[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64295-64296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28431]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-NE-41-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1, -1A, 
and -1B Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) JT15D-1, -1A, and -1B turbofan engines 
with certain impellers part number (P/N) 3020365. This proposed AD 
would require a one-time borescope inspection of the rear face of 
certain impellers for evidence of a machined groove or step, and repair 
or replacement of the impeller if a groove or step is found. This 
proposed AD is prompted by three reports of uncontained failure of the 
impeller. We are proposing this AD to prevent uncontained failure of 
the impeller and possible damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by January 12, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
    [sbull] By mail: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New England 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 
2003-NE-41-AD, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-
5299.
    [sbull] By fax: (781) 238-7055.
    [sbull] By e-mail: [email protected].
    You can get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Pratt & Whitney Canada, 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, 
Canada J4G1A1, telephone (800) 268-8000; fax (450) 647-2888. You may 
examine the AD docket, by appointment, at the FAA, New England Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ian Dargin, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-
7178; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``AD Docket No. 2003-NE-41-AD'' in the 
subject line of your comments. If you want us to acknowledge receipt of 
your mailed comments, send us a self-addressed, stamped postcard with 
the docket number written on it; we will date-stamp your postcard and 
mail it back to you. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
AD. If a person contacts us verbally, and that contact relates to a 
substantive part of this proposed AD, we will summarize the contact and 
place the summary in the docket. We will consider all comments received 
by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD in light of those 
comments.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You may get more information about 
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD Docket (including any comments and service 
information), by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. See ADDRESSES for the 
location.

Discussion

    Transport Canada (TC), which is the airworthiness authority for 
Canada, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on 
PWC JT15D-1, -1A, and -1B turbofan engines with certain impellers, P/N 
3020365 installed. TC advises that there have been three uncontained 
failures of impellers, P/N 3020365. TC advises that some impellers, P/N 
3020365, were manufactured with a machined groove or a step on the rear 
face. Incidents of impeller fracture and uncontained liberation of 
high-energy fragments have occurred. The National Transportation Safety 
Board has investigated and determined that machine marks on the back 
face of the impeller were the cause of these failures. An impeller with 
this machined groove or step on the rear face could result in an 
uncontained failure of the impeller.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of Pratt & 
Whitney Canada Service Bulletin (SB) No. JT15D-72-7590, dated May 23, 
2003. That SB describes procedures for borescope inspecting impellers, 
P/N 3020365, that were not previously inspected using PWC overhaul 
manual Revision 14, and that are not listed in Appendix A of the SB No. 
JT15D-72-7590, dated May 23, 2003. Transport Canada classified this SB 
as mandatory and issued airworthiness directive CF-2003-17, dated June 
23, 2003, in order to ensure the airworthiness of these PWC engines in 
Canada.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    These PWC JT15D-1, -1A, and -1B turbofan engines, manufactured in 
Canada, are type-certificated for operation in the United States under 
the provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. 
Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, Transport Canada 
has kept us informed of the situation described above. We have examined 
Transport Canada's findings, reviewed all available information, and 
determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design 
that are certificated for operation in the United States. Therefore, we 
are proposing this AD, which would require a one-time borescope 
inspection of the rear face of certain impellers for evidence of a 
machined groove or step, and repair or replacement of the impeller, if 
a groove or step is found. The proposed AD would require you to use the 
service information described previously to perform these actions.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39--Effect on the Proposed AD

    On July 10, 2002, we issued a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 
47998, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's AD system. This 
regulation now includes material that relates to altered products, 
special flight permits, and alternative methods of compliance. This 
material previously was included in each individual AD. Since this 
material is included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in 
future AD actions.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 1,300 PWC JT15D-1, -1A, and -1B turbofan engines of 
the affected design in the worldwide fleet. We estimate that 740 of the 
PWC engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected 
by this

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proposed AD. We also estimate that it would take about 2 work hours per 
engine to perform the proposed inspection at a hot section inspection 
interval, and 30 work hours per engine to replace impellers found with 
a groove or a step in the rear face at shop visit. The average labor 
rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost about $55,427 per 
engine. Based on these figures, we estimate that for impellers 
inspected at hot section inspections, the total labor cost of the 
proposed AD to U.S. operators is $96,200. On the basis of 100 percent 
replacement, the total labor cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators 
is estimated to be $1,443,000 and the parts replacement cost is 
estimated to be $41,015,980 for a total replacement cost of 
$42,555,180.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    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. Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this proposal and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket No. 2003-NE-41-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Pratt & Whitney Canada: Docket No. 2003-NE-41-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this airworthiness directive (AD) action by January 12, 2004.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) JT15D-1, -
1A, and -1B turbofan engines with certain impellers, part number (P/
N) 3020365, installed. These engines are installed on, but not 
limited to, Cessna Aircraft Company Models 500 and 501 airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD is prompted by three reports of uncontained failure 
of the impeller. We are issuing this AD to prevent uncontained 
failure of the impeller and possible damage to the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the 
actions have already been done.
    (f) If you have already inspected the impeller, P/N 3020365, 
using PWC overhaul manual Revision 14, or if the impeller is listed 
in Appendix A of PWC (SB) No. JT15D-72-7590, dated May 23, 2003, no 
further action is required.

One-Time Borescope Inspection

    (g) Perform a one-time borescope inspection of the impeller rear 
face for evidence of a machined groove or step, using paragraph 3.B. 
of Accomplishment Instructions of PWC SB No. JT15D-72-7590, dated 
May 23, 2003: as follows:
    (1) For engines with 5,000 or more cycles-since-new (CSN) on the 
effective date of this AD, inspect within 250 cycles-in-service 
(CIS) after the effective date of this AD.
    (2) For engines with fewer than 5,000 CSN on the effective date 
of this AD, inspect before reaching 5,250 CSN.

Disposition of Inspected Impellers

    (h) Before further flight, repair or replace impellers that do 
not pass the inspection requirements of paragraph 3.B.(8) of 
Accomplishment Instructions of PWC SB No. JT15D-72-7590, dated May 
23, 2003.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (i) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, has the authority 
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD if 
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use PWC SB No. JT15D-72-7590, dated May 23, 2003, 
to perform the one-time inspection required by this AD. Approval of 
incorporation by reference from the Office of the Federal Register 
is pending.

Related Information

    (k) Transport Canada airworthiness directive CF-2003-17, dated 
June 23, 2003, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 6, 2003.
Robert Guyotte,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-28431 Filed 11-12-03; 8:45 am]
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