Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Engines

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12951-12953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03442]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-2147; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00663-E; 
Amendment 39-22670; AD 2024-03-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. 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 
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) Model PW307A and PW307D engines. 
This AD is 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 and 
an aborted takeoff. This AD requires removing from service and 
replacing certain HPT disks and also prohibits installing certain HPT 
disks on any engine, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is 
incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 27, 2024.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 27, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-2147; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), 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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Transport Canada, Transport Canada National Aircraft 
Certification, 159 Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, Ontario, K1A 0N5, Canada; 
phone: (888) 663-3639; email: [email protected]; website: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation.
    <bullet> 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 regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-2147.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: (781) 238-7146; 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 P&WC Model PW307A 
and PW307D engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
November 9, 2023 (88 FR 77236). The NPRM was prompted by AD CF-2023-30, 
dated May 8, 2023 (Transport Canada AD CF-2023-30) (also referred to as 
the MCAI), issued by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority 
for Canada. The MCAI states that on March 18, 2020, an Airbus Model 
A321-231 airplane, powered by International Aero Engines AG (IAE) Model 
V2533-A5 engines, experienced an uncontained HPT 1st-stage disk failure 
that resulted in an aborted takeoff and high-energy debris penetrating 
the engine cowling.
    In response to the March 2020 uncontained HPT 1st-stage disk 
failure, the FAA issued a series of ADs, including Emergency AD 2020-
07-51, Amendment 39-21110 (85 FR 20402, April 13, 2020) (AD 2020-07-
51). Since the FAA issued AD 2020-07-51, IAE determined that the 
failure of the V2533-A5 engine was due to an undetected subsurface 
material defect in the HPT 1st-stage disk that may affect the life of 
the part. In coordination with IAE, P&WC performed a records review and 
analysis of PW307A and PW307D engine parts made of similar material and 
identified additional affected HPT 1st and 2nd-stage disks, installed 
on PW307A and PW307D engines. These additional HPT disks may have a 
material defect that could reduce the life of the part and must be 
removed from service.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require replacing certain HPT 
disks and prohibiting the installation of certain HPT disks on any 
engine, as specified in the MCAI. The FAA is issuing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition on these products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-2147.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

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

Conclusion

    These products have been approved by the aviation authority of 
another country and are approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design 
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in 
the MCAI referenced above. 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. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is 
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Transport Canada AD CF-2023-30, which identifies 
the affected HPT disks and specifies procedures for replacement. 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 63 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 12952]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Cost on
                 Action                              Labor cost             Parts cost    Cost per       U.S.
                                                                                          product     operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove affected HPT 1st or 2nd stage      8 work-hours x $85 per hour =       $136,400     $137,080   $8,636,040
 disk.                                     $680.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD 
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected operators.

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:

2024-03-01 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Amendment 39-22670; Docket 
No. FAA-2023-2147; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00663-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 27, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Model PW307A and 
PW307D engines.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a root cause analysis of an event 
involving an International Aero Engines AG Model V2533-A5 engine, 
which experienced an uncontained failure of a high-pressure turbine 
(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 and 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

    Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: 
Perform all required actions within the compliance times specified 
in, and in accordance with, Transport Canada AD CF-2023-30, dated 
May 8, 2023 (Transport Canada AD CF-2023-30).

(h) Exceptions To Transport Canada AD CF-2023-30

    (1) Where Transport Canada AD CF-2023-30 requires compliance 
from its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date 
of this AD.
    (2) Where paragraph A. of Transport Canada AD CF-2023-30 
specifies ``Before 31 January 2027,'' replace that text with 
``Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD.''
    (3) Where paragraph B. of Transport Canada AD CF-2023-30 
specifies ``At the next opportunity, when the affected engine is 
disassembled and access is available to the HPT disk, remove any 
affected HPT disk listed in Table 2 or Table 4 below and replace the 
affected HPT disk with a serviceable part,'' replace that text with 
``For any engine with an installed HPT disk listed in Table 2 or 
Table 4 [of Transport Canada AD CF-2023-30], at the next piece-part 
exposure, remove the affected HPT disk from service and replace with 
a serviceable part.''

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the service information referenced in Transport Canada 
AD CF-2023-30 specifies to submit certain information to the 
manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.

(j) Definitions

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, ``piece-part exposure'' is when 
the affected part is removed from the engine and completely 
disassembled.
    (2) For the purpose of this AD, a ``serviceable part'' is any 
HPT disk that is not identified in Tables 1 through 4 of Transport 
Canada AD CF-2023-30.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation 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 International Validation Branch, send 
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (l) 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.

(l) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Barbara Caufield, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite

[[Page 12953]]

410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (781) 238-7146; email: 
[email protected].

(m) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference 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) Transport Canada AD CF-2023-30, dated May 8, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Transport Canada AD CF-2023-30, contact Transport 
Canada, Transport Canada National Aircraft Certification, 159 
Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, Ontario K1A 0N5, Canada; phone: (888) 663-
3639; email: [email protected]; website: tc.canada.ca/en/
aviation.
    (4) 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.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on January 31, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-03442 Filed 2-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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