Airworthiness Directives; Engine Alliance Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26967-26969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09631]



[[Page 26967]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0512; Project Identifier AD-2022-00367-E; 
Amendment 39-22042; AD 2022-10-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Engine Alliance 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 Engine Alliance (EA) GP7270, GP7272, and GP7277 model turbofan 
engines. This AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that 
revealed certain stages 7-9 compressor rotor spools were manufactured 
from a billet of material suspected of having foreign material 
embedded. This AD requires the replacement of the affected stages 7-9 
compressor rotor spool. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 23, 2022.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by June 21, 2022.

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.
    For service information identified in this final rule, contact 
Engine Alliance, 411 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118; phone: (800) 
565-0140; email: [email protected]; website: 
www.engineallianceportal.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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0512; 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: Stephen Elwin, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7236; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA was notified by the manufacturer of a powder metal material 
contamination discovered in a part manufactured from the same billet 
material used to manufacture the EA GP7270, GP7272, and GP7277 high-
pressure compressor (HPC) stage 8 rotor disk. Subsequent investigation 
by the manufacturer determined that the HPC stage 8 rotor disk, which 
is welded into the stages 7-9 compressor rotor spool, was manufactured 
from billets suspected of having foreign material embedded. The 
presence of foreign material in the billet may lead to crack formations 
and premature failure of the HPC stage 8 rotor disk. This condition, if 
not addressed, could result in failure of the HPC stage 8 rotor disk, 
uncontained release of the HPC stage 8 rotor disk, damage to the 
engine, and damage to 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.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Engine Alliance Service Bulletin (SB) EAGP7-72-
449, Original Issue, dated December 9, 2021. The SB describes 
procedures for removing and replacing the affected stages 7-9 
compressor rotor spool.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires the replacement of the affected stages 7-9 
compressor rotor spool.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers this AD to be an interim action. This issue is 
still under investigation by the manufacturer and, depending on the 
results of that investigation, the FAA may consider further rulemaking 
action.

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.
    The FAA justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of 
this rule because no domestic operators use this product. It is 
unlikely that the FAA will receive any adverse comments or useful 
information about this AD from any U.S. operator. Accordingly, notice 
and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). In addition, for the foregoing reason(s), 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.

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 ``Docket No. FAA-2022-0512 and Project Identifier 
AD-2022-00367-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

[[Page 26968]]

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 Stephen 
Elwin, 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 0 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace stages 7-9 compressor rotor     8 work-hours x $85 per          $853,400        $854,080              $0
 spool.                                  hour = $680.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

2022-10-04 Engine Alliance: Amendment 39-22042; Docket No. FAA-2022-
0512; Project Identifier AD-2022-00367-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 23, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Engine Alliance (EA) GP7270, GP7272, and 
GP7277 model turbofan engines with an installed:
    (1) Stages 7-9 compressor rotor spool, part number (P/N) 
2031M90G05, having serial number (S/N) GWN0R7R3; or
    (2) Stages 7-9 compressor rotor spool, P/N 2031M90G07, having S/
N GWN0R9R3, GWN0R9TC, GWN0R9TM, GWN0RCT5, or GWN0RCT6.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that 
revealed certain stages 7-9 compressor rotor spools were 
manufactured from a billet of material suspected of having foreign 
material embedded. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of 
the high-pressure compressor (HPC) stage 8 rotor disk. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained release of 
the HPC stage 8 rotor disk, 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

    Within 500 flight cycles (FCs) after the effective date of this 
AD, remove the affected stages 7-9 compressor rotor spool from 
service and replace with a part eligible for installation.

(h) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, a ``part eligible for installation'' 
is any stages 7-9 compressor rotor spool with an S/N that is not 
identified in paragraph (c)(1) or (2) of this AD.

(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 and email 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.

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(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Stephen Elwin, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7236; email: 
[email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on April 30, 2022.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-09631 Filed 5-5-22; 8:45 am]
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