[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 15519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6701]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Advisory Circular; Instructions for Continued Airworthiness: In-
Service Inspection of Safety Critical Turbine Engine Parts at Piece-
Part Opportunity

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of advisory circular on in-service 
inspection of safety critical turbine engine parts at piece-part 
opportunity.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the 
availability of advisory circular (AC) No. 33.4-2, Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness: In-Service Inspection of Safety Critical 
Turbine Engine Parts at Piece-Part Opportunity.

DATES: The Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, issued AC 33.4-2 on March 8, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Liptak, Engine and Propeller 
Standards Staff, ANE-110, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; telephone: (781) 238-7749; fax: (781) 238-7199; e-mail: 
[email protected]. The subject AC is available on the Internet at the 
following address: www.faa.gov/avr/air/acs/achome.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA published a notice in the Federal 
Register on March 17, 2000 (65 FR 14641) to announce the availability 
of the proposed AC and invite interested parties to comment.

Background

    This AC provides guidance and acceptable methods, but not the only 
methods, that may be used to demonstrate compliance with the 
requirements of 14 CFR 33.4, Instructions for Continued Airworthiness, 
for in-service inspections of safety critical turbine engine parts at 
piece-part opportunity. Analysis of fifteen years of transport aircraft 
accident and incident data shows that the leading cause of engine 
related CAAM level 3 and 4 accidents for turbofan engines is the 
uncontained failure of safety critical parts. The failure of safety 
critical parts can present a significant hazard to an aircraft by 
releasing fragments that can penetrate the cabin or fuel tanks, damage 
control surfaces, or sever flammable fluid or hydraulic lines. To 
significantly reduce the occurrence of these incidents, part features 
most critical to safety should be subjected to in-service inspections 
at each piece-part opportunity during their service lives, using 
methods that detect flaws that could lead to failure.
(Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701-44702, 44704)

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 9, 2001.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-6701 Filed 3-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M