Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 30 (Monday, February 14, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8172-8174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03008]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-1016; Project Identifier AD-2021-00625-E; 
Amendment 39-21936; AD 2022-03-19]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company 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 all 
General Electric Company (GE) Passport 20-17BB1A, Passport 20-18BB1A, 
and Passport 20-19BB1A model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by 
a report of a manufacturing quality escape that requires a reduction to 
the life limit of certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor stage 1 
disks. This AD requires revising the airworthiness limitations section 
(ALS) of the existing maintenance manual and the operator's existing 
approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program (CAMP) to 
incorporate a reduced life limit for certain HPT rotor stage 1 disks. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 21, 2022.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 21, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact General Electric Company, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215, 
United States; phone: (513) 552-3272; email: 
[email protected]; website: www.ge.com. You may view this 
service information at the 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 
(817) 222-5110. It is also available at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-1016.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-1016; 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: Scott Stevenson, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7132; 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 all GE Passport 20-
17BB1A, Passport 20-18BB1A, and Passport 20-19BB1A model turbofan 
engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 29, 
2021 (86 FR 67669). The NPRM was prompted by a report from GE of a 
manufacturing quality escape that identified a certain population of 
HPT rotor stage 1 disks that did not meet the design specification. GE 
determined that machining and inspection of the affected HPT rotor 
stage 1 disks was inconsistent with the engineering drawing. Further 
analysis by GE determined that the nonconformance at the forward and 
aft hooks of the HPT rotor stage 1 disks may cause the disks to fail 
prematurely and, therefore, the life limit of the affected HPT rotor 
stage 1 disks requires reduction. As a result, GE decreased the life 
limit of the affected HPT rotor stage 1 disks. In the NPRM, the FAA 
proposed to require revising the ALS of the GE Passport 20 Line 
Maintenance Manual, GEK 112062, and the operator's existing approved 
CAMP to incorporate a reduced life limit for certain HPT rotor stage 1 
disks. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received one comment, from GE. The following presents the 
comment received on the NPRM and the FAA's response.

Request To Update Date of Service Information

    GE requested that the FAA correct the date of GE Service Bulletin 
(SB) PASSPORT20-A-72-00-0116-00A-930A-D, Issue 002, in this AD from 
July 22, 2021, to August 13, 2021. GE commented that the NPRM included 
the date of the draft SB and not the date of the published SB. GE 
stated that there was no change to the document content between the 
draft and publication dates.
    The FAA agrees and has revised this AD as requested.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments 
received, 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. Except for minor editorial changes and any 
other changes described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed in 
the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any 
operator.

[[Page 8173]]

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed GE SB PASSPORT20-A-72-00-0116-00A-930A-D, Issue 
002, dated August 13, 2021. This service information describes 
procedures for removing a certain population of HPT rotor stage 1 disks 
from service and provides serial numbers of the affected HPT rotor 
stage 1 disks. 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 78 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise the ALS of the Line Maintenance  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85          $6,630
 Manual and the operator's existing      hour = $85.
 approved CAMP.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

2022-03-19 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-21936; Docket No. 
FAA-2021-1016; Project Identifier AD-2021-00625-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 21, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) Passport 20-
17BB1A, Passport 20-18BB1A, and Passport 20-19BB1A model turbofan 
engines.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a manufacturing quality escape that 
requires a reduction to the life limit for certain high-pressure 
turbine (HPT) rotor stage 1 disks. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the HPT rotor stage 1 disk. The unsafe condition, 
if not addressed, could result in uncontained disk 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 Action

    Within 120 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
airworthiness limitations section of the existing maintenance manual 
for your engine and the operator's existing approved continuous 
airworthiness maintenance program by adding Figure 1 to paragraph 
(g) of this AD.

[[Page 8174]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR14FE22.000


    Note 1 to paragraph (g): Where Figure 1 to paragraph (g) refers 
to ``Life Cycles,'' for the purpose of this AD, this refers to life 
cycles since new.

(h) 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 (i) 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.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Scott Stevenson, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7132; fax: (781) 238-7199; 
email: [email protected].

(j) 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) General Electric Company Service Bulletin PASSPORT20-A-72-
00-0116-00A-930A-D, Issue 002, dated August 13, 2021.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
General Electric Company, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; 
phone: (513) 552-3272; email: [email protected]; website: 
www.ge.com.
    (4) You may view this referenced service information at the 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 (817) 222-5110.
    (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 January 26, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-03008 Filed 2-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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