[Federal Register: February 26, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 37)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8263-8265]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26fe07-3]
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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;
Amendment 39-14959; AD 2007-04-26]
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: Final rule.
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[[Page 8264]]
SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding 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 AD requires 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) parts. This proposed AD also applies to
engines reassembled with a PMA HPC exit inner and or outer brush seal
packs. This AD results from a request to include PMA HPC exit inner and
outer brush seal packs and to include the engines with PMA parts
already installed, in the AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent
uncontained engine failure, damage to the airplane, and injury to
passengers.
DATES: This AD becomes effective April 2, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif
Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC.
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; e-mail:
antonio.cancelliere@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to Pratt & Whitney PW4077D,
PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 turbofan engines that were reassembled
with previously used HPC exit brush seal packs and new or refurbished
HPC exit diffuser air seal lands. We published the proposed AD in the
Federal Register on November 20, 2006 (71 FR 67073). That action
proposed to require replacing the HPC exit inner and outer brush seal
packs with new brush seal packs, using either OEM parts, or FAA-
approved PMA parts. That action also proposed to apply to engines
reassembled with a PMA HPC exit inner and or outer brush seal packs.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the docket that contains the AD, any comments
received, and any final disposition in person at the Docket Management
Facility 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.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.
Request To Add Part Numbers in the AD Applicability
One commenter, All Nippon Airways, requests that we add Pratt &
Whitney and PMA part numbers in the AD applicability to avoid confusion
as to what parts are to be removed and replaced.
We do not agree. We adequately identified the parts requiring
replacement, as well as the unsafe condition, in the proposed AD. Pratt
& Whitney part numbers can be found in Alert Service Bulletin No. PW4G-
112-A72-280, Revision 2, dated January 12, 2007, which we refer to as
additional information. We did not change the AD.
Request To Allow Installing an HPC Exit Brush Seal Assembly
One commenter, Pratt & Whitney, requests that we also allow
installing an HPC exit brush seal assembly, in lieu of installing an
HPC exit brush seal pack, to comply with the AD.
We agree. Compliance with the AD can be achieved by installing
either an HPC exit brush seal pack or an HPC exit brush seal assembly.
Although installing an HPC exit brush seal assembly may be more costly
for operators, it may be more convenient. We changed the AD compliance
to allow for either replacement.
Used Part Prohibition
For clarification, we added a used part prohibition paragraph in
the compliance section. It states that engine reassembly with used OEM
or used FAA-approved PMA HPC exit inner and outer brush seal packs with
OEM or FAA-approved PMA new HPC exit inner and outer brush seal lands,
is prohibited.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 76 Pratt & Whitney PW4077D,
PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 turbofan engines installed on airplanes
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 9 work-hours
per engine to perform the parts replacement, and that the average labor
rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $99,990 per
engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the 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 AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
[[Page 8265]]
(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.
We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the
address listed under ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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 removing Amendment 39-14729 (71 FR
49335, August 23, 2006), and by adding a new airworthiness directive,
Amendment 39-14959, to read as follows:
2007-04-26 Pratt & Whitney: Amendment 39-14959. Docket No. FAA-2006-
24034; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-05-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 2,
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) high pressure
compressor (HPC) exit inner brush seal pack; and
(2) Reassembled with a new or refurbished OEM or PMA 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 supersedure results from a request to include PMA
HPC exit inner and outer brush seal packs and to include the engines
with PMA parts already installed, in the AD. This AD action is 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. 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 new HPC exit inner and outer brush seal
packs, or an OEM or FAA-approved PMA new HPC exit brush seal
assembly, 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.
Used Part Prohibition
(h) Engine reassembly with used OEM or used FAA-approved PMA HPC
exit inner and outer brush seal packs with OEM or FAA-approved PMA
new HPC exit inner and outer brush seal lands, is prohibited.
(i) 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 January 12, 2007, and in the
engine overhaul manual.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(j) 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
(k) Pratt & Whitney Alert Service Bulletin No. PW4G-112-A72-280,
Revision 2, dated January 12, 2007, also pertains to the subject of
this AD.
(l) 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; e-mail: antonio.cancelliere@faa.gov
for more information about this AD.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 16, 2007.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-3017 Filed 2-23-07; 8:45 am]
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