Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company CF6-80A Series Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 1, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14719-14720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7280]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-1206; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-19-AD; 
Amendment 39-15869; AD 2009-07-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company CF6-80A Series 
Turbofan 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 
General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80A series turbofan engines with a 
high-pressure turbine rotor (HPTR) stage 1 disk, part number (P/N) 
9367M45G06, installed. This AD requires removing any HPTR stage 1 disk, 
P/N 9367M45G06, before exceeding 2,075 cycles-since-new (CSN). This AD 
results from an error by GE that incorrectly cited a cyclic life of 
12,600 CSN for the HPTR stage 1 disk, P/N 9367M45G06. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent the HPTR stage 1 disk from exceeding its part life, 
which could cause fatigue cracks to start and grow. These cracks could 
result in a possible uncontained disk failure and damage to the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 6, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at the 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: Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7754; 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 CF6-80A series 
turbofan engines with a HPTR stage 1 disk, P/N 9367M45G06, installed. 
We published the proposed AD in the Federal Register on November 14, 
2008 (73 FR 67433). That action proposed to require removing any HPTR 
stage 1 disk, P/N 9367M45G06, before exceeding 2,075 CSN.

[[Page 14720]]

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 10 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 
110 work-hours per engine to perform the actions, and that the average 
labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about 
$437,000 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost 
of the AD to U.S. operators to be $4,458,000.

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 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:

2009-07-10 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-15869. Docket No. 
FAA-2008-1206; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-19-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective May 6, 
2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to General Electric Co. (GE) CF6-80A, CF6-
80A1, CF6-80A2, and CF6-80A3 turbofan engines with a high-pressure 
turbine rotor (HPTR) stage 1 disk, part number (P/N) 9367M45G06, 
installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, 
Airbus A310 series and Boeing 767 series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from an error by GE that incorrectly cited a 
cyclic life of 12,600 CSN in the Airworthiness Limitations Section 
(ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) for the 
HPTR stage 1 disk, P/N 9367M45G06. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
the HPTR stage 1 disk from exceeding its part life, which could 
cause fatigue cracks to start and grow. These cracks could result in 
a possible uncontained disk failure and damage to the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the 
actions have already been done.

New Reduced Life Limit for HPTR Stage 1 Disks, P/N 9367M45G06

    (f) After the effective date of this AD, remove HPTR stage 1 
disks, P/N 9367M45G06, from service before exceeding the new, 
reduced life limit of 2,075 cycles-since-new.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (g) 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.

Special Flight Permits

    (h) Under 14 CFR part 39.23, we are prohibiting any special 
flight permits.

Related Information

    (i) Contact Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7754; fax (781) 238-7199, 
for more information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) None.


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 25, 2009.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E9-7280 Filed 3-31-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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