozzle supply manifold. The NPRM proposed to 
require replacement of the affected fuel nozzles and fuel nozzle 
manifold supply assemblies with parts eligible for installation. The 
NPRM also proposed to require installation of new brackets and clamps 
on the fuel nozzle supply manifold assemblies. We are 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 Use Overhauled Fuel Manifolds

    United Parcel Service Co. (UPS) and Pratt & Whitney requested that 
the AD clarify that overhauled fuel manifolds that have had new tube 
details installed meet the intent of installing new fuel manifolds 
called for in Pratt & Whitney Service Bulletin (SB) PW4ENG 73-224, 
dated November 8, 2017. UPS and Pratt & Whitney noted that the 
equivalent Pratt & Whitney SB PW4G-100-73-48, Revision No. 1, dated 
April 24, 2018, for PW PW4000-100 engines, allows use of repaired 
manifolds.
    We disagree because Pratt & Whitney SB PW4ENG 73-224, dated 
November 8, 2017, does not allow the installation of overhauled fuel 
manifolds with new tube details. We recommend that operators who would 
like to use overhauled manifolds submit an AMOC request.

Request To Clarify Applicability

    SR Technics Switzerland Ltd. requested we clarify the 
identification of potentially affected engines since part number (P/N) 
51J228 is a sales order option and does not appear in PW service 
bulletins. UPS recommended that we revise the applicability to refer to 
``All Engines that incorporate Talon II Burner Sales Order Option P/N 
51J228.'' The commenters indicated that P/N 51J228 is not listed in the 
applicable PW parts catalogue or in a service bulletin.
    We partially agree. We agree to clarify the applicability of this 
AD. We disagree with referring to ``engines that incorporate Talon II 
Burner Sales Order Option P/N 51J228'' as this reference is not 
sufficiently clear to operators. We revised the Applicability of this 
AD to refer to the specifically affected engine serial numbers.

Request for Previous Credit

    UPS requested that the rule include a ``Credits for Previous 
Actions'' section in this AD stating that affected engines that have 
fully incorporated prior revisions of both Pratt & Whitney SB PW4ENG 
73-223, dated February 5, 2018, and Pratt & Whitney SB PW4ENG 73-224, 
dated November 8, 2017, may take credit for the required actions. UPS 
reasoned that PW is considering publishing a revision to Pratt & 
Whitney SB PW4ENG 73-224 that will allow use of overhauled fuel supply 
manifolds.
    We disagree. We cannot give credit for previous action based on 
service bulletins that have not been published. We did not change this 
AD.

Request To Revise Compliance

    UPS commented that paragraph (g)(1) in the NPRM only referred to P/
N 51J344. UPS noted that there are other pre-SB 73-223 part numbers, 
such as P/N 51J235, that may be found installed in Talon II engines. 
UPS suggested that we revise the compliance paragraph (g)(1) in this AD 
to be similar to paragraph (g)(2) of this AD--for example, ``Replace 
the 24 fuel nozzles with part number 51J397 per Pratt & Whitney SB 
PW4ENG 73-223.''
    We agree. Fuel nozzle designs other than P/N 51J397 are also 
susceptible to braze joint cracking. We revised paragraph (g)(1) of 
this AD based on the change suggested by the commenter.

Support for the AD

    The Air Line Pilots Association International expressed support for 
the AD as written.

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> [Agr]re consistent with the intent that was proposed in 
the NPRM for addressing 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 Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Pratt & Whitney SB PW4ENG 73-224, dated November 8, 
2017. The SB describes procedures for replacing the fuel nozzle supply 
manifold assemblies with parts eligible for installation, and 
installing new brackets and clamps on the fuel nozzle supply manifolds. 
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 Pratt & Whitney SB PW4ENG 73-223, dated February 5, 
2018. This SB describes procedures for replacing the fuel nozzles and 
fuel nozzle support assemblies with parts eligible for installation.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 114 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove and replace (24) fuel nozzles  48 work-hours x $85 per     $423,471.12     $427,551.12     $48,740,827.68
                                       hour =$4,080.
Replace fuel supply manifold tubes    16 work-hours x $85 per       77,158.97       78,518.97       8,951,162.58
 and install new clamps and brackets.  hour = $1,360.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 11213]]

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):

2019-06-02 Pratt & Whitney Division: Amendment 39-19600; Docket No. 
FAA-2018-0924; Product Identifier 2018-NE-34-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective April 30, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Division PW4158 turbofan 
engines designated by a-3 on the Engine Data Plate and with the 
following engine serial numbers: 728534 to 728555; 728557 to 728585; 
728587 to 728591; 728593; 728598; 729808 to 729824; or 729826 to 
729864.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by several reports of high cycle fatigue 
(HCF) cracks found in the fuel nozzle supply manifold tube at the 
braze joint interface. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 
the fuel nozzles. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in engine fire, 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

    No later than the next engine shop visit after the effective 
date of this AD, do the following:
    (1) Remove any of the 24 fuel nozzles, part number (P/N) 51J235 
or 51J344, and replace with P/N 51J397.
    (2) Replace the fuel nozzle manifold supply assemblies and 
install new brackets and clamps on the fuel supply manifolds in 
accordance with the ``For Engines Installed on Aircraft'' or ``For 
Engines Not Installed on Aircraft'' sections, as applicable, of the 
Accomplishment Instructions in Pratt & Whitney Service Bulletin (SB) 
PW4ENG 73-224, dated November 8, 2017.

(h) Definitions

    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.

(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 Scott Hopper, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7154; 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) Pratt & Whitney Service Bulletin PW4ENG 73-224, dated 
November 8, 2017.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Pratt & Whitney service information identified in this 
AD, contact Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 
06108; phone: 860-565-8770; fax: 860-565-4503.
    (4) 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.
    (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.


[[Page 11214]]


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 19, 2019.
Karen M. Grant,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-05708 Filed 3-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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