[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 96 (Monday, May 18, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29676-29678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10571]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0494; Project Identifier AD-2020-00324-E]
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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all General Electric Company (GE) GE90-110B1 and GE90-115B model
turbofan engines with a certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor stage
2 disk installed. This proposed AD was prompted by a report from the
manufacturer that a subsurface anomaly was found on a HPT rotor stage 2
disk. This proposed AD would require an ultrasonic inspection (USI) of
the HPT rotor stage 2 disk and, depending on the result of the
inspection, replacement of the HPT rotor stage 2 disk with a part
eligible for installation. 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 July 2,
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, Airworthiness Products
Section, Operational Safety 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-2020-
0494; 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: Stephen Elwin, Aerospace Engineer, ECO
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7236; 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-2020-0494;
Project Identifier AD-2020-00324-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 Stephen Elwin, 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 a report from the manufacturer that a subsurface
anomaly was found on a HPT rotor stage 2 disk. The manufacturer
determined that the subsurface anomaly developed during the material
melting process. This condition, if not addressed, could result in
uncontained HPT rotor stage 2 disk release, damage to the engine, and
damage to the airplane.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed GE GE90-100 Service Bulletin (SB) 72-0838, dated
January 31, 2020. The SB describes procedures for performing an USI of
the HPT rotor stage 2 disk. 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 it 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 an USI of the HPT rotor stage 2 disk
and, depending on the results of the inspection, replacement of the HPT
rotor stage 2 disk with a part eligible for installation.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 12 engines
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
[[Page 29677]]
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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USI of HPT rotor stage 2 disk....... 8 work-hours x $85 per $0 $680 $8,160.
hour = $680.
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacements that would be required based on the results of the
proposed inspection. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
engines that might need this replacement:
On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
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Remove and replace HPT rotor stage 2 disk..... 2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $565,600 $565,770.
$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 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):
General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA-2020-0494; Project
Identifier AD-2020-00324-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments by July 2, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all General Electric Company (GE) GE90-110B1
and GE90-115B model turbofan engines with a high-pressure turbine
(HPT) rotor stage 2 disk, part number 2505M73P03, and with a serial
number listed in Appendix--A, Table 1, of GE GE90-100 Service
Bulletin (SB) 72-0838, dated January 31, 2020.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine
Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report from the manufacturer that a
subsurface anomaly was found on a HPT rotor stage 2 disk. The FAA is
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPT rotor stage 2 disk.
The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained
HPT rotor stage 2 disk release, 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
(1) At the next piece-part exposure after the effective date of
this AD, perform an ultrasonic inspection (USI) of the HPT rotor
stage 2 disk in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions,
paragraph 3.B.(1)(a), of GE GE90-100 SB 72-0838, dated January 31,
2020.
(2) If, during the USI required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD,
a rejectable indication is found, remove the HPT rotor stage 2 disk
from service before further flight and replace it with a part
eligible for installation.
(h) Definition
For the purpose of this AD, ``piece-part exposure'' is when the
HPT rotor stage 2 disk is removed from the engine and completely
disassembled.
(i) 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 (j)(1) of this AD. You may email your
request to: [email protected].
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector,
[[Page 29678]]
or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight
standards district office/certificate holding district office.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Stephen Elwin,
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA, 01803; phone: 781-238-7236; 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, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational
Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
781-238-7759.
Issued on May 13, 2020.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-10571 Filed 5-15-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P