Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company CF34-8C1/-8C5/-8C5B1/-8E5/-8E5A1, and CF34-10E Series Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10647-10649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3462]



[[Page 10647]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-29001; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-36-AD; 
Amendment 39-15395; AD 2008-05-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company CF34-8C1/-8C5/
-8C5B1/-8E5/-8E5A1, and CF34-10E Series Turbofan Engines

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
General Electric Company (GE) CF34-8C1/-8C5/-8C5B1/-8E5/-8E5A1, and 
CF34-10E series turbofan engines with certain part number (P/N) and 
serial number (SN) fuel metering units (FMU) installed. This AD 
requires a onetime test of the FMU for a miswired (reversed polarity) 
condition of the input wires to the overspeed solenoid. This AD results 
from the discovery of miswired FMU overspeed solenoids in the field. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent the engine from failing to shutdown 
during an overspeed which may lead to uncontained engine failure.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 3, 2008. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of April 3, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from General Electric Company via Lockheed Martin Technology Services, 
10525 Chester Road, Suite C, Cincinnati, Ohio 45215; telephone (513) 
672-8400; fax (513) 672-8422.
    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: Tara Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7773; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to GE CF34-8C1/-8C5/-8C5B1/
-8E5/-8E5A1, and CF34-10E series turbofan engines with certain P/N and 
SN fuel metering units installed. We published the proposed AD in the 
Federal Register on September 7, 2007 (72 FR 51384). That action 
proposed to require a onetime test of the FMU for a miswired (reversed 
polarity) condition of the input wires to the overspeed solenoid.

Examinig 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 have considered the comments received.

Request to Reference the Latest GE Service Bulletin Revisions

    One commenter, GE, requests that we reference the latest GE service 
bulletin (SB) revisions, which are SB No. CF34-8C-AL S/B 73-0030, 
Revision 3, dated November 1, 2007, SB No. CF34-8E-AL S/B 73-0015, 
Revision 3, dated November 1, 2007, and SB No. CF34-10E S/B 72-0067, 
Revision 2, dated August 28, 2007.
    We agree. We made that change in the AD.

Request to Modify the Discussion Paragraph

    One commenter, Woodward Governor Company, requests that we modify 
the Discussion paragraph of the proposed AD by deleting the statement 
``If the solenoid is miswired, the engine will fail to shut down as 
commanded''. The commenter interprets this statement as meaning that if 
the engine can be shut down normally, the AD is not required.
    We partially agree. The statement is needed to explain that the AD 
is required by stating that shutdown failure is tied to overspeed in 
the unsafe condition statement in this AD. However, we deleted ``as 
commanded'' from the unsafe condition statements in the AD.

Request to Include 13 Additional FMU Serial Numbers

    Woodward Governor Company requests that we include 13 additional 
FMU serial numbers, that were discovered to be affected since we issued 
the NPRM.
    We agree. We changed the SN range of WYG94939 through WYGB4222 to 
WYG89156 through WYGB4222 in the AD and added the costs for them to the 
Cost section.

Request to Clarify Costs of Compliance

    Woodward Governor Company requests that in the Costs of Compliance 
paragraph we clarify the statement ``We estimate that about 2 percent 
of the inspected solenoids are defective, and it will cost about $5,000 
to replace each FMU'' to ``We estimate that about 2 percent of the 
inspected solenoids are defective, and it will cost about $5,000 to 
replace each FMU solenoid.''
    We agree. We clarified the Cost statement in the AD.

Request to Extend the Compliance Time

    One commenter, Mesa Airlines, requests that we extend the 
compliance time from 2,200 flight hours to 4,000 flight hours, due to 
potentially longer repair turn around times of failed FMUs from the 
manufacturer.
    We do not agree. Our compliance interval includes anticipated 
repair turn-around times. We did not change the AD.

Removal of Reporting Requirement

    We removed the reporting requirement from the AD, since we 
determined it was unnecesary.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. 
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the 
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 1,055 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 
0.25 work-hour per engine to perform the FMU inspections, and that the 
average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. We estimate that about 2 
percent of the inspected solenoids are defective. Replacement solenoids 
will cost about $5,000 each. Based on these figures, we estimate the 
total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be $126,600. Our cost 
estimate is exclusive of possible warranty coverage.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue

[[Page 10648]]

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 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, Incorporation by 
reference, 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:

2008-05-01 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-15395. Docket No. 
FAA-2007-29001; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-36-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 3, 
2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to:
    (1) General Electric Company (GE) CF34-8C1/-8C5/-8C5B1/-8E5/-
8E5A1 turbofan engines, with GE fuel metering unit (FMU) part number 
(P/N) 4120T01P02, serial numbers (SNs) WYG89156 through WYGB4222, 
and Woodward Governor FMU Vendor Identification Number (VIN) 8061-
926, SNs 11954378 through 15140071.
    (2) GE CF34-10E series turbofan engines, with GE FMU P/N 
2043M10P05, SNs WYGA3251 through WYGB4085, and Woodward Governor FMU 
VIN 8063-884, SNs 13335695 through 15028283.
    (3) CF34-8C1/-8C5/-8C5B1 turbofan engines are installed on, but 
not limited to, Bombardier Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (CRJ-700 & -701), 
and CL-600-2D24/-2D15 (CRJ-900) airplanes.
    (4) CF34-8E5/-8E5A1 turbofan engines are installed on, but not 
limited to, Embraer ERJ 170-100/ -200 series airplanes.
    (5) CF34-10E series turbofan engines are installed on, but not 
limited to, Embraer ERJ 190-100/-200 series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from the discovery of miswired FMU overspeed 
solenoids in the field. We are issuing this AD to prevent the engine 
from failing to shutdown during an overspeed which may lead to 
uncontained engine failure.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within 2,200 flight hours after the effective date of 
this AD, but not to exceed 24 months after the effective date of 
this AD, unless the actions have already been done.

Onetime Test of the FMU

    (f) Perform a onetime test of the FMU for a miswired (reversed 
polarity) condition of the input wires to the overspeed solenoid.
    (g) Use paragraph 3A of the Accomplishment Instructions of GE 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. CF34-8C-AL S/B 73-0030, Revision 3, dated 
November 1, 2007, SB No. CF34-8E-AL S/B 73-0015, Revision 3, dated 
November 1, 2007, or SB No. CF34-10E S/B 72-0067, Revision 2, dated 
August 28, 2007, as applicable, to do the test.
    (h) If the FMU fails the test, remove the FMU.

Previous Credit

    (i) If you performed the actions specified in paragraphs (f) 
through (h) of this AD using the inspection procedures in the 
following SBs, before the effective date of this AD, you satisfied 
the requirements of this AD.
    (1) GE SB No. CF34-8C-AL S/B 73-0030, dated May 25, 2007, 
Revision 1, dated July 19, 2007, or Revision 2, dated August 28, 
2007.
    (2) GE SB No. CF34-8E-AL S/B 73-0015, dated June 1, 2007, 
Revision 1, dated July 19, 2007, or Revision 2, dated August 28, 
2007.
    (3) GE SB No. CF34-10E S/B 72-0067, dated June 7, 2007 or 
Revision 1, dated July 26, 2007.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (j) The Manager, Engine 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) Contact Tara Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7773; fax (781) 238-7199, 
for more information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) You must use the service information specified in Table 1 of 
this AD to perform the testing required by this AD. The Director of 
the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the 
documents listed in Table 1 in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 
CFR part 51. Contact General Electric Company via Lockheed Martin 
Technology Services, 10525 Chester Road, Suite C, Cincinnati, Ohio 
45215; telephone (513) 672-8400; fax (513) 672-8422, for a copy of 
this service information. You may review copies at the FAA, New 
England Region, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at 
the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-
741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

                                      Table 1.--Incorporation by Reference
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       GE Service Bulletin No.                  Page              Revision                    Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CF34-8C-AL S/B 73-0030, Total Pages:  ALL....................               3  November 1, 2007.
 11.

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CF34-8E-AL S/B 73-0015, Total Pages:  ALL....................               3  November 1, 2007.
 11.
CF34-10E S/B 72-0067, Total Pages:    ALL....................               2  August 28, 2007.
 10.
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    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 15, 2008.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-3462 Filed 2-27-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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