
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12755-12757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04370]



[[Page 12755]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9451; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-24-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-20 and TFE731-40 turbofan engines. 
This proposed AD was prompted by two fan disks found with a 
manufacturing-caused flaw. This proposed AD would require removing 
affected fan disks, performing a one-time inspection, and replacing fan 
disks that fail inspection. We are proposing this AD to correct the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 21, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Honeywell 
International Inc., 111 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-2802; phone: 
800-601-3099; Internet: https://myaerospace.honeywell.com/wps/portal/!ut/. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (781) 
238-7125.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9451; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 
be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-
627-5246; fax: 562-627-5210; email: joseph.costa@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this NPRM. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2016-9451; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-24-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this NPRM.

Discussion

    We received reports of two fan disks with material rollover 
condition on the surface of the dovetail slot. The material rollover 
was caused by incomplete chamfering or edge-break of the fan disk 
dovetail slots after broaching and subsequent shot-peening. This 
material rollover was considered a crack-like stress riser that can 
cause reduction in fatigue life and cracking. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in uncontained failure of the fan disk and 
damage to the engine and airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Honeywell Service Bulletin (SB) TFE731-72-5256, 
Revision 0, dated October 7, 2016. The SB identifies affected fan disks 
by serial number and describes procedures for removing, inspecting, and 
replacing the fan disks. This service information is reasonably 
available because the interested parties have access to it through 
their normal course of business or by the means identified in the 
ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require removing, inspecting, and replacing 
affected fan disks.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    Honeywell SB TFE731-72-5256, Revision 0, dated October 7, 2016 
specifies a five year compliance time with no grace period. This NPRM 
proposes a tiered compliance time based on cycle accumulation. Also, 
Honeywell SB TFE731-72-5256 specifies compliance with two overhaul/
repair instructions (ORIs). Honeywell ORI T43374 addresses the fan disk 
material rollover condition and Honeywell ORI T43342 addresses 
additional material in the fan disk wings. This NPRM addresses only ORI 
T43374 corrective action for an unsafe condition.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 61 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
               Action                         Labor cost            Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove fan disk....................  8 work-hours x $85 per hour              $0         $680.00      $41,480.00
                                      = $680.00.
Inspect fan disk...................  8 work-hours x $85 per hour              $0          680.00       41,480.00
                                      = $680.00.

[[Page 12756]]

 
Install reworked or new fan disk...  18 work-hours x $85 per                  $0        1,530.00       93,330.00
                                      hour = $1,530.00.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary disk 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. We estimate that 6 engines will need this 
replacement:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                   Action                                 Labor cost                Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace non-serviceable disks with new fan   1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85.00      $50,000.00     $300,510.00
 disk.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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 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 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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

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 (AD):

Honeywell International Inc. (Type Certificate previously held by 
AlliedSignal Inc., Garrett Engine Division; Garrett Turbine Engine 
Company; and AiResearch Manufacturing Company of Arizona): Docket 
No. FAA-2016-9451; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-24-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by April 21, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell) 
TFE731-20 and TFE731-40 turbofan engines, with fan disk, part number 
(P/N) 3060287-2 and serial numbers (S/Ns) listed in Table 9 of 
Honeywell Service Bulletin (SB) TFE731-72-5256, Revision 0, dated 
October 7, 2016, that do not have ``T43374'' marked adjacent to the 
engine P/N or S/N.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of two fan disks found with 
surface rollovers in the dovetail slot area. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent uncontained failure of the fan disks and damage to the 
engine and airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Remove fan disks with 9,000 cycles-since-new (CSN) or more 
on the effective date of this AD, within 100 cycles-in-service 
(CIS), or at the next shop visit, or at next access, whichever 
occurs first, after the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Remove fan disks with between 8,000 and 8,999 CSN, 
inclusive, on the effective date of this AD, within 9,100 CSN or 
within 1,000 CIS, or at the next shop visit, or at next access, 
whichever occurs first, after the effective date of this AD.
    (3) Remove fan disks with fewer than 8,000 CSN, on the effective 
date of this AD, before exceeding 9,000 CSN, or at the next shop 
visit, or at next access, whichever occurs first, after the 
effective date of this AD.
    (4) Inspect removed fan disks in accordance with Paragraph 
3.D.(2) in the Accomplishment Instructions of Honeywell SB TFE731-
72-5256, Revision 0, dated October 7, 2016.
    (5) Replace all removed fan disks with a part eligible for 
installation.

[[Page 12757]]

(h) Definitions

    (1) For the purposes of this AD, shop visit is defined as the 
removal of the tie-shaft nut from the engine.
    (2) For the purposes of this AD, access is defined as the 
removal of the fan rotor assembly from the engine.
    (3) For the purposes of this AD, parts eligible for installation 
are those fan disks that pass the inspections and are marked with 
``T43374'' adjacent to the P/N or S/N.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
may approve AMOCs for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19 to make your request.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Joseph Costa, 
Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 
90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5246; fax: 562-627-5210; email: 
joseph.costa@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Honeywell International Inc., 111 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-
2802; phone: 800-601-3099; Internet: https://myaerospace.honeywell.com/wps/portal/!ut/.
    (3) For service information on returning the fan disk for 
inspection identified in SB TFE731-72-5256 of this AD, contact 
Honeywell International Inc., 111 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-
2802; phone: 800-601-3099; Internet: https://myaerospace.honeywell.com/wps/portal/!ut/.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
781-238-7125.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on February 8, 2017.
Carlos A. Pestana,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04370 Filed 3-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


