Federal Register, Volume 67 Issue 32 (Friday, February 15, 2002)

[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7061-7065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3579]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-ANE-66-AD; Amendment 39-12649; AD 2002-03-08]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney PW4000 Series Turbofan
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive
(AD), that is applicable to Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series turbofan
engines. That AD currently requires revisions to the Time Limits
Section of the manufacturer's Engine Manuals (EM's) to include required
enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts at each
piece-part exposure. This amendment modifies the airworthiness
limitations section of the manufacturer's manual and an air carrier's
approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program to incorporate
additional inspection requirements. An FAA study of in-service events
involving uncontained failures of critical rotating engine parts has
indicated the need for mandatory inspections. The mandatory inspections
are needed to identify those critical rotating parts with conditions,
which 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 date April 16, 2002.

ADDRESSES: This information may be examined, by appointment, 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: Robert McCabe, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781)
238-7138, fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) by superseding AD 2000-12-02,
Amendment 39-11780 (65 FR 37473, June 15, 2000), which is applicable to
Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series turbofan engines was published in the
Federal Register on October 5, 2001 (66 FR 50888). That action proposed
to modify the airworthiness limitations section of the manufacturer's
manual and an air carrier's approved continuous airworthiness
maintenance program to incorporate additional inspection requirements.
An FAA study of in-service events involving uncontained failures of
critical rotating engine parts has indicated the need for mandatory
inspections. The mandatory inspections are needed to identify those
critical rotating parts with conditions, which if allowed to continue
in service, could result in uncontained failures.

Comments

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to
the comments received.
Two commenters state that EM part numbers 50A345, 50A751, and
50A882 are incorrect and should be changed to the correct part numbers
of 51A345, 51A751, and 50A822, respectively.
The FAA agrees. The correct manual part numbers are included in
this final rule.
One commenter requests that the comment period of this AD be
extended until the manufacturer issues the new inspection requirements
in the EM's or, that the operator's compliance to the final rule of
this AD be delayed for 30 days after the manufacturer publishes the new
inspection procedures in the manufacturer's EM's.
The FAA disagrees. The manufacturer has confirmed its ability to
issue Temporary Revisions to the affected EM's within several weeks
after the

[[Page 7062]]

effective date of this AD. The FAA believes that the nature and scope
of the added inspections will not be significantly different from
existing inspections. In addition, the effective date of this AD (and
therefore the operator's compliance time period) has been extended to
60 days after publication to allow ample time for the specific
inspection procedures and requirements to be published by the
manufacturer and then incorporated into the operator's maintenance
programs. Operators may submit comments to the docket on the specific
procedures once they are published, and the FAA will consider extending
the effective date further or additional rulemaking, as necessary. The
FAA does not believe, however, that this final rule need be delayed
pending the publication of the inspection procedures, or that the
initial compliance time be extended to accommodate the manufacturer's
manual revision cycle.
One commenter concurs with the intent of the AD as proposed.
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.

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.

Regulatory Analysis

This final rule does not have federalism implications, as defined
in Executive Order 13132, because it would 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 the DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated,
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 by contacting 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 39-11780 (65 FR
37473, June 15, 2000) and by adding a new airworthiness directive,
Amendment 39-12649, to read as follows:

2002-03-08 Pratt & Whitney: Amendment 39-12649. Docket No. 98-ANE-
66-AD. Supersedes AD 2000-12-02, Amendment 39-11780.

Applicability: Pratt & Whitney (PW) Model PW4050, PW4052,
PW4056, PW4060, PW4060A, PW4060C, PW4062, PW4152, PW4156, PW4156A,
PW4158, PW4160, PW4460, PW4462, PW4650, PW4164, PW4168, PW4168A,
PW4074, PW4074D, PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084, PW4084D, PW4090, PW4090D,
and PW4098 turbofan engines, installed on but not limited to Airbus
A300, A310, and A330 series, Boeing 747, 767, and 777 series, and
McDonnell Douglas MD-11 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 already done.
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 60 days after the effective date of this AD,
revise the Time Limits Section (TLS) of the Engine Manuals (EM's),
part numbers 50A443, 50A605, 50A822, 51A342, 51A345, and 51A751, as
applicable, for Pratt & Whitney PW4050, PW4052, PW4056, PW4060,
PW4060A, PW4060C, PW4062, PW4152, PW4156, PW4156A, PW4158, PW4160,
PW4460, PW4462, PW4650, PW4164, PW4168, PW4168A, PW4074, PW4074D,
PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084, PW4084D, PW4090, PW4090D, and PW4098 series
turbofan engines; and for air carrier operations revise the approved
mandatory inspections section of the continuous airworthiness
maintenance program, to read as follows:

``MANDATORY INSPECTIONS

(1) Perform inspections of the following parts at each piece-
part opportunity in accordance with the instructions provided in the
PW4000 series Engine Cleaning, Inspection and Repair (CIR) Manuals:
For Engine Manuals 50A443, 50A605, and 50A822, add the following
table data:

For Engine Manual 51A342, add the following table data:

[[Page 7063]]

For Engine Manuals 51A345 and 51A751, add the following table
data:

For Engine Manuals 50A443, 50A605, and 50A822, add the following
table data:

For Engine Manual 51A342, add the following table data:

For Engine Manuals 51A345 and 51A751, add the following table
data:

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CIR manual
Part nomenclature Part No. section CIR manual inspection CIR manual
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HPC Stage 5 Disk.................... All................. 72-35-06 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
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HPC Front Drum Rotor................ All................. 72-35-07 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
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HPC Rear Drum Rotor................. All................. 72-35-10 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HPC Stage 15 Disk................... All................. 72-35-92 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
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HPT Stage 1 Airseal................. All................. 72-52-19 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
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HPT Front Hub....................... All................. 72-52-05 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
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HPT Stage 2 Airseal................. All................. 72-52-22 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
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HPT Rear Hub........................ All................. 72-52-06 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
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For Engine Manuals 50A443, 50A605 and 50A822, add the following
table data:

[[Page 7064]]

For Engine Manual 51A342, add the following table data:

For Engine Manual 51A345, add the following table data:

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CIR manual
Part nomenclature Part No. section CIR manual inspection CIR manual
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 3 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-13 Insp/Check-02, Config- 51A750
1.
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Stage 4 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-14 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
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Stage 5 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-60 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 6 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-16 Insp/Check-02, Config- 51A750
1.
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Stage 7 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-72 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 8 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-62 Insp/Check-02, Config- 51A750
1.
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Stage 9 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-63 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
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For Engine Manual 51A751, add the following table data:

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CIR manual
Part nomenclature Part No. section CIR manual inspection CIR manual
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 3 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-13 Insp/Check-02, Config- 51A750
2 See Note (1).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 4 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-14 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 5 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-60 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 6 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-16 Insp/Check-02, Config- 51A750
2 See Note (1).
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Stage 7 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-72 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 8 LPT......................... All................. 72-53-62 Insp/Check-02, Config- 51A750
2 See Note (1).
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Stage 9 LPT Disk.................... All................. 72-53-63 Insp/Check-02......... 51A750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ FPI method only.

(2) For the purposes of these mandatory inspections, piece-part
opportunity means:
(i) The part is considered completely disassembled when
accomplished in accordance with the disassembly instructions in the
manufacture's EM's to either the part detail or part assembly level
part numbers for the parts listed in the Tables above, 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
must be performed only in accordance with the Time Limits Section of
the manufacturer's EM's.

[[Page 7065]]

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

Special Flight Permits

(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 done.

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 Time Limits
Section of the EM's and the air carrier's continuous airworthiness
program. Alternatively, 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 EM changes
are made and air carriers have modified their continuous
airworthiness maintenance plans to reflect the requirements in the
applicable EM's.

(f) This amendment becomes effective on April 16, 2002.

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 5, 2002.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-3579 Filed 2-14-02; 8:45 am]
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