[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 15, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 81162-81167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27511]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1116; Project Identifier AD-2020-00784-E]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2012-04-15, which applies to all Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-3A, JT9D-7, 
JT9D-7A, JT9D-7AH, JT9D-7F, JT9D-7H, JT9D-7J, JT9D-20, JT9D-20J, JT9D-
59A, JT9D-70A, JT9D-7Q, JT9D-7Q3, JT9D-7R4D, JT9D-7R4D1, JT9D-7R4E, 
JT9D-7R4E1, JT9D-7R4E4, JT9D-7R4G2, and JT9D-7R4H1 (JT9D) model 
turbofan engines. AD 2012-04-15 requires revisions to the Airworthiness 
Limitations Section (ALS) of the manufacturer's Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to include required enhanced inspection 
of selected critical life-limited parts at each piece-part opportunity. 
AD 2012-04-15 also requires additional revisions to the JT9D model 
engines ALS of the manufacturer's ICA. Since the FAA issued AD 2012-04-
15, PW notified the FAA that revisions to the mandatory inspections 
contained within the ALS of the manufacturer's ICA were necessary. This 
proposed AD would revise the required inspections of selected critical 
life-limited parts specified in the ALS of the manufacturer's ICA and, 
for air carriers, to the existing continuous airworthiness air carrier 
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 January 29, 
2021.

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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1116; 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, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicholas Paine, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7742; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: 
nicholas.j.paine@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-1116; Project Identifier 
AD-2020-00784-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
the proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Nicholas Paine, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. Any commentary that the FAA 
receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in 
the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA issued AD 2012-04-15, Amendment 39-16971 (77 FR 15939, 
March 19, 2012) (AD 2012-04-15) for all PW JT9D model turbofan engines. 
AD 2012-04-15 was prompted by the need to require enhanced inspection 
of selected critical life-limited parts. AD 2012-04-15 requires 
revisions to the ALS of the manufacturer's ICA to include required 
enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts at each 
piece-part opportunity. The agency issued AD 2012-04-15 to prevent 
failure of critical life-limited rotating engine parts, which could 
result in uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

Actions Since AD 2012-04-15 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 2012-04-15, PW identified errors in the 
list of mandatory inspections to add to the ALS. During review of the 
AD, PW found that AD 2012-04-15 did not include eddy current 
inspections of the fan hubs. Additionally, PW identified duplicate 
inspections of the HPT Stage 2 disk tie rod and web cooling holds. This 
AD revises the ALS of the manufacturer's ICA.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would retain certain requirements of AD 2012-04-
15. This proposed AD would revise the required inspections of selected 
critical life-limited parts specified in the ALS of the manufacturer's 
ICA and, for air carriers, to the existing CAMP.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 27 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. Based on 
updated information since the publication of AD 2012-04-15, the FAA 
revised the estimated number of engines installed on airplanes of U.S. 
registry from 438 in AD 2012-04-15 to 27 in this proposed rule.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

[[Page 81164]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
              Action                        Labor cost            Parts cost        product         operators
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Update ALS........................  1 work-hour x $85 per                  $0              $85           $2,295
                                     hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:
0
a. Removing airworthiness directive 2012-04-15, Amendment 39-16971 (77 
FR 15939, March 19, 2012); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Pratt & Whitney: Docket No. FAA-2020-1116; Project Identifier AD-
2020-00784-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by January 29, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2012-04-15, Amendment 39-16971 (77 FR 15939, 
March 19, 2012).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-3A, JT9D-7, 
JT9D-7A, JT9D-7AH, JT9D-7F, JT9D-7H, JT9D-7J, JT9D-20, JT9D-20J, 
JT9D-59A, JT9D-70A, JT9D-7Q, JT9D-7Q3, JT9D-7R4D, JT9D-7R4D1, JT9D-
7R4E, JT9D-7R4E1, JT9D-7R4E4, JT9D-7R4G2, and JT9D-7R4H1 (JT9D) 
model turbofan engines.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the need to require enhanced inspection 
of selected critical life-limited parts of PW JT9D model turbofan 
engines. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the failure of 
critical life-limited rotating engine parts. The unsafe condition, 
if not addressed, could result in uncontained part release, damage 
to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within the 30 days after the effective date of this AD, add 
Figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD to the Airworthiness 
Limitations Section (ALS) of the manufacturer's Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness (ICA) and, for air carrier operations, to 
the existing continuous airworthiness air carrier maintenance 
program.
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(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 Related Information. 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.

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(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Nicholas Paine, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7742; fax: (781) 238-7199; 
email: nicholas.j.paine@faa.gov.

    Issued on December 9, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-27511 Filed 12-14-20; 8:45 am]
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