[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 126 (Friday, July 1, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39329-39332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14212]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0803; Project Identifier AD-2022-00732-E; 
Amendment 39-22107; AD 2022-14-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain CFM International, S.A. LEAP-1A23, LEAP-1A24, LEAP-1A24E1, 
LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-1A29, LEAP-1A29CJ, LEAP-1A30, 
LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2, and LEAP-1A35A (LEAP-1A) model 
turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation 
that revealed that certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor stage 1 
disks (HPT stage 1 disks) and a stages 6-10 compressor rotor spool were 
manufactured from material suspected to contain iron inclusion. This AD 
requires the replacement of certain HPT stage 1 disks and a stages 6-10 
compressor rotor spool. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 18, 2022.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by August 15, 2022.

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 final rule, contact CFM

[[Page 39330]]

International, S.A., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D 
Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; phone: (877) 432-3272; email: 
[email protected]. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0803; 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 final rule, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for the 
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mehdi Lamnyi, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7743; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA was notified by the manufacturer of the detection of iron 
inclusion in three non-LEAP-1A HPT rotor disks. Further investigation 
by the manufacturer determined that the iron inclusion is attributed to 
deficiencies in the manufacturing process. The investigation by the 
manufacturer also determined that certain CFM International, S.A. LEAP-
1A HPT stage 1 disks and a stages 6-10 compressor rotor spool 
manufactured using the same process may have reduced material 
properties and a lower fatigue life capability due to iron inclusion, 
which may cause premature fracture and uncontained failure. This 
condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained debris 
release, damage to the engine, and damage to the aircraft. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the 
unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in 
other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed CFM International, S.A. Service Bulletin LEAP-1A-
72-00-0474-01A-930A-D, Issue 001-00, dated June 10, 2022. The service 
information describes procedures for removing and replacing the HPT 
stage 1 disk and stages 6-10 compressor rotor spool.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires the replacement of certain HPT stage 1 disks and a 
stages 6-10 compressor rotor spool.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers this AD to be an interim action. This unsafe 
condition is still under investigation by the manufacturer and, 
depending on the results of that investigation, the FAA may consider 
further rulemaking action.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective 
Date

    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and 
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds 
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to 
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good 
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking 
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA 
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, 
upon a finding of good cause.
    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to 
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public 
justifies foregoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule 
because the presence of iron inclusion in the HPT stage 1 disks and 
stages 6-10 compressor rotor spool could lead to premature fracture and 
uncontained failure, which indicates an immediate safety of flight 
problem. The manufacturer identified 12 parts manufactured from 
material suspected to have iron inclusion and calculated reduced life 
limits for these parts. These parts are predicted to exceed the reduced 
life limits prior to October 2022 and will thus require replacement 
within the next 90 days. The longer these parts remain in service, past 
their calculated life, the higher the probability of failure. 
Therefore, the compliance time for the required actions is shorter than 
the time necessary to allow public comment and the FAA to publish a 
final rule. Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public 
comment are impracticable and contrary to the public interest pursuant 
to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B).
    In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days, 
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forego notice and 
comment.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments 
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under 
ADDRESSES. Include ``FAA-2022-0803 and Project Identifier AD-2022-
00732-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments 
reference a specific portion of the final rule, 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 this 
final rule 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 final rule.

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 AD 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 AD, 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 AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Mehdi 
Lamnyi, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, and 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.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not 
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt 
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined 
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and 
comment, RFA analysis is not required.

[[Page 39331]]

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 1 engine installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates that zero engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry require replacement of the 
stages 6-10 compressor rotor spool.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace HPT stage 1 disk..............  8 work-hours x $85 per          $353,500        $354,180        $354,180
                                         hour = $680.
Replace stages 6[dash]10 compressor     8 work-hours x $85 per           376,600         377,280               0
 rotor spool.                            hour = $680.
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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

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

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

The Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA 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:

2022-14-02 CFM International, S.A.: Amendment 39-22107; Docket No. 
FAA-2022-0803; Project Identifier AD-2022-00732-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective July 18, 2022

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to CFM International, S.A. LEAP-1A23, LEAP-1A24, 
LEAP-1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-1A29, LEAP-
1A29CJ, LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2, and LEAP-1A35A 
model turbofan engines with an installed:
    (1) High-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor stage 1 disk (HPT stage 1 
disk) with part number (P/N) and serial number (S/N) identified in 
Table 1 to paragraph (g)(1) of this AD; or,
    (2) Stages 6-10 compressor rotor spool with P/N 2468M20G03 and 
S/N GWN1141P.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section; 7250, Turbine Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that 
revealed that certain HPT stage 1 disks and a stages 6-10 compressor 
rotor spool were manufactured from material suspected to contain 
iron inclusion. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent fracture and 
potential uncontained failure of certain HPT stage 1 disks and a 
stages 6-10 compressor rotor spool. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in uncontained debris release, damage to the 
engine, and damage to the aircraft.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) At the next engine shop visit or before exceeding the cycles 
since new (CSN) threshold in Table 1 to paragraph (g)(1), whichever 
occurs first after the effective date of this AD, or if the CSN 
threshold in Table 1 to paragraph (g)(1) has been exceeded as of 
this AD's effective date, within 50 flight cycles (FCs) from the 
effective date of this AD, remove the HPT stage 1 disk with P/N and 
S/N identified in Table 1 to paragraph (g)(1) of this AD from 
service and replace with an HPT stage 1 disk eligible for 
installation.

[[Page 39332]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR01JY22.014

    (2) At the next engine shop visit or before exceeding 7,290 CSN, 
whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD, or if 
7,290 CSN has been exceeded as of this AD's effective date, within 
50 FCs from the effective date of this AD, remove the stages 6-10 
compressor rotor spool with P/N 2468M20G03 and S/N GWN1141P from 
service and replace with a stages 6-10 compressor rotor spool 
eligible for installation.

(h) Definitions

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, an ``HPT stage 1 disk eligible 
for installation'' is any HPT stage 1 disk that does not have a P/N 
and S/N identified in Table 1 to paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.
    (2) For the purpose of this AD, a ``stages 6-10 compressor rotor 
spool eligible for installation'' is any stages 6-10 compressor 
rotor spool that does not have P/N 2468M20G03 and S/N GWN1141P.

(i) 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 (j) of this AD and email to: [email protected].
    (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

    For more information about this AD, contact Mehdi Lamnyi, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7743; email: 
[email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on June 23, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-14212 Filed 6-29-22; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


