[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 114 (Friday, June 12, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35812-35814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12626]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0542; Project Identifier AD-2020-00582-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Division Turbofan
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) PW4164, PW4164-1D, PW4168,
PW4168-1D, PW4168A, PW4168A-1D, and PW4170 model turbofan engines with
a certain outer combustion chamber assembly and 3rd stage low-pressure
turbine (LPT) duct segments installed. This proposed AD was prompted by
reports of damaged or failed 3rd stage LPT duct segments on PW engines
with the Talon IIB outer combustion chamber assembly configuration
installed. This proposed AD would require removing and replacing
certain 3rd stage LPT duct segments. The FAA is proposing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
[[Page 35813]]
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 27,
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.
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-2020-
0542; 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, 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: Carol Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, ECO
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7655; 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 proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0542;
Project Identifier AD-2020-00582-E'' at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites 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.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, 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 NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552),
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to
this AD contain commercial or financial information that is customarily
treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is
relevant or responsive to this AD, it is important that you clearly
designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your
submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked
submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed
in the public docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be
sent to Carol Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200
District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. Any commentary that the FAA
receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in
the public docket for this rulemaking.
Discussion
The FAA received multiple reports of damaged or failed 3rd stage
LPT duct segments that resulted in engine surges, in-flight shutdowns,
diversions, and air turnbacks. The reports were attributed to elevated
gas path temperature at the outer diameter of the turbine flowpath and
high-pressure turbine 2nd stage blade outer air seal spallation, which
led to the distortion and liberation of 3rd stage LPT duct segments.
This condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained release
of LPT blades and vanes, damage to the engine, and damage to the
airplane.
Related Service Information
The FAA reviewed PW Service Bulletin (SB) No. PW4G-100-72-214,
dated December 15, 2011; PW SB No. PW4G-100-72-219, Revision 1, dated
October 5, 2011; and PW SB No. PW4G-100-72-253, dated November 24,
2014. PW SB No. PW4G-100-72-214 introduces the Talon IIB outer
combustion chamber assembly that reduces the combustor exit temperature
levels at the outer diameter of the combustor. PW SB No. PW4G-100-72-
219, Revision 1, describes procedures for installing the Advantage70
engine upgrade kit to improve engine reliability and fuel consumption,
and to reduce maintenance costs. PW SB No. PW4G-100-72-253 describes
procedures for replacing the outer combustion chamber assembly waspaloy
nuts.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is proposing this AD because the Agency 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 require removing and replacing certain 3rd
stage LPT duct segments.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 99 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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Remove and replace 3rd stage LPT 56 work-hours x $85 per $85,000 $89,760 $8,886,240
duct segments. hour = $4,760.
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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
[[Page 35814]]
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
The FAA 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 this 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
Pratt & Whitney Division: Docket No. FAA-2020-0542; Project
Identifier AD-2020-00582-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments by July 27, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) PW4164,
PW4164-1D, PW4168, PW4168-1D, PW4168A, PW4168A-1D, and PW4170 model
turbofan engines that have 3rd stage low-pressure turbine (LPT) duct
segments, part number (P/N) 50N434-01 or P/N 50N450-01 installed,
and have the Talon IIB outer combustion chamber assembly, P/N 51J500
or P/N 51J381, installed.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine
Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of damaged or failed 3rd stage
LPT duct segments on PW engines with the Talon IIB outer combustion
chamber assembly configuration installed. The FAA is issuing this AD
to prevent failure of the 3rd stage LPT duct segments. The unsafe
condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained release of
LPT blades and vanes, damage to the engine, and damage to the
airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Action
At every engine shop visit after the effective date of this AD,
remove from service the 3rd stage LPT duct segments, P/N 50N434-01
and P/N 50N450-01, and replace them with parts with zero flight
cycles.
(h) Terminating Action
Removal of the 3rd stage LPT duct segments, P/N 50N434-01 and P/
N 50N450-01, and their replacement with parts having P/Ns other than
P/N 50N434-01 and P/N 50N450-01, constitutes terminating action for
the repetitive replacement required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
(i) Definition
For the purpose of this AD, an ``engine shop visit'' is the
induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the
separation of pairs of major mating engine flanges (lettered
flanges). The separation of engine flanges solely for the purpose of
transportation without subsequent engine maintenance does not
constitute an engine shop visit.
(j) 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 (k) 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.
(k) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Carol Nguyen,
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7655; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
[email protected].
Issued on June 5, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-12626 Filed 6-11-20; 8:45 am]
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