[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3284-3286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00010]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0800; Product Identifier 2005-NE-24-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2005-23-09, which applies to all General Electric Company (GE) CF6-
80E1A1, -80E1A2, -80E1A3, -80E1A4, and -80E1A4/B model turbofan 
engines. AD 2005-23-09 requires initial and repetitive fluorescent-
penetrant inspections (FPI) of certain areas of high-pressure 
compressor (HPC) cases, part number (P/N) 1509M97G07 and P/N 
2083M69G03. Since the FAA issued AD 2005-23-09, GE performed an updated 
lifing analysis on the HPC case. As a result, GE found additional 
locations on the cases requiring FPI, revised the inspection interval 
for performing FPI of the existing location, and added an additional P/
N HPC case that requires inspection. This proposed AD would require an 
update of the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of GE Engine 
Manual GEK99376

[[Page 3285]]

and the operator's existing continuous airworthiness maintenance 
program (CAMP). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 6, 
2020.

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 https://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 General 
Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 
45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: aviation.fleetsupport@ge.com. You 
may view this service information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-
238-7759.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0800; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Stevenson, Aerospace Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
781-238-7132; fax: 781-238-7199; email: scott.m.stevenson@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2019-0800; 
Product Identifier 2005-NE-24-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because of those comments.
    The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. 
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The FAA issued AD 2005-23-09, Amendment 39-14367 (70 FR 67901, 
November 9, 2005), (``AD 2005-23-09''), for all GE CF6-80E1A1, -80E1A2, 
-80E1A3, -80E1A4, and -80E1A4/B model turbofan engines. AD 2005-23-09 
requires initial and repetitive FPI of certain areas of HPC cases, P/N 
1509M97G07 and P/N 2083M69G03. AD 2005-23-09 resulted from the 
discovery that HPC cases, P/N 1509M97G07 and P/N 2083M69G03, were 
inadvertently left out of the ALS, Chapter 05-21-02, of GE Engine 
Manual, GEK 99376, Revision 17. The FAA issued AD 2005-23-09 to prevent 
failure of the HPC case aft mount flange, due to cracking.

Actions Since AD 2005-23-09 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 2005-23-09, GE performed an updated lifing 
analysis on the HPC case. As a result, GE revised the inspection 
interval of the existing location for the FPI and found additional 
locations on the HPC case that require inspection. GE also found an 
additional HPC case, P/N 1509M97G05, that requires this inspection.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed TASK 05-21-02-200-001, dated September 15, 2015, 
from the ALS of the GE CF6-80E1 Engine Manual GEK99376, Revision 48, 
dated September 15, 2019. The service information describes procedures 
for performing FPIs of the HPC case. 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

    The FAA is 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 retain certain requirements of AD 2005-23-
09. This proposed AD would require an update of the ALS of GE Engine 
Manual GEK99376 and the operator's existing CAMP.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 20 engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update ALS of engine manual...........  2 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $170          $3,400
                                         hour = $170.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    The FAA is 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

[[Page 3286]]

develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and 
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.

Regulatory Findings

    The FAA has 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2005-23-09, Amendment 39-14367 (70 FR 67901, November 9, 2005), and 
adding the following new AD:

General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA-2019-0800; Product 
Identifier 2005-NE-24-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by March 6, 
2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2005-23-09, Amendment 39-14367 (70 FR 67901, 
November 9, 2005).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80E1A1, -
80E1A2, -80E1A3, -80E1A4, and -80E1A4/B model turbofan engines.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by GE performing an updated lifing analysis 
on the high-pressure compressor (HPC) case. Based on this analysis, 
GE found new locations on the case that require fluorescent 
penetrant inspection (FPI), identified a new inspection interval for 
the existing FPI location, and added another part-numbered HPC case 
that requires inspection. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the HPC case. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could result in uncontained release of the HPC case, engine fire, 
and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within 180 days after the effective date of this AD, replace 
TASK 05-21-02-200-001 in GE CF6-80E1 Engine Manual GEK99376 and the 
operator's existing continuous airworthiness maintenance program 
with TASK 05-21-02-200-001, dated September 15, 2015, from the 
Airworthiness Limitations Section of GE CF6-80E1 Engine Manual 
GEK99376, Revision 48, dated September 15, 2019.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
certification office, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. You may email your 
request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov.
    (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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Scott Stevenson, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7132; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
scott.m.stevenson@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, 
Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: 
aviation.fleetsupport@ge.com. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 2, 2020.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-00010 Filed 1-17-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


