[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 111 (Thursday, June 8, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36317-36319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14441]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NE-07-AD; Amendment 39-1171; AD 2000-11-22]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Allison Engine Company AE 3007A and AE 
3007C Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to Allison Engine Company AE 3007A and AE 3007C series 
turbofan engines. This AD requires revisions to the Airworthiness 
Limitations Section of the Allison Engine Company AE 3007A and AE 3007C 
Engine Manuals to include required enhanced inspection of selected 
critical life-limited parts at each piece-part exposure. This AD also 
requires an air carrier's approved continuous airworthiness maintenance 
program to incorporate these inspection procedures. Air carriers with 
an approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program will be 
allowed to either maintain the records showing the current status of 
the inspections using the record keeping system specified in the air 
carrier's maintenance manual or establish an acceptable alternate 
method

[[Page 36318]]

of record keeping. This amendment is prompted by an FAA study of in-
service events involving uncontained failures of critical rotating 
engine parts that indicated the need for improved inspections. The 
improved inspections are needed to identify those critical rotating 
parts with conditions that, if allowed to continue in service, could 
result in uncontained failures. The actions specified by this AD are 
intended to prevent critical life-limited rotating engine part failure, 
which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the 
airplane.

DATES: Effective August 7, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The Rules Docket may be examined at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chung-Der Young, Aerospace Engineer, 
Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 
2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018; telephone (847) 294-
7309, fax (847) 294-7834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to Allison Engine Company AE 3007A 
and AE 3007C series turbofan engines was published in the Federal 
Register on August 17, 1999 (64 FR 44667). That action proposed to 
require revisions to the Airworthiness Limitations Section in the 
Allison Engine Company AE 3007A and AE 3007C Engine Manuals to include 
required enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts at 
each piece-part exposure. It also proposed to require an air carrier's 
approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program to incorporate 
these inspection procedures.

Editorial Change

    The FAA has deleted the phrase ``of this chapter'' from the first 
sentence of paragraph (e) to eliminate confusion.

Conclusion

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. One commenter supports the rule as 
written. No comments were received on the FAA's economic analysis. The 
FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the 
adoption of the rule with the change described previously.

Revised Economic Analysis

    Since the FAA issued the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the 
Allison AE3007A and AE3007C engine fleet has increased to 660 engines 
worldwide, but the U.S. fleet has decreased to 429 engines. The FAA 
continues to estimate that it will take approximately one work hour per 
engine to accomplish the required fan inspections and that the average 
labor rate is $60 per work hour. Assuming every engine underwent an 
inspection every year, based on these figures the total cost impact of 
this AD would be $60 per engine per year, for a total annual cost on 
U.S. operators of $25,740.

Regulatory Impact

    This rule does not have federalism implications, as defined in 
Executive Order 13132, because it does 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. Accordingly, 
the FAA has not consulted with state authorities prior to publication 
of this rule.
    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 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, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    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]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

2000-11-22  Allison Engine Company: Amendment 39-11771. Docket 99-
NE-07-AD.

Applicability

    Allison Engine Company AE 3007A, AE 3007A1/1, AE 3007A1/2, AE 
3007A1/3, AE 3007A1, AE 3007A3, AE 3007A1P and AE 3007C series 
turbofan engines, installed on but not limited to EMBRAER EMB-135 
and EMB-145 series and Cessna 750 series airplanes.

    Note 1: This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to each engine 
identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of 
whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area 
subject to the requirements of this AD. For engines that have been 
modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the 
requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request 
approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with 
paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment 
of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the 
unsafe condition addressed by this AD; if the unsafe condition has 
not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed 
actions to address it.

Compliance

    Required as indicated, unless previously accomplished.
    To prevent critical life-limited rotating engine part failure, 
which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to 
the airplane, accomplish the following:

Inspections

    (a) Within the next 30 days after the effective date of this AD, 
revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Allison Engine 
Company AE 3007A and AE 3007C Engine Manuals, and for air carrier 
operations revise the approved continuous airworthiness maintenance 
program, by adding the following:
    ``MANDATORY INSPECTIONS
    (1) Perform inspections of the following parts at each piece-
part opportunity in accordance with the instructions provided in the 
applicable manual provisions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Inspect per engine
       Part nomenclature          Part No. (P/N)       manual chapter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wheel, Fan....................  All..............  72-21-21 (Task 72-21-
                                                    21-200-801)
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 36319]]

    (2) For the purposes of these mandatory inspections, piece-part 
opportunity means:
    (i) The part is completely disassembled when done in accordance 
with the disassembly instructions in the engine manufacturer's Heavy 
Maintenance Manual; and
    (ii) The part has accumulated more than 100 cycles in service 
since the last piece-part opportunity inspection, provided that the 
part was not damaged or related to the cause for its removal from 
the engine.''
    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this AD, and 
notwithstanding contrary provisions in Sec. 43.16 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.16), these mandatory inspections 
shall be performed only in accordance with the Airworthiness 
Limitations Section of the Allison Engine Company AE 3007A and AE 
3007C Engine Manuals.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (c) 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 Engine Certification Office (ECO). Operators 
shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector (PMI), who may add comments and then send it 
to the ECO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive, 
if any, may be obtained from the ECO.

Ferry Flights

    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the 
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program

    (e) FAA-certificated air carriers that have an approved 
continuous airworthiness maintenance program in accordance with the 
record keeping requirement of Sec. 121.369 (c) of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 121.369 (c)) must maintain records of 
the mandatory inspections that result from revising the 
Airworthiness Limitations Section and the air carrier's continuous 
airworthiness program. Alternately, certificated air carriers may 
establish an approved system of record retention that provides a 
method for preservation and retrieval of the maintenance records 
that include the inspections resulting from this AD and include the 
policy and procedures for implementing this alternate method in the 
air carrier's maintenance manual required by Sec. 121.369 (c) of the 
Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 121.369 (c)). However, the 
alternate system must be accepted by the appropriate PMI and require 
the maintenance records be maintained either indefinitely or until 
the work is repeated. Records of the piece-part inspections are not 
required under Sec. 121.380 (a) (2) (vi) of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR 121.380 (a) (2) (vi)). All other operators must 
maintain the records of mandatory inspections required by the 
applicable regulations governing their operations.

    Note 3: The requirements of this AD have been met when the 
engine manual changes are made and air carriers have modified their 
continuous airworthiness maintenance plans to reflect the 
requirements in the engine manuals.


Effective Date

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on August 7, 2000.


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 2, 2000.
David A. Downey,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-14441 Filed 6-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U