Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-4, -4R, -5, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R Series Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 184 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54491-54492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21835]



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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 184 / Monday, September 22, 2008 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 54491]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0264; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-07-AD; 
Amendment 39-15679; AD 2008-19-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-4, 
-4R, -5, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-4, -4R, -5, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R 
series turbofan engines, with interstage turbine transition (ITT) duct, 
part number (P/N) 3075292-1; 3075292-3; 3074766-1; 3077063-1; 3075655-
1; 3075655-2; 3075699-1; or 3075699-3, installed. This AD requires 
replacing the affected ITT duct with a serviceable and redesigned ITT 
duct. This AD results from reports of 49 low-pressure turbine (LPT) 
blade separation events. Six of those events resulted in 
circumferential failure of the LPT2 or LPT3 nozzle assembly, leading to 
deformation of the ITT duct and uncontainment of the turbine blades and 
fragments of the LPT nozzle assembly. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
uncontainment of turbine blades and fragments of the LPT nozzle 
assembly, which could result in damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 27, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from Honeywell Engines and Systems Technical Publications and 
Distribution, M/S 2101-201, P.O. Box 52170, Phoenix, AZ 85072-2170, 
telephone: (602) 365-2493 (General Aviation), (602) 365-5535 
(Commercial Aviation), fax: (602) 365-5577 (General Aviation and 
Commercial Aviation).
    The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone: (562) 627-5246; fax: (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to Honeywell International 
Inc. TFE731-4, -4R, -5, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R series turbofan engines, 
with ITT duct, P/N 3075292-1; 3075292-3; 3074766-1; 3077063-1; 3075655-
1; 3075655-2; 3075699-1; or 3075699-3, installed. We published the 
proposed AD in the Federal Register on April 4, 2008 (73 FR 18461). 
That action proposed to require replacing the affected ITT duct with a 
serviceable and redesigned ITT duct.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in 
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on 
the determination of the cost to the public. However, we did find that 
we misidentified two part numbers in the Summary and Applicability 
Sections of the NPRM. We identified in the NPRM P/Ns 30756599-1; or 
30756599-3 that should have been identified as P/Ns 3075699-1; or 
3075699-3. We changed the AD to use the correct P/Ns. We also changed 
the AD by adding a prohibition of affected ITT ducts, for clarity.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the 
change described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 1,500 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 4 
work-hours per engine to perform the actions, and that the average 
labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Reworked ITT ducts to the redesign 
will cost about $25,000 per engine. New ITT ducts that are redesigned 
will cost about $127,000. We estimate that 30 engines will require new 
ITT ducts. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD 
to U.S. operators to be $41,040,000.

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.
    We are 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

    We have determined that 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

[[Page 54492]]

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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration 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:

2008-19-12 Honeywell International Inc. (formerly AlliedSignal Inc., 
formerly Garret Turbine Engine Company): Amendment 39-15679. Docket 
No. FAA-2008-0264; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-07-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective October 
27, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-4, -
4R, -5, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R series turbofan engines, with interstage 
turbine transition (ITT) duct, part number (P/N) 3075292-1; 3075292-
3; 3074766-1; 3077063-1; 3075655-1; 3075655-2; 3075699-1; or 
3075699-3, installed. These engines are installed on, but not 
limited to, Avions Marcel Dassault Mystere-Falcon 50 series, 
Dassault-Aviation 20, 50, 900, MF900 series, Cessna Model 650, 
Cessna Citation VII, and Raytheon Corporate Jets (formerly British 
Aerospace) Hawker 800 and 850XP series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of 49 low-pressure turbine 
(LPT) blade separation events. Six of those events resulted in 
circumferential failure of the LPT2 or LPT3 nozzle assembly, leading 
to deformation of the ITT duct and uncontainment of the turbine 
blades and fragments of the LPT nozzle assembly. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent uncontainment of turbine blades and fragments of the 
LPT nozzle assembly, which could result in damage to the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed at the next Major Periodic Inspection of the engine or 
at next access of the ITT duct, whichever occurs first, but not to 
exceed 2,600 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this 
AD, unless the actions have already been done.

Replacement of the ITT Duct

    (f) Replace the affected ITT ducts listed by part number in 
paragraph (c) of this AD, with a serviceable and redesigned ITT 
duct.

Definitions

    (g) For the purpose of this AD, a serviceable and redesigned ITT 
duct is one not having a part number listed in this AD.
    (h) For the purpose of this AD, next access of the ITT duct is 
when the ITT duct is removed from the engine.

Prohibition of Affected ITT Ducts

    (i) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any ITT 
duct listed by P/N in paragraph (c) of this AD, onto any engine.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (j) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, has 
the authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for this 
AD if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (k) Honeywell International Inc. Service Bulletin (SB) No. 
TFE731-72-3727, dated September 12, 2007, and SB No. TFE731-72-3728, 
dated September 12, 2007, pertain to the subject of this AD.
    (l) Contact Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone: (562) 627-5246; fax: (562) 627-
5210, for more information about this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 12, 2008.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-21835 Filed 9-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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