[Federal Register: November 20, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 223)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 67073-67075]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20no06-16]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-24034; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-05-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney PW4077D, PW4084D,
PW4090, and PW4090-3 Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (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 PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and
PW4090-3 turbofan engines that were reassembled with previously used
high pressure compressor (HPC) exit brush seal packs and new or
refurbished HPC exit diffuser air seal lands. That AD currently
requires replacing the HPC exit inner and outer brush seal packs with
new brush seal packs, or replacing the HPC exit brush seal assembly
with a new HPC exit brush seal assembly. This proposed AD would require
replacing the HPC exit inner and outer brush seal packs with new brush
seal packs, using either original equipment manufactured (OEM) parts,
or FAA-approved part manufacturer approval (PMA) equivalent parts. This
proposed AD would also apply to engines reassembled with a PMA
equivalent HPC exit inner and/or outer brush seal packs. This proposed
AD results from a request to include PMA equivalent HPC exit inner and
outer brush seal packs and to include the engines with PMA equivalent
parts already installed, in the AD. We are proposing this AD to prevent
uncontained engine failure, damage to the airplane, and injury to
passengers.
DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by January 19,
2007.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this
proposed AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Contact Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108;
telephone (860) 565-8770; fax (860) 565-4503 for the service
information identified in this proposed AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Antonio Cancelliere, Aerospace
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5213;
telephone (781) 238-7751; fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your
[[Page 67074]]
comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No.
FAA-2006-24034; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-05-AD'' in the subject
line of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of the
DMS Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union,
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the docket that contains the proposal, any comments
received and any final disposition in person at the DMS Docket Office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on
the plaza level of the Department of Transportation Nassif Building at
the street address stated in ADDRESSES. Comments will be available in
the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.
Discussion
On August 14, 2006, the FAA issued AD 2006-17-08, Amendment 39-
14729 (71 FR 49335, August 23, 2006). That AD requires replacing the
HPC exit inner and outer brush seal packs with new brush seal packs, or
replacing the HPC exit brush seal assembly with a new HPC exit brush
seal assembly. That AD was the result of a report of oil leaking into
the high pressure turbine (HPT) interstage cavity and igniting, leading
to an engine case penetration and engine in-flight shutdown. That
condition, if not corrected, could result in uncontained engine
failure, damage to the airplane, and injury to passengers.
Actions Since AD 2006-17-08 Was Issued
Since AD 2006-17-08 was issued, an air carrier requested the use of
PMA equivalent parts to be included in the AD. We agree. The proposed
AD now also applies to engines reassembled with PMA equivalent HPC exit
inner and/or outer brush seal packs installed, and allows installation
of PMA equivalent HPC exit inner and outer brush seal packs for
compliance to the requirements of the AD.
Also since AD 2006-17-08 was issued, we determined that the
requirement in paragraph (g) of that AD, of replacing the HPC exit
brush seal assembly with a new HPC exit brush seal assembly, is an
option for the operators to demonstrate compliance to this proposed AD.
Replacing the HPC exit inner and outer brush seal packs instead, is
expected to be more economical for operators.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products
of this same type design. For that reason, we are proposing this AD,
which would require replacing the OEM or PMA equivalent HPC exit inner
and outer brush seal packs, with OEM or PMA equivalent new brush seal
packs. Instructions on replacing these parts can be found in Pratt &
Whitney Service Bulletin No. PW4G-112-A72-280, Revision 2, or Engine
Overhaul Manual.
Interim Action
These actions are interim actions and we may take further
rulemaking actions in the future.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 76 Pratt & Whitney
PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 turbofan engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 9
work-hours per engine to perform the proposed parts replacement, and
that the average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts would
cost about $99,990 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the
total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $7,653,950.
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.
We are 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
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.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location
to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the
Federal Aviation Administration 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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-14729 (71 FR
49335, August 23, 2006) and by adding a new airworthiness directive,
Amendment 39-XXXXX, to read as follows:
[[Page 67075]]
Pratt & Whitney: Docket No. FAA-2006-24034; Directorate Identifier
2006-NE-05-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by January 19,
2007.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2006-17-08, Amendment 39-14729.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090,
and PW4090-3 turbofan engines that were:
(1) Reassembled with a previously used original equipment
manufacturer (OEM) or part manufacturer approval (PMA) equivalent
high pressure compressor (HPC) exit inner brush seal pack; and
(2) Reassembled with a new or refurbished OEM or PMA equivalent
HPC exit diffuser air seal inner land.
(d) These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Boeing
777 airplanes.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from a request to include PMA equivalent HPC
exit inner and outer brush seal packs and to include the engines
with PMA equivalent parts already installed, in the AD. We are
issuing this AD to prevent uncontained engine failure, damage to the
airplane, and injury to passengers.
Compliance
(f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed at the following compliance times, unless the actions
have already been done.
(g) Replace the HPC exit inner and outer brush seal packs with
OEM or FAA-approved PMA equivalent new HPC exit inner and outer
brush seal packs as follows:
(1) By 3,000 cycles-in-service (CIS) since a used HPC exit inner
brush seal pack and a new or refurbished HPC exit diffuser air seal
land were installed in the engine, or by March 31, 2007, whichever
occurs later; however
(2) If on March 31, 2007, the used HPC exit inner brush seal
pack coupled with a new or refurbished HPC exit diffuser air seal
inner land assembly has not accumulated 3,000 CIS, then by 3,000
CIS, or December 31, 2008, whichever occurs first.
(h) Information on replacing HPC exit inner and outer brush seal
packs can be found in the Pratt & Whitney Alert Service Bulletin No.
PW4G-112-A72-280, Revision 2, dated October 2, 2006, and in the
engine overhaul manual.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(i) 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.
Related Information
(j) Pratt & Whitney Alert Service Bulletin No. PW4G-112-A72-280,
Revision 2, dated October 2, 2006, also pertains to the subject of
this AD.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 14, 2006.
Mark Rumizen,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-19536 Filed 11-17-06; 8:45 am]
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