[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 86 (Thursday, May 5, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-10394] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: May 5, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 91-ANE-47; Amendment 39-8878; AD 94-08-06] Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4 Series Turbofan Engines AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4 series turbofan engines, that requires initial and repetitive fan blade leading edge inspections, and either installation of fan blade sets with modified fan blade shrouds or rework of the fan blade shrouds as a terminating action to the inspections. This amendment is prompted by reports of flutter-induced fan blade fractures. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fan blade fracture and uncontained engine failure, resulting in possible damage to the aircraft. DATES: Effective July 5, 1994. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of July 5, 1994. ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108. This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fisher, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (617) 238-7149, fax (617) 238-7199. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-7R4 series turbofan engines was published in the Federal Register on June 2, 1993 (58 FR 31356). That action proposed to require initial and repetitive on-wing or shop fan blade leading edge inspections to check for leading edge damage in accordance with PW Service Bulletin (SB) No. 72-255, Revision 5, dated January 8, 1990; and to require fan blade set replacement or optional rework of the fan blade shrouds in accordance with PW SB No. 72-309, Revision 9, dated June 12, 1991. Though the NPRM referenced PW SB No. 72-309, Revision 9, dated June 12, 1991, this final rule incorporates the later Revision 10, dated September 2, 1993, which is substantially unchanged from Revision 9. Rework of the fan blade shrouds in accordance with PW SB No. 72-309, Revision 9, dated June 12, 1991, is an acceptable alternate means of compliance for paragraphs (c) and (d) of this AD. Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to the comments received. One comment states that the proposed 90-day requirement for initializing the inspection program poses a significant hardship and economic impact due to difficulty in scheduling engine maintenance. This comment requests extending the initializing period to 180 days. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) agrees that the proposed initial 90-day eddy current inspection requirement may be burdensome to some operators. The FAA has therefore added a visual inspection as an option to the eddy current inspection in this final rule. This visual inspection offers greater flexibility in scheduling as it can easily be performed in the field. The FAA does not concur, however, in extending the initializing period to 180 days, as this time period does not offer an adequate level of safety based on risk analysis results. This final rule establishes an interval of 200 cycles in service (CIS) before visual or eddy current inspection that should enable operators to initialize the inspection program with minimum disruption to scheduling without reducing flight safety. Also, the FAA has added guidance emphasizing the manner in which the visual inspection should be performed. One comment requests eliminating the reference in paragraphs (a) and (b) of the proposed rule to the leading edge refurbishment described in PW Service Bulletin (SB) No. 72-117, as the determining factor for beginning the inspection program. The comment further states that a previous AD, 90-14-08, already requires the leading edge refurbishment described in PW SB No. 72-117, and therefore meets the intent of paragraphs (a) and (b) of the proposed rule. The FAA concurs. Repetitive leading edge refurbishment as described in PW SB No. 72-117 is already required by AD 90-14-08. The compliance section of this AD has been changed from the wording in the NPRM to eliminate reference to leading edge refurbishment, and combines paragraphs (a) and (b) of the proposed rule into a new paragraph (a) which has the same inspection requirements and interval of 200 CIS as the repetitive inspections of paragraph (c) of the proposed rule. One comment states that the mandatory incorporation of the fan blade shroud angle rework to 52 degrees as described in PW SB No. 72- 309 should be relaxed from within two years after the effective date of this AD to the next engine shop visit, thereby reducing the potential for on-wing maintenance induced error. The FAA does not concur. The FAA has determined that it is necessary to expeditiously remove fan blades with the 62 degree shroud configuration, thereby reducing the potential for operating the fan blade in flutter. The FAA has reviewed a risk analysis study that indicates that a two-year time period for incorporating this modification is required to lower the risk sufficiently to avert future potential uncontained fan blade failures. After careful review of the available data, including the comments noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule with the changes described previously. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD. There are approximately 730 PW JT9D-7R4 series engines of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 220 engines installed on aircraft of U.S. registry would be affected by this AD, and that the average labor rate is $55 per work hour. The inspections required by this AD will take approximately 1.6 work hours per engine. The blade rework will cost approximately $15,600 per engine. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $3,451,360. The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment. For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES. List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 Air Transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety. Adoption of the Amendment Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations as follows: PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89. Sec. 39.13 [Amended] 2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive: 94-08-06 Pratt & Whitney: Amendment 39-8878. Docket 91-ANE-47. Applicability: Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-7R4 series turbofan engines installed on but not limited to Boeing Models 747 and 767 aircraft, and Airbus Models A300 and A310 aircraft. Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously. To prevent fan blade fracture and uncontained engine failure, resulting in possible damage to the aircraft, accomplish the following: (a) Perform an initial visual or eddy current inspection of the fan blade set leading edges for leading edge damage within 200 cycles in service (CIS) after the effective date of this AD, and rework or replace fan blades as necessary, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of PW Service Bulletin (SB) No. 72-255, Revision 5, dated January 8, 1990. Perform the fan blade leading edge visual inspections using a strong white light, as well as fingernails and fingertips when inspecting for nicked, eroded, or blunt leading edges. (b) Thereafter, perform repetitive visual or eddy current fan blade leading edge inspections, at intervals not to exceed 200 CIS, and rework or replace fan blades as necessary, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of PW SB No. 72-255, Revision 5, dated January 8, 1990. Perform the fan blade leading edge visual inspections using a strong white light, as well as fingernails and fingertips when inspecting for nicked, eroded, or blunt leading edges. (c) For PW Model JT9D-7R4H1 engines, install a new or reworked fan blade set with a 52 degree shroud angle, in accordance with PW SB No. 72-309, Revision 10, dated September 2, 1993, within 1 year after the effective date of this AD. (d) For PW Models JT9D-7R4D, D1, E, E1, G2, and E4 engines, install a new or reworked fan blade set with a 52 degree shroud angle, in accordance with PW SB No. 72-309, Revision 10, dated September 2, 1993, within 2 years after the effective date of this AD. (e) Installation of a new or reworked fan blade set with a 52 degree fan blade shroud angle, in accordance with paragraphs (c) or (d) of this AD, constitutes a terminating action to the inspection requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this AD. (f) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, Engine Certification Office. The request should be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Engine Certification Office. Note: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive, if any, may be obtained from the Certification Office. (g) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished. (h) The modification and inspections shall be done in accordance with the following service bulletins: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Document No. Pages Revision Date ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PW SB No. 72-255.......................................... 1-2 5 Jan. 8, 1990. 3-4 4 Aug. 25, 1988. 5 5 Jan. 8, 1990. 6-8 3 Aug. 17, 1987. Total Pages: 8. PW SB No. 72-309.......................................... 1 10 Sept. 2, 1993. 2 8 Apr. 5, 1989. 3-4 9 Jun. 12, 1991. 5 (\1\) Oct. 2, 1986. 6 1 Nov. 7, 1986. 7 5 Jul. 22, 1987. 8-10 8 Apr. 5, 1989. 11 10 Sept. 2, 1993 12-18 8 Apr. 5, 1989 19-20 10 Sept. 2, 1993 21 8 Apr. 5, 1989 Total Pages: 21. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\Original. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. (i) This amendment becomes effective on July 5, 1994. Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 5, 1994. Jay J. Pardee, Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 94-10394 Filed 5-4-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P