[Federal Register: August 18, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 159)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 51198-51200]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18au04-17]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-ANE-61-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney PW2000 Series Turbofan
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness
directive (AD) for Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW2000 series turbofan engines.
That AD currently requires revisions to the engine manufacturer's time
limits section (TLS) to include enhanced inspection of selected
critical life-limited parts at each piece-part opportunity. This
proposed AD would modify the airworthiness limitations section of the
manufacturer's manual and an air carrier's approved continuous
airworthiness maintenance program to incorporate additional inspection
requirements. An FAA study of in-service events involving uncontained
failures of critical rotating engine parts has indicated the need for
mandatory inspections. The mandatory inspections are needed to identify
those critical rotating parts with conditions, which if allowed to
continue in service, could result in uncontained failures. We are
proposing this AD to prevent critical life-limited rotating engine part
failure, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage
to the airplane.
DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by October 18,
2004.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD:
By mail: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New
England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket
No. 98-ANE-61-AD, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-
5299.
By fax: (781) 238-7055.
By e-mail: 9-ane-adcomment@faa.gov.
You may examine the AD docket at the FAA, New England Region,
Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Riley, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-
7758, fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``AD Docket No. 98-ANE-61-AD'' in the
subject line of your comments. If you want us to acknowledge receipt of
your mailed comments, send us a self-addressed, stamped postcard with
the docket number written on it; we will date-stamp your postcard and
mail it back to you. We specifically invite comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed
AD. If a person contacts us verbally, and that contact relates to a
substantive part of this proposed AD, we will summarize the contact and
place the summary in the docket. We will consider all comments received
by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD in light of those
comments.
We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of
our communications that affect you. You may get more information about
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.Examining
the AD Docket
You may examine the AD Docket (including any comments and service
information), by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. See ADDRESSES for the
location.
Discussion
On June 4, 2002, the FAA issued airworthiness directive (AD) 2002-
12-06, Amendment 39-12778 (67 FR 40143, June 12, 2002), to require
revisions to the Time Limits Section (TLS) of the PW2000 Turbofan
Engine Manual to include required enhanced inspection of selected
critical life-limited parts at each piece-part opportunity.
New Inspection Procedures
Since the issuance of that AD, an FAA study of in-service events
involving uncontained failures of critical rotating engine parts has
indicated the need for additional mandatory inspections. The mandatory
inspections are needed to identify those critical rotating parts with
conditions, which if allowed to continue in service, could result in
uncontained failures. This proposal would modify the TLS of the
manufacturer's manual and an air carrier's approved continuous
airworthiness maintenance program to incorporate the additional
inspection requirements.
FAA's Determination of an Unsafe Condition and Proposed Actions
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other PW2000 series turbofan engines of the same
type design, the proposed AD would supersede AD 2002-12-06 to add
additional inspection requirements for critical life-limited parts for
enhanced inspection at each piece-part opportunity.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 938 Pratt & Whitney PW2000 series turbofan engines
of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. We estimate that 777
engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by
this proposed AD. We also estimate that it would take about 4 work
hours per engine to perform the proposed inspections, and that the
average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Since this is an added
inspection requirement, included as part of the normal maintenance
cycle, no additional part costs are involved. Based on these figures,
the total additional cost per engine per shop visit is estimated to be
$260. Based on the current PW2000 engine shop visit rate, the total
additional cost for the PW2000 fleet is estimated to be $80,860 per
year.
Regulatory Findings
We have 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.
[[Page 51199]]
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
3. Would 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 proposal and
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include
``AD Docket No. 98-ANE-61-AD'' in your request.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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
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]
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
removing Amendment 39-12778, (67 FR 40143 June 4, 2002), and by adding
a new airworthiness directive (AD) to read as follows:
Pratt & Whitney: Docket No. 98-ANE-61-AD. Supersedes AD 2002-12-06,
Amendment 39-12778.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by October
18, 2004.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2002-12-06.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW2037, PW2040,
PW2043, PW2143, PW2240, PW2337, PW2643, PW2037D, PW2037M, and
PW2040D series turbofan engines. These engines are installed on, but
not limited to Boeing 757 series and Ilyushin IL-96T series
airplanes.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from the need to require enhanced inspection
of selected critical life-limited parts of PW PW2000 series turbofan
engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent critical life-limited
rotating engine part failure, which could result in an uncontained
engine 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.
(f) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise
the manufacturer's Time Limits section (TLS) of the manufacturer's
engine manual, as appropriate for PW PW2037, PW2040, PW2043, PW2143,
PW2240, PW2337, PW2643, PW2037D, PW2037M, and PW2040D series
turbofan engines, and for air carriers revise the approved
continuous airworthiness maintenance program, by adding the
following:
MANDATORY INSPECTIONS
(1) Perform inspections of the following parts at each piece-
part opportunity in accordance with the instructions provided in
PW2000 Engine Manuals 1A6231 and 1B2412:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EM manual
Nomenclature Part No. section Inspection/check Subtask
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hub, LPC Assembly............... ALL................ 72-31-04 -06................
Disk, HPT 1st Stage............. ALL................ 72-52-02 FPI entire disk per 72-52-02-230-007
72-52-00,
Inspection/Check-
02.
Hub, HPT 2nd Stage.............. ALL................ 72-52-16 (a) FPI entire hub 72-52-16-230-007
per.
72-52-00,
Inspection/Check-
02.
(b) Eddy current 72-52-16-200-005
inspect hub bolt
holes per 72-52-
00, Inspection/
Check-05.
Hub, HPC Front.................. ALL................ 72-35-02 -05................
Disk, HPC Drum.................. ALL................ 72-35-03 -04................
Rotor Assembly (7-15)...........
Disk, HPC Drum Rotor Assembly ALL................ 72-35-10 -05................
(16-17).
Disk, HPC 16th Stage............ ALL................ 72-35-06 -04................
Disk, HPC 17th Stage............ ALL................ 72-35-07 -04................
HPC Turbine Drive Shaft Assembly ALL................ 72-35-08 -05................
LPC Drive Turbine Shaft......... ALL................ 72-32-01 -06................
Hub, Turbine Rear............... ALL................ 72-53-81 -06................
Disk, LPT 3rd stage............. ALL................ 72-53-31 -01................
Disk, LPT 4th Stage............. ALL................ 72-53-41 -01................
Disk, LPT 5th Stage............. ALL................ 72-53-51 -01................
Disk, LPT 6th Stage............. ALL................ 72-53-61 -01................
Disk, LPT 7th Stage............. ALL................ 72-53-71 -01................
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(2) For the purposes of these mandatory inspections, piece-part
opportunity means:
(i) The part is considered completely disassembled when done in
accordance with the disassembly instructions in the manufacturer's
engine manual to either part number level listed in the table above,
and
(ii) The part has accumulated more than 100 cycles in service
since the last piece-part opportunity inspection, provided that the
part was not damaged or related to the cause for its removal from
the engine.''
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(g) You must perform these mandatory inspections using the TLS
and the applicable Engine Manual unless you receive approval to use
an alternative method of compliance under paragraph (h) of this AD.
Section 43.16 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.16) may
not be used to approve alternative methods of compliance or
adjustments to the times in which these inspections must be
performed.
(h) 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.
[[Page 51200]]
Maintaining Records of the Mandatory Inspections
(i) You have met the requirements of this AD by using a TLS of
the manufacturer's engine manual changed as specified in paragraph
(f) of this AD, and, for air carriers operating under part 121 of
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 121), by modifying
your continuous airworthiness maintenance plan to reflect those
changes. You must maintain records of the mandatory inspections that
result from those changes to the TLS according to the regulations
governing your operation. You do not need to record each piece-part
inspection as compliance to this AD. For air carriers operating
under part 121, you may use either the system established to comply
with Sec. 121.369 or use an alternative system that your principal
maintenance inspector has accepted if that alternative system:
(1) Includes a method for preserving and retrieving the records
of the inspections resulting from this AD; and
(2) Meets the requirements of Sec. 121.369(c); and
(3) Maintains the records either indefinitely or until the work
is repeated.
(j) These record keeping requirements apply only to the records
used to document the mandatory inspections required as a result of
revising the TLS as specified in paragraph (f) of this AD, and do
not alter or amend the record keeping requirements for any other AD
or regulatory requirement.
Related Information
(k) None.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 11, 2004.
Ann Mollica,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 04-18919 Filed 8-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P