Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 110 (Thursday, June 10, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30770-30772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12137]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0187; Project Identifier AD-2020-01664-E; 
Amendment 39-21583; AD 2021-11-21]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain CFM International, S.A. (CFM) LEAP-1A model turbofan engines. 
This AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing quality escape 
found during an inspection of a high-pressure turbine (HPT) case. This 
AD requires the removal from service of the affected HPT case. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 15, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 15, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact CFM International, S.A., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann 
Way, M/D Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; phone: (877) 432-3272; email: 
[email protected]. You may view this service information at 
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 
1200 District

[[Page 30771]]

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (781) 238-7759. It is also available at 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0187.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0187; 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 address for Docket 
Operations 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: Christopher McGuire, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7120; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain CFM LEAP-1A23, 
LEAP-1A24, LEAP-1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-1A29, 
LEAP-1A29CJ, LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2, and LEAP-
1A35A model turbofan engines. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on March 23, 2021 (86 FR 15443). The NPRM was prompted by a 
report of a manufacturing quality escape found during an inspection of 
an HPT case. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require the removal from 
service of the affected HPT case. The FAA is issuing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition on these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety 
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is 
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed CFM Service Bulletin (SB) LEAP-1A-72-00-0421-01A-
930A-D, Issue 001, dated October 22, 2020. This SB specifies procedures 
for replacing the affected HPT cases. 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 
ADDRESSES.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 8 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 and replace the HPT case.......  1 work-hour x $85 per           $217,600        $217,685      $1,741,480
                                         hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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.

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:

2021-11-21 CFM International, S.A.: Amendment 39-21583; Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0187; Project Identifier AD-2020-01664-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective July 15, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to CFM International, S.A. (CFM) LEAP-1A23, 
LEAP-1A24, LEAP-1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-
1A29, LEAP-1A29CJ, LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2, and 
LEAP-1A35A model turbofan engines, with a high-pressure turbine 
(HPT) case, part number (P/N) 2668M94G01, that

[[Page 30772]]

contains a stage 7 port, P/N 2614M30P01, with a port casting serial 
number (S/N) listed in Table 1 in Planning Information, Paragraph 
3.A., of CFM Service Bulletin (SB) LEAP-1A-72-00-0421-01A-930A-D, 
Issue 001, dated October 22, 2020.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing quality 
escape found during inspection of an HPT case. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to prevent failure of the HPT case. The unsafe condition, if 
not addressed, could result in failure of the HPT case, uncontained 
rotor release, 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

    Before the HPT case exceeds the cycles since new limit in Table 
1, Planning Information, Paragraph 3.A., of CFM SB LEAP-1A-72-00-
0421-01A-930A-D, Issue 001, dated October 22, 2020, or during the 
next piece part exposure, whichever occurs first after the effective 
date of this AD, remove the affected HPT case from service and 
replace with a part eligible for installation.

(h) Definitions

    For the purpose of this AD:
    (1) A part eligible for installation is an HPT case, P/N 
2668M94G01, that contains a stage 7 port, P/N 2614M30P01, with an S/
N that is not listed in Table 1 in Planning Information, Paragraph 
3.A., of CFM SB LEAP-1A-72-00-0421-01A-930A-D, Issue 001, dated 
October 22, 2020.
    (2) Piece-part exposure is when the HPT case is removed from the 
engine and fully disassembled.

(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 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 Christopher McGuire, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7120; 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) CFM Service Bulletin LEAP-1A-72-00-0421-01A-930A-D, Issue 
001, dated October 22, 2020.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For CFM service information identified in this AD, contact 
CFM International, S.A., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, 
M/D Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; phone: (877) 432-3272; email: 
[email protected].
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety 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, email: [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on May 21, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-12137 Filed 6-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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