[Federal Register: September 22, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 184)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54491-54492]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22se08-1]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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[[Page 54491]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0264; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-07-AD;
Amendment 39-15679; AD 2008-19-12]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-4,
-4R, -5, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R Series Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-4, -4R, -5, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R
series turbofan engines, with interstage turbine transition (ITT) duct,
part number (P/N) 3075292-1; 3075292-3; 3074766-1; 3077063-1; 3075655-
1; 3075655-2; 3075699-1; or 3075699-3, installed. This AD requires
replacing the affected ITT duct with a serviceable and redesigned ITT
duct. This AD results from reports of 49 low-pressure turbine (LPT)
blade separation events. Six of those events resulted in
circumferential failure of the LPT2 or LPT3 nozzle assembly, leading to
deformation of the ITT duct and uncontainment of the turbine blades and
fragments of the LPT nozzle assembly. We are issuing this AD to prevent
uncontainment of turbine blades and fragments of the LPT nozzle
assembly, which could result in damage to the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective October 27, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD
from Honeywell Engines and Systems Technical Publications and
Distribution, M/S 2101-201, P.O. Box 52170, Phoenix, AZ 85072-2170,
telephone: (602) 365-2493 (General Aviation), (602) 365-5535
(Commercial Aviation), fax: (602) 365-5577 (General Aviation and
Commercial Aviation).
The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; e-mail:
joseph.costa@faa.gov; telephone: (562) 627-5246; fax: (562) 627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to Honeywell International
Inc. TFE731-4, -4R, -5, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R series turbofan engines,
with ITT duct, P/N 3075292-1; 3075292-3; 3074766-1; 3077063-1; 3075655-
1; 3075655-2; 3075699-1; or 3075699-3, installed. We published the
proposed AD in the Federal Register on April 4, 2008 (73 FR 18461).
That action proposed to require replacing the affected ITT duct with a
serviceable and redesigned ITT duct.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on
the determination of the cost to the public. However, we did find that
we misidentified two part numbers in the Summary and Applicability
Sections of the NPRM. We identified in the NPRM P/Ns 30756599-1; or
30756599-3 that should have been identified as P/Ns 3075699-1; or
3075699-3. We changed the AD to use the correct P/Ns. We also changed
the AD by adding a prohibition of affected ITT ducts, for clarity.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the
change described previously.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 1,500 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 4
work-hours per engine to perform the actions, and that the average
labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Reworked ITT ducts to the redesign
will cost about $25,000 per engine. New ITT ducts that are redesigned
will cost about $127,000. We estimate that 30 engines will require new
ITT ducts. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD
to U.S. operators to be $41,040,000.
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
[[Page 54492]]
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
(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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
2008-19-12 Honeywell International Inc. (formerly AlliedSignal Inc.,
formerly Garret Turbine Engine Company): Amendment 39-15679. Docket
No. FAA-2008-0264; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-07-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective October
27, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-4, -
4R, -5, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R series turbofan engines, with interstage
turbine transition (ITT) duct, part number (P/N) 3075292-1; 3075292-
3; 3074766-1; 3077063-1; 3075655-1; 3075655-2; 3075699-1; or
3075699-3, installed. These engines are installed on, but not
limited to, Avions Marcel Dassault Mystere-Falcon 50 series,
Dassault-Aviation 20, 50, 900, MF900 series, Cessna Model 650,
Cessna Citation VII, and Raytheon Corporate Jets (formerly British
Aerospace) Hawker 800 and 850XP series airplanes.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of 49 low-pressure turbine
(LPT) blade separation events. Six of those events resulted in
circumferential failure of the LPT2 or LPT3 nozzle assembly, leading
to deformation of the ITT duct and uncontainment of the turbine
blades and fragments of the LPT nozzle assembly. We are issuing this
AD to prevent uncontainment of turbine blades and fragments of the
LPT nozzle assembly, which could result in damage to the airplane.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed at the next Major Periodic Inspection of the engine or
at next access of the ITT duct, whichever occurs first, but not to
exceed 2,600 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this
AD, unless the actions have already been done.
Replacement of the ITT Duct
(f) Replace the affected ITT ducts listed by part number in
paragraph (c) of this AD, with a serviceable and redesigned ITT
duct.
Definitions
(g) For the purpose of this AD, a serviceable and redesigned ITT
duct is one not having a part number listed in this AD.
(h) For the purpose of this AD, next access of the ITT duct is
when the ITT duct is removed from the engine.
Prohibition of Affected ITT Ducts
(i) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any ITT
duct listed by P/N in paragraph (c) of this AD, onto any engine.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(j) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft 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) Honeywell International Inc. Service Bulletin (SB) No.
TFE731-72-3727, dated September 12, 2007, and SB No. TFE731-72-3728,
dated September 12, 2007, pertain to the subject of this AD.
(l) Contact Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; e-mail:
joseph.costa@faa.gov; telephone: (562) 627-5246; fax: (562) 627-
5210, for more information about this AD.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 12, 2008.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-21835 Filed 9-19-08; 8:45 am]
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