[Federal Register: October 14, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 199)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 60657]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14oc08-18]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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[[Page 60657]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0242; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-51]
Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company CF6-80C2 and
CF6-80E1 Series Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.
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SUMMARY: This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to General
Electric Company (GE) CF6-80C2 and CF6-80E1 series turbofan engines.
That action would have required replacement of all clevis pins
installed on the thrust reverser central drive units and upper and
lower actuators, or replacement of pins that fail an on-wing rebound
hardness test. Since we issued that NPRM, we determined there is no
unsafe condition that warrants issuing an AD. The likelihood of this
event occurring again and significantly damaging an aircraft is very
low. Accordingly, we withdraw the proposed rule.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Richards, Aerospace
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-
mail: christopher.j.richards@faa.gov; telephone: (781) 238-7133, fax:
(781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to add a new airworthiness
directive (AD), applicable to (GE) CF6-80C2 and CF6-80E1 series
turbofan engines, was published in the Federal Register on February 25,
2008 (73 FR 9970). The proposed rule would have required replacement of
all clevis pins installed on the thrust reverser central drive units
and upper and lower actuators, or replacement of pins that fail an on-
wing rebound hardness test. That action results from failure of a
thrust reverser during landing due to unapproved clevis pins being
installed. The failure was due to lack of clevis pin hardness. The
proposed actions were intended to prevent thrust reverser failure,
which could lead to damage to the thrust reverser and airplane.
Since we issued that NPRM we have determined we don't need to issue
an Airworthiness Directive to mandate an inspection. We have determined
that the probability that inferior pin material is present in the fleet
does not present sufficient risk to warrant an AD. However, operators
and maintenance facilities should remain diligent in their normal
maintenance practices to prevent installation of unapproved materials
and to recognize when a clevis pin of inferior material is installed.
We issued Safety Information Alert Bulletin No. NE-08-44, dated
September 3, 2008, to aid in identifying and understanding the inferior
clevis pin material.
Upon further consideration, we determined there is no unsafe
condition that warrants issuing an AD. The likelihood of this event
occurring again and significantly damaging an aircraft is very low.
Accordingly, we withdraw the proposed rule.
Withdrawing this notice of proposed rulemaking constitutes only
such action, and does not preclude us from issuing another notice in
the future, nor does it commit us to any course of action in the
future.
Since this action only withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking,
it is neither a proposed nor a final rule and therefore, is not covered
under Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Withdrawal
Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket No. FAA-
2007-0242, published in the Federal Register on February 25, 2008 (73
FR 9970), is withdrawn.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 1, 2008.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-24248 Filed 10-10-08; 8:45 am]
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