Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company (GE) CF34-8E Series Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 224 (Monday, November 23, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61021-61023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27985]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0821; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-20-AD; 
Amendment 39-16094; AD 2009-24-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company (GE) CF34-8E 
Series Turbofan Engines

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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[[Page 61022]]

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) for GE CF34-8E series turbofan engines with certain part number 
(P/N) full authority digital electronic controls (FADECs) installed. 
That AD currently requires removing certain P/N FADECs. This 
superseding AD requires removal of 12 more P/Ns of FADECs. This AD 
results from 20 additional reports received of loss of thrust control 
events since AD 2008-16-01 was issued. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent loss of thrust control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective December 28, 2009.

ADDRESSES: 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: Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7143; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 by 
superseding AD 2008-16-01, Amendment 39-15619 (73 FR 44628, July 31, 
2008), with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to GE CF34-8E series 
turbofan engines with FADECs, P/Ns 4120T00P31, 4120T00P32, 4120T00P41, 
4120T00P42, 4120T00P43, 4120T00P44, 4120T00P47, 4120T00P48, 
111E9320G32, 111E9320G33, 111E9320G42, 111E9320G43, 111E9320G44, 
111E9320G45, 111E9320G48, or 111E9320G49 installed. We published the 
proposed AD in the Federal Register on August 24, 2009 (74 FR 42610). 
That action proposed to require removal of 12 more P/Ns of FADECs than 
what AD 2008-16-01 required to be removed.

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 have considered the comment received. The 
commenter supports the proposal.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 273 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 
one work-hour per engine to perform the actions, and that the average 
labor rate is $80 per work-hour, with a parts cost per engine of $55. 
Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. 
operators to be $36,855.

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 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 removing Amendment 39-15619 (73 FR 
44628, July 31, 2008), and by adding a new airworthiness directive, 
Amendment 39-16094, to read as follows:

2009-24-06 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-16094. Docket No. 
FAA-2008-0821; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-20-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective December 
28, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2008-16-01, Amendment 39-15619.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) CF34-8E 
series turbofan engines with full authority digital electronic 
controls (FADECs), part numbers (P/Ns) 4120T00P31, 4120T00P32, 
4120T00P41, 4120T00P42, 4120T00P43, 4120T00P44, 4120T00P47, 
4120T00P48, 111E9320G32, 111E9320G33, 111E9320G42, 111E9320G43, 
111E9320G44, 111E9320G45, 111E9320G48, or 111E9320G49 installed. 
These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Empresa 
Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER) ERJ 170 series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from 20 additional reports received of loss 
of thrust control events since AD 2008-16-01 was issued. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent loss of thrust control of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within

[[Page 61023]]

the compliance times specified unless the actions have already been 
done.

Removal of CF34-8E FADECs

    (f) Within 660 flight hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, remove FADEC P/Ns 4120T00P31, 4120T00P32, 
4120T00P41, 4120T00P42, 4120T00P43, 4120T00P44, 4120T00P47, 
4120T00P48, 111E9320G32, 111E9320G33, 111E9320G42, 111E9320G43, 
111E9320G44, 111E9320G45, 111E9320G48, and 111E9320G49.

Installation Prohibition

    (g) After 660 flight hours TIS after the effective date of this 
AD, do not install any FADEC P/N 4120T00P31, 4120T00P32, 4120T00P41, 
4120T00P42, 4120T00P43, 4120T00P44, 4120T00P47, 4120T00P48, 
111E9320G32, 111E9320G33, 111E9320G42, 111E9320G43, 111E9320G44, 
111E9320G45, 111E9320G48, or 111E9320G49 onto any GE CF34-8E series 
engine.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (h) 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

    (i) Contact Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification 
Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: [email protected]; 
telephone (781) 238-7143; fax (781) 238-7199, for more information 
about this AD.
    (j) Guidance on removal and replacement with an FAA-approved 
FADEC software version can be found in GE Alert Service Bulletin No. 
CF34-8E-AL S/B 73-A0020, dated November 12, 2008. For a copy of this 
service information, contact General Electric Company, GE-Aviation, 
Room 285, 1 Newmann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215, telephone (513) 552-
3272; fax (513) 552-3329; e-mail: [email protected].

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 16, 2009.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-27985 Filed 11-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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