Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines AG Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 458-461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00053]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1168; Project Identifier AD-2020-01568-E; 
Amendment 39-21379; AD 2021-01-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines AG Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2500-A1, V2522-A5, V2524-
A5, V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, 
V2531-E5, and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by 
a root cause analysis of an event involving an uncontained failure of a 
high-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage disk that resulted in high-energy 
debris penetrating the engine cowling. This AD requires removing 
certain HPT 1st-stage and HPT 2nd-stage disks from service. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 21, 2021.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by February 22, 2021.

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 https://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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by

[[Page 459]]

searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1168; 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, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for the 
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicholas Paine, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7116; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 18, 2020, an Airbus Model A321-231 airplane, powered by 
IAE V2533-A5 model turbofan engines, experienced an uncontained HPT 
1st-stage disk failure that resulted in high-energy debris penetrating 
the engine cowling. Based on a preliminary analysis of this event, on 
March 21, 2020, the FAA issued Emergency AD 2020-07-51, which requires 
the removal from service of certain HPT 1st-stage disks installed on 
IAE V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, 
V2528-D5, V2530-A5, and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines.
    Since the FAA issued AD 2020-07-51, the manufacturer conducted a 
root cause analysis and identified a different population of HPT 1st-
stage and HPT 2nd-stage disks that are affected by the unsafe condition 
and require removal from service. This condition, if not addressed, 
could result in failure of the HPT, uncontained HPT failure, damage to 
the engine, damage to the airplane, and loss of the airplane. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has 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 the removal from service of certain HPT 1st-stage 
and HPT 2nd-stage disks installed on IAE V2500-A1, V2522-A5, V2524-A5, 
V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, V2531-E5, 
and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines.

Interim Action

    The design approval holder is currently developing a modification 
to address the unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once this 
modification is developed, the FAA might consider additional 
rulemaking.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective 
Date

    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and 
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds 
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to 
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good 
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking 
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA 
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, 
upon a finding of good cause.
    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 foregoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule. 
On March 18, 2020, an Airbus Model A321-231 airplane, powered by IAE 
V2533-A5 model turbofan engines, experienced an uncontained HPT 1st-
stage disk failure that resulted in an aborted takeoff. The uncontained 
failure of the HPT 1st-stage disk resulted in high-energy debris 
penetrating the engine cowling. The FAA published Emergency AD (EAD) 
2020-07-51 on March 21, 2020 (followed by publication in the Federal 
Register on April 13, 2020, as a Final Rule, Request for Comments (85 
FR 20402)), to remove from service HPT 1st-stage disks identified as 
having the highest risk of failure. Based on the root cause analysis 
performed since that event, the manufacturer has identified a different 
population of affected HPT 1st-stage and HPT 2nd-stage disks that are 
affected by the same unsafe condition and require removal from service. 
These HPT disks have the highest risk of failure and require removal 
within 50 flight cycles or 30 days after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever comes first, to prevent additional HPT disk failures and 
maintain an acceptable level of safety. This unsafe condition may 
result in loss of the airplane.
    The FAA considers removal of certain HPT 1st-stage and HPT 2nd-
stage disks to be an urgent safety issue. Accordingly, notice and 
opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and contrary to 
the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). In addition, the 
FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making 
this amendment effective in less than 30 days, for the same reasons the 
FAA found good cause to forego notice and comment.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments 
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under 
ADDRESSES. Include the docket number FAA-2020-1168 and Project 
Identifier AD-2020-01568-E at the beginning of your comments. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this final rule because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Nicholas Paine, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. Any commentary that the FAA 
receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in 
the public docket for this rulemaking.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not 
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt 
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined 
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and 
comment, RFA analysis is not required.

[[Page 460]]

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 4 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove HPT 1st-stage or HPT 2nd-stage   92 work-hours x $85 per         $300,000        $307,820      $1,231,280
 disk from service.                      hour = $7,820.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    The FAA is 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, and
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

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:

2021-01-03 International Aero Engines AG: Amendment 39-21379; Docket 
No. FAA-2020-1168; Project Identifier AD-2020-01568-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 21, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2500-A1, 
V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2528-
D5, V2530-A5, V2531-E5, and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines with an 
installed:
    (1) High-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage disk, part number (P/
N) 2A5001, with a serial number (S/N) listed in Figure 1 to 
paragraph (c) of this AD; or
    (2) HPT 2nd-stage disk, P/N 2A4802 or 2A1202, with an S/N listed 
in Figure 2 to paragraph (c) of this AD.

Figure 1 to Paragraph (c)--HPT 1st-Stage Disks, P/N 2A5001

HPT 1st-Stage Disk S/N
    PKLBMR8122
    PKLBN95688
    PKLBPD1563
    PKLBR09920
    PKLBR16496
    PKLBR19225
    PKLBR25636
    PKLBR28076
    PKLBR34562
    PKLBR52354
    PKLBR69530
    PKLBR82479
    PKLBRJ9427
    PKLBRN5510
    PKLBRT5081
    PKLBRU7299
    PKLBRW8547
    PKLBRW9395
    PKLBSJ7141
    PKLBSM8377

Figure 2 to Paragraph (c)--HPT 2nd-Stage Disks, P/N 2A4802 or 2A1202

HPT 2nd-Stage Disk S/N
    PKLBJ09996
    PKLBJ13601
    PKLBJ80883
    PKLBKL8627
    PKLBLJ9333
    PKLBP87124
    PKLBPY9696
    PKLBSL8699

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by an analysis performed by the 
manufacturer of an event involving an uncontained failure of an HPT 
1st-stage disk that resulted in high-energy debris penetrating the 
engine cowling. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
HPT 1st-stage and HPT 2nd-stage disks. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in uncontained HPT disk failure, damage to 
the engine, damage to the airplane, and loss of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For IAE model turbofan engines with an HPT 1st-stage disk, 
P/N 2A5001, with a S/N listed in Figure 1 to paragraph (c) of this 
AD, within 50 flight cycles or 30 days after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever comes first, remove the HPT 1st-stage disk from 
service.
    (2) For IAE model turbofan engines with an HPT 2nd-stage disk, 
P/N 2A4802 or 2A1202, with a S/N listed in Figure 2 to paragraph (c) 
of this AD, within 50 flight cycles or 30 days after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever comes first, remove the HPT 2nd-stage 
disk from service.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install onto any 
engine an HPT 1st-stage or HPT 2nd-stage disk with a P/N and S/N 
listed in paragraph (c) of this AD.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD,

[[Page 461]]

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 Related 
Information. 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 Nicholas Paine, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7116; fax: (781) 238-7199; 
email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on December 28, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-00053 Filed 1-5-21; 8:45 am]
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