[Federal Register: April 22, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 77)]
[Notices]
[Page 19879-19880]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22ap03-133]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No. FAA-2003-14374]
Rotor Manufacturing Induced Anomaly Database
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Order designating voluntarily submitted information as
protected from disclosure.
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SUMMARY: By this Order the FAA designates the information and data
submitted to create the Rotor Manufacturing Induced Anomaly Database
(known as the ``ROMAN Database'') as protected from disclosure under 14
CFR part 193, Protection of voluntarily submitted information. This
designation requires the FAA to protect the information from disclosure
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and other laws. The
FAA makes this designation to encourage production approval holders and
suppliers that manufacture high energy rotating gas turbine engine
components to voluntarily submit information for inclusion into the
ROMAN database.
Authority: 49 U.S. 40123; and 14 CFR part 193.
DATES: Effective April 14, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Kerman, Aviation Safety Inspector-
Manufacturing Process Specialist, Manufacturing Inspection Office, ANE-
180, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration,
New England Region, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01802, telephone 781-238-7195; fax (781) 238-7898.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 4, 2003, the FAA issued a Notice
proposing to designate information submitted to it to create the Rotor
Manufacturing Induced Anomaly Database (known as the ``ROMAN
Database'') as protected from disclosure under 14 CFR part 193 (68 FR
6790, February 10, 2003). No comments were received on the proposal.
Findings under CFR Part 193
The FAA finds:
(1) The information will be provided voluntarily. The FAA finds
that the information will be provided voluntarily. Note that the
information provided by the participants is beyond the scope of that
required by the type certification mandatory reporting rules, and that
the participants may withdraw from the program at any time. The ROMAN
database will provide production approval holders (PAH) and suppliers
of critical rotating parts with an opportunity to benefit from each
other's adverse experiences and lessons learned that is not available
without the protection of 14 CFR part 193. The identification of trends
and the establishment of the shortfalls with the base manufacturing
processes as a result of the ROMAN database will provide economic
benefit to the submitters.
(2) The information is safety or security related. The FAA finds
that the information is safety related. The ROMAN database will contain
comprehensive information on manufacturing-induced anomalies on
critical rotating engine components. These anomalies are of the kind
that are known to initiate disk fracture and fatigue failure resulting
in aircraft accidents. Also, important background information will be
used to relate those anomalies to specific manufacturing methods and
materials. The database will be instrumental in identifying
manufacturing process and material shortfalls that will assist the
industry and the FAA in improving the integrity and safety of rotating
parts of jet engines.
(3) The disclosure of the information would inhibit the voluntary
provision of that type of information. The FAA finds that the
disclosure of the information would inhibit persons from voluntarily
providing of that type of information. The information submitted for
the ROMAN database would be highly sensitive and commercially valuable
information. One of the reasons why such a database does not already
exist is the reluctance of each participant to share its data and
lessons learned with the FAA as well as each other without the
assurances of protection from public disclosure.
(4) The receipt of this type of information aids in fulfilling the
FAA's safety and security responsibilities. The
[[Page 19880]]
receipt of information for the ROMAN database will aid the FAA in
improving overall engine rotor integrity and decreasing the occurrence
and severity of engine rotor failures. Reducing the number of aircraft
accidents attributable to the failure of rotating parts in engines is
an important part of the FAA's Safer Skies Program. The ROMAN database
provides a way to identify manufacturing trends and precursors before
they result in anomalies that might cause rotating part failures and
aircraft accidents.
(5) Withholding such information from disclosure, under the
circumstances provided in this part, is consistent with the FAA's
safety and security responsibilities. Withholding the information
submitted to the FAA to form the ROMAN database from public disclosure
is consistent with the FAA's safety responsibilities. The ROMAN
database will provide a key method to improving safety in air commerce
by identifying manufacturing trends that may contribute to the presence
of anomalies in the rotating parts in aircraft engines that could
potentially cause those parts to fail. Identifying these trends will
lead to improvements in manufacturing processes as well as design
practices to eliminate and account for the anomalies in future
production and the removal of parts already in service before the
actual failure occurs.
The FAA will withhold and release information submitted under this
program as specified in 14 CFR 193.9.
The FAA may release activity reports that include the number of
PAHs and suppliers who are participating and the number of
manufacturing trends identified as a result. Activity reports will not
include the names of the PAH's and suppliers who participate, or
numbers or details of the anomalies that have been disclosed under this
program.
(6) Summary of how the FAA will distinguish information protected
under this program from information the FAA receives from other
sources. The FAA routinely receives data and information aircraft
engine PAHs as part of its regulatory oversight of approved engine
designs. The data received for the ROMAN database will be maintained
separately by having the ROMAN database managed by a contractor. The
ROMAN database will include only information received under this
program. Information that is received under this program, and reports
generated ROMAN database, will be clearly marked as having been
received under this program as follows:
WARNING: The Information in this Document Is Protected from
Disclosure under 14 CFR part 193. This Information Shall Not Be
Released Except With Written Permission of the Associate
Administrator for Regulation and Certification.
Designation
Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration hereby designates
the information submitted under this program to be protected under 49
U.S.C. 40123 and 14 CFR part 193.
Issued in Washington, DC on April 14, 2003.
Nicholas A. Sabatini,
Associate Administrator for Regulation and Certification.
[FR Doc. 03-9890 Filed 4-2-03; 8:45 am]
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