[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3284-3286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00010]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0800; Product Identifier 2005-NE-24-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2005-23-09, which applies to all General Electric Company (GE) CF6-
80E1A1, -80E1A2, -80E1A3, -80E1A4, and -80E1A4/B model turbofan
engines. AD 2005-23-09 requires initial and repetitive fluorescent-
penetrant inspections (FPI) of certain areas of high-pressure
compressor (HPC) cases, part number (P/N) 1509M97G07 and P/N
2083M69G03. Since the FAA issued AD 2005-23-09, GE performed an updated
lifing analysis on the HPC case. As a result, GE found additional
locations on the cases requiring FPI, revised the inspection interval
for performing FPI of the existing location, and added an additional P/
N HPC case that requires inspection. This proposed AD would require an
update of the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of GE Engine
Manual GEK99376
[[Page 3285]]
and the operator's existing continuous airworthiness maintenance
program (CAMP). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 6,
2020.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact General
Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH
45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: [email protected]. You
may view this service information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller
Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-
238-7759.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0800; 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 NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Stevenson, Aerospace Engineer,
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone:
781-238-7132; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2019-0800;
Product Identifier 2005-NE-24-AD'' at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
NPRM because of those comments.
The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide.
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The FAA issued AD 2005-23-09, Amendment 39-14367 (70 FR 67901,
November 9, 2005), (``AD 2005-23-09''), for all GE CF6-80E1A1, -80E1A2,
-80E1A3, -80E1A4, and -80E1A4/B model turbofan engines. AD 2005-23-09
requires initial and repetitive FPI of certain areas of HPC cases, P/N
1509M97G07 and P/N 2083M69G03. AD 2005-23-09 resulted from the
discovery that HPC cases, P/N 1509M97G07 and P/N 2083M69G03, were
inadvertently left out of the ALS, Chapter 05-21-02, of GE Engine
Manual, GEK 99376, Revision 17. The FAA issued AD 2005-23-09 to prevent
failure of the HPC case aft mount flange, due to cracking.
Actions Since AD 2005-23-09 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 2005-23-09, GE performed an updated lifing
analysis on the HPC case. As a result, GE revised the inspection
interval of the existing location for the FPI and found additional
locations on the HPC case that require inspection. GE also found an
additional HPC case, P/N 1509M97G05, that requires this inspection.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed TASK 05-21-02-200-001, dated September 15, 2015,
from the ALS of the GE CF6-80E1 Engine Manual GEK99376, Revision 48,
dated September 15, 2019. The service information describes procedures
for performing FPIs of the HPC case. 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
the ADDRESSES section.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would retain certain requirements of AD 2005-23-
09. This proposed AD would require an update of the ALS of GE Engine
Manual GEK99376 and the operator's existing CAMP.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 20 engines
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Update ALS of engine manual........... 2 work-hours x $85 per $0 $170 $3,400
hour = $170.
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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
[[Page 3286]]
develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA has determined that this proposed AD would not have
federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD
would 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 the proposed
regulation:
(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 Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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 Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2005-23-09, Amendment 39-14367 (70 FR 67901, November 9, 2005), and
adding the following new AD:
General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA-2019-0800; Product
Identifier 2005-NE-24-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by March 6,
2020.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2005-23-09, Amendment 39-14367 (70 FR 67901,
November 9, 2005).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80E1A1, -
80E1A2, -80E1A3, -80E1A4, and -80E1A4/B model turbofan engines.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine
Compressor Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by GE performing an updated lifing analysis
on the high-pressure compressor (HPC) case. Based on this analysis,
GE found new locations on the case that require fluorescent
penetrant inspection (FPI), identified a new inspection interval for
the existing FPI location, and added another part-numbered HPC case
that requires inspection. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent
failure of the HPC case. The unsafe condition, if not addressed,
could result in uncontained release of the HPC case, engine fire,
and damage to the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Within 180 days after the effective date of this AD, replace
TASK 05-21-02-200-001 in GE CF6-80E1 Engine Manual GEK99376 and the
operator's existing continuous airworthiness maintenance program
with TASK 05-21-02-200-001, dated September 15, 2015, from the
Airworthiness Limitations Section of GE CF6-80E1 Engine Manual
GEK99376, Revision 48, dated September 15, 2019.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, ECO 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
certification office, send it to the attention of the person
identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. You may email your
request 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.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Scott Stevenson,
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7132; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
[email protected].
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way,
Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email:
[email protected]. You may view this referenced service
information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 2, 2020.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-00010 Filed 1-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P