[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 113 (Monday, June 12, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36783-36785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14787]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-ANE-45-AD; Amendment 39-11783; AD 2000-12-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines AG V2500-A1/
-A5/-D5 Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), applicable to International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2500-A1/-A5/-
D5 series turbofan engines, that requires revisions to the 
Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) and Maintenance Scheduling 
Section (MSS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA), 
located in the Time Limits Manual (Chapter 05-10-00) of the Engine 
Manuals, to include required enhanced inspection of selected critical 
life-limited parts at each piece-part exposure. This action would add 
additional critical life-limited parts for enhanced inspection. This 
action is prompted by additional focused inspection procedures that 
have been developed by the manufacturer. The actions specified by this 
AD are intended to prevent critical life-limited

[[Page 36784]]

rotating engine part failure, which could result in an uncontained 
engine failure and damage to the airplane.

DATES: Effective date August 11, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The rulemaking 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: Diane Cook, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-
7133, fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) by superseding AD 99-08-11, 
Amendment 39-11117 (64 FR 17956, April 13, 1999), to require revisions 
to the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) and Maintenance 
Scheduling Section (MSS) of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness (ICA), located in the Time Limits Manual (Chapter 05-10-
00) of the Engine Manuals, for International Aero Engines AG (IAE) 
V2500-A1/-A5/-D5 series turbofan engines to include focused inspection 
procedures for additional critical life-limited parts at each piece-
part exposure was published in the Federal Register on October 7, 1999 
(64 FR 54580). This AD will also require an air carrier's approved 
continuous airworthiness maintenance program to incorporate these 
additional inspection procedures.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the comments received.

Publication of Inspection Procedures

    Two commenters request that the comment period be extended until 
after the proposed inspection procedures have been provided to 
operators to allow time to review those inspection procedures. The FAA 
does not agree. The FAA believes that the nature and scope of the added 
inspections will not be significantly different from existing 
inspections. However, the effective date of this AD has been extended 
to 90 days after publication to allow time for the specific procedures 
to be published. Operators may submit comments on the specific 
procedures once they are published and the FAA will consider extending 
the effective date further or initiating additional rulemaking, as 
necessary. The extra time until the AD becomes effective should also 
allow the manufacturer to issue a manual revision. The FAA does not 
believe, however, that this final rule need be delayed pending the 
publication of the inspection procedures, or extend the initial 
compliance time to accommodate the manufacturer's manual revision 
cycle.

Time Limits Manual

    One commenter states that paragraph (a) of the Compliance section 
refers to the V2500 Time Limits Manuals as if they are part of the 
V2500 Engine Manuals. However, the Time Limits Manuals are separate 
documents with part numbers T-V2500-1IA and T-V2500-3IA. The commenter 
believes that all references to the Engine Manuals and their part 
numbers should be replaced with references to the Time Limits Manuals 
and their part numbers. The FAA does not concur. The V2500 Engine 
Manuals E-V2500-1IA and E-2500-3IA contain the required Instructions 
for Continued Airworthiness, including the Chapter 5 Time Limits Manual 
section. Since the Time Limits Manuals T-V2500-1IA and T-V2500-3IA are 
referenced in the V2500 Engine Manual chapter 5 requirements, the AD 
references the Engine Manuals.

Compliance Section Paragraph Identification

    One commenter notes that the Compliance Section of the proposed 
rule does not conform to FAA's conventional paragraph identification 
structure (e.g. a, 1, i, etc.). The FAA concurs and the paragraph 
structure will be changed. Additionally, an error was discovered in the 
proposed supersedure and paragraph (a)(2) has been changed from 
``Whenever a Group A part identified in this paragraph (see 2.1 for 
definition of Group A) * * * to ``Whenever a Group A part identified in 
this paragraph (see 3.0 for definition of Group A) * * * Also, it was 
determined that subparagraph designators (a)(2) (A) and (B) were 
unnecessary and they have been dropped.

Discussion Section Wording

    One commenter notes that the preamble published with this Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) does not include the same explaination of 
when the enhanced disk inspections are required compared to the 
preamble published for the current AD. This commenter requests that 
those guidelines be added to the final rule. The FAA does not agree. 
The inspection program established by the current AD remains unchanged. 
This NPRM proposed to add additional parts to the list of parts that 
must be inspected, but did not proposed to change how air carriers must 
manage the inspection program. Future AD's may be issued to introduce 
additional intervention strategies in order to further reduce 
uncontained engine failures, including AD's that add new parts to the 
list of parts requiring inspection. However, the inspection program 
established by the current AD will remain unless specifically altered 
in a future proposal.

Request To Remove ``of This Chapter'' From Paragraph (e) of the 
Compliance Section

    One commenter requests that the FAA remove the statement ``of this 
chapter'' from the first sentence of paragraph (e) of this AD. The 
commenter feels that removing the statement will improve the clarity of 
the paragraph. The FAA agrees. The statement ``of this chapter'' has 
been removed from the first sentence of paragraph (e).

Economic Analysis

    No comments were received on the economic analysis contained in the 
proposed rules. The FAA has determined that the annual cost of 
complying with this AD does not create a significant economic impact on 
small entities.

Adoption of the Proposed Rule

    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.

Regulatory Impact

    This final 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 final 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

[[Page 36785]]

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, 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 removing Amendment 39-11117 (64 FR 
17956, April 13, 1999), and by adding a new airworthiness directive, 
Amendment 39-11783, to read as follows:

2000-12-05  International Aero Engines AG: Amendment 39-11783. 
Docket No. 98-ANE-45-AD. Supersedes AD 99-08-11, Amendment 39-11117.

Applicable Engines

    International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2500-A1/-A5/-D5 series 
turbofan engines, installed on but not limited to Airbus Industrie 
A319, A320, and A321 series, and McDonnell Douglas MD-90 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; and, if the unsafe condition 
has not been eliminated, the request should include specific 
proposed actions to address it.

Compliance

    Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.
    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 90 days after the effective date of this AD, 
revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) and Maintenance 
Scheduling Section (MSS) of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness (ICA), located in the Time Limits Manual (Chapter 05-
10-00) of the Engine Manuals, part number (P/N) E-V2500-1IA and P/N 
E-V2500-3IA, and for air carrier operations revise the approved 
continuous airworthiness maintenance program, by
    (1) Adding the following to paragraph 1, entitled 
``Airworthiness Limitations:'' ``Refer to paragraph 2--Maintenance 
Scheduling for information that sets forth the operator's 
maintenance requirements for the V2500 On-Condition engine.''
    (2) Adding the following paragraph 2, entitled ``Maintenance 
Scheduling:'' ``Whenever a Group A part identified in this paragraph 
(see 3.0 for definition of Group A) satisfies both of the following 
conditions:
    The part is considered completely disassembled when accomplished 
in accordance with the disassembly instructions in the engine 
manufacturer's engine manual; and
    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; then that part is considered to be at the piece-part level 
and it is mandatory to perform the inspections for that part as 
specified in the following:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Part nomenclature                     Part No. (P/N)               Inspect per engine manual chapter
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fan Disk............................  All...............................  Chapter 72-31-12, Subtask 72-31-12-230-
                                                                           054.
Stage 1 HP Turbine Hub..............  All...............................  Chapter 72-45-11, Task 72-45-11-200-
                                                                           002.
Stage 2 HP Turbine Hub..............  All...............................  Chapter 72-45-31, Task 72-45-31-200-
                                                                           004''.
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    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this AD, and 
notwithstanding contrary provisions in section 43.16 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.16), these mandatory inspections 
shall be performed only in accordance with the ALS and MSS of the 
ICA in the Time Limits Manual (Chapter 05-10-00) of the Engine 
Manuals, P/N E-V2500-1IA and P/N E-V2500-3IA.

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 
sections 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 
recordkeeping 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 ALS and MSS of 
the ICA in the Time Limits Manual (Chapter 05-10-00) of the Engine 
Manuals, P/N E-V2500-1IA and P/N E-V2500-3IA, 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.

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on August 11, 2000.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 6, 2000.
David A. Downey,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-14787 Filed 6-9-00; 8:45 am]
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