[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 130 (Monday, July 9, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37126-37130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13256]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28058; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-08-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines AG (IAE) 
V2500 Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for IAE V2500-A1, V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, 
V2530-A5, V2533-A5, V2525-D5, V2528-D5 turbofan engines. This proposed 
AD would require removing certain No. 4 bearing seal components from 
service at the next shop visit or by an end date determined by the 
engine model. This proposed AD results from instances of oil loss from 
the No. 4 bearing compartment. We are proposing this AD to prevent heat 
damage to high pressure turbine (HPT) and low pressure turbine (LPT) 
critical life limited hardware such as the HPT stage 1-2 airseal. 
Damage to the HPT stage 1-2 airseal could cause uncontained engine 
failure and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by September 7, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colleen M. D'Alessandro, Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park,

[[Page 37127]]

Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-7133; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send us any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-28058; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-08-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of the 
DOT Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for the 
Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is the same as the 
Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

Discussion

    Between March 1993 and October 2006, we received reports of 24 
confirmed instances of oil loss from the No. 4 bearing compartment. 
Each instance resulted in the oil igniting and caused heat distress 
damage to HPT and LPT hardware.
    International Aero Engines (IAE) attributes the oil loss to two 
root causes, fractures of the rear No. 4 carbon seal and insufficient 
oil scavenging. The fractures result from fracture of the HPT stage 1 
disk metering plug due to high-cycle fatigue (HCF). Industry confirms 
five instances of fractured metering plugs between January 2001 and 
October 2006. Regarding the insufficient oil scavenging, Industry 
confirms 19 instances of distress of the HPT, the LPT, or both, caused 
by oil flooding the No. 4 bearing compartment between March 1993, and 
October 2006.
    We have monitored industry's investigation, field actions, and 
service experience with this problem. However, we conclude that 
proposed corrective actions are inadequate. These conditions, if not 
corrected, could result in heat damage to critical life limited 
hardware such as the HPT stage 1-2 airseal. Damage to the HPT stage 1-2 
airseal could cause uncontained engine failure, and damage to the 
airplane.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products 
of this same type design. We are proposing this AD, which would require 
removing the parts specified in this proposed AD at the next shop 
visit, but no later than November 2008 for the V2500-A1 model or June 
2011 for the--A5 and -D5 models.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 686 engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. Of those 686 engines, the 
operators of nineteen V2500-A1 engines, thirty -A5 engines and twenty-
one -D5 engines have already complied with the requirements in the 
proposed AD.

                                  Costs of Compliance per year by Engine Model
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Number of
                  Engine Model                      engines per     Total labor     Total parts   Total cost per
                                                       year        cost per year   cost per year       year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
V2500-A1........................................              33        $355,080      $7,230,564      $7,585,644
V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-             142       1,368,880      35,790,816      37,159,696
 A5, V2530-A5, V2533-A5.........................
V2525-D5, V2528-D5..............................               5          15,400         276,425         291,825
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the proposed 
AD to U.S. operators to be $45,037,165 per year.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

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 AD:
    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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. You may get a copy of this summary at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES.

[[Page 37128]]

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    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:

International Aero Engines AG (IAE): Docket No. FAA-2007-28058; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-08-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by September 7, 
2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to IAE V2500-A1, V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2527-
A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2530-A5, V2533-A5, V2525-D5, V2528-D5 
turbofan engines with a part listed by part number (P/N) in this AD 
installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, 
Airbus A319, A320, A321, and Boeing MD-90 airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This proposed AD results from instances of oil loss from the 
No. 4 bearing compartment. We are issuing this AD to prevent heat 
damage to high pressure turbine (HPT) and low pressure turbine (LPT) 
critical life limited hardware such as the HPT stage 1-2 airseal. 
Damage to the HPT stage 1-2 airseal could cause uncontained engine 
failure, and 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.

V2500-A1 Engines

    (f) For V2500-A1 engines, remove the parts listed by P/N in the 
following Table 1 of this AD at the next shop visit after the 
effective date of this AD but not later than November 30, 2008. The 
ATA chapter reference of the IAE V2500-A1 engine manual (E-V2500-
1IA) contains information on removing the parts.

                 Table 1.--V2500-A1 Parts To Be Removed
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ATA chapter  reference              P/N                Nomenclature
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-42-20................  2A0367-01...............  Tube Assy of, Weep,
                                                     No. 4 Bearing
                                                     Outer.
72-42-20................  2A2873-01...............  Tube Assy of, Weep,
                                                     No. 4 Bearing
                                                     Outer.
72-42-20................  2A0830-01...............  Tube, Scavenge, No.
                                                     4 Bearing Assy.
72-42-20................  2A1949-01...............  Tube, Scavenge, No.
                                                     4 Bearing Assy.
72-42-20................  2A2028-01...............  Tube, Scavenge, No.
                                                     4 Bearing Assy.
72-42-20................  2A0830-001..............  Tube, Scavenge, No.
                                                     4 Bearing Assy.
72-42-20................  2A2274-01...............  Tube, Scavenge, No.
                                                     4 Bearing Assy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-42-33................  2A0853..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A2055..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A2834..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A2930..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A3525..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A3538..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A0851..................  Support Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing Seal.
72-42-33................  2A2833..................  Support, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Seal Assy.
72-42-33................  2A3537..................  Support, No. 4
                                                     Bearing Seal Assy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-42-35................  2A0892-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Front.
72-42-35................  2A2257-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Front.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-43-20................  2A2056..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Rear.
72-43-20................  2A2931..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Rear.
72-43-20................  2A3526..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Rear.
72-43-20................  2A0847..................  Seal Ring Holder.
72-43-20................  2A0891-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Rear.
72-43-20................  2A1205-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Rear.
72-43-20................  2A3078-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Rear.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-45-11................  2A0594..................  Metering Plug, HPT
                                                     Hub, Stage 1.
72-45-11................  2A1040..................  Metering Plug, HPT
                                                     Hub, Stage 1.
72-45-11................  2A2181..................  Metering Plug, HPT
                                                     Hub, Stage 1.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-45-13................  2A0884..................  Seal Air, HPT Stage
                                                     1.
72-45-13................  2A1203..................  Seal Air, HPT Stage
                                                     1.
72-45-13................  2A0884-001..............  Seal Air, HPT Stage
                                                     1.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
79-22-49................  5R8111..................  Tube A/O Oil--No. 4
                                                     Brg Scav Dif Case
                                                     to Bif Panel.
79-22-49................  5R8138..................  Tube A/O Oil--No. 4
                                                     Brg Scav Dif Case
                                                     to Bif Panel.
79-22-49................  6A5367..................  Tube A/O Oil--No. 4
                                                     Brg Scav Dif Case
                                                     to Bif Panel.
79-22-49................  5A9083..................  Tube A/O Oil--No. 4
                                                     Brg Discon to
                                                     Discon.
79-22-49................  5A9084..................  Tube A/O Oil--No. 4
                                                     Brg Discon to Scav
                                                     Valve.
79-22-49................  5A8573..................  Tube A/O Oil--Press
                                                     `T' To Pressurre
                                                     Transducer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
79-23-51................  1648MK2.................  Scavenge Valve.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 37129]]

V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2530-A5, and 
V2533-A5 Engines

    (g) For V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, 
V2530-A5, and V2533-A5 engines, remove the parts listed by P/N in 
the following Table 2 of this AD at the next shop visit after the 
effective date of this AD but not later than June 30, 2011. The ATA 
chapter reference of the IAE V2500-A5 engine manual (E-V2500-1IA) 
contains information on removing the parts.

 Table 2.--V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2530-A5,
                    and V2533-A5 Parts To Be Removed
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ATA chapter  reference              P/N                Nomenclature
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-42-20................  2A0367-01...............  Tube Assy of, Weep,
                                                     No. 4 Bearing
                                                     Outer.
72-42-20................  2A2873-01...............  Tube Assy of, Weep,
                                                     No. 4 Bearing
                                                     Outer.
72-42-20................  2A0830-01...............  Tube, Scavenge, No.
                                                     4 Bearing Assy.
72-42-20................  2A1949-01...............  Tube, Scavenge, No.
                                                     4 Bearing Assy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-42-33................  2A0853..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A2834..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A2930..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A3525..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A3538..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A0851..................  Support Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing Seal.
72-42-33................  2A2833..................  Support, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Seal Assy.
72-42-33................  2A3537..................  Support, No. 4
                                                     Bearing Seal Assy.
72-42-35................  2A0892-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Front.
72-42-35................  2A2257-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Front.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-43-20................  2A2056..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Rear.
72-43-20................  2A2931..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Rear.
72-43-20................  2A3526..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Rear.
72-43-20................  2A0847..................  Seal Ring Holder.
72-43-20................  2A0891-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Rear.
72-43-20................  2A1205-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Rear.
72-43-20................  2A3078-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Rear.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-45-11................  2A0594..................  Metering Plug, HPT
                                                     Hub, Stage 1.
72-45-11................  2A1040..................  Metering Plug, HPT
                                                     Hub, Stage 1.
72-45-11................  2A2354..................  Metering Plug, HPT
                                                     Hub, Stage 1.
72-45-11................  2A3182..................  Metering Plug, HPT
                                                     Hub, Stage 1.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-45-13................  2A1352..................  Seal Air, HPT Stage
                                                     1.
72-45-13................  2A3032..................  Seal Air, HPT Stage
                                                     1.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
79-22-49................  5R8111..................  Tube A/O Oil--No. 4
                                                     Brg Scav Dif Case
                                                     to Bif Panel.
79-22-49................  5R8138..................  Tube A/O Oil--No. 4
                                                     Brg Scav Dif Case
                                                     to Bif Panel.
79-22-49................  6A5367..................  Tube A/O Oil--No. 4
                                                     Brg Scav Dif Case
                                                     to Bif Panel.
79-22-49................  5A9083..................  Tube A/O Oil--No. 4
                                                     Brg Discon to
                                                     Discon.
79-22-49................  5A9084..................  Tube A/O Oil--No. 4
                                                     Brg Discon to Scav
                                                     Valve.
79-22-49................  5A8573..................  Tube A/O Oil--Press
                                                     `T' To Pressure
                                                     Transducer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (h) For V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, 
V2530-A5, and V2533-A5 engines with high pressure turbine (HPT) 
stage 1 rotor assembly, P/Ns 2A9521-002 and 2A9621-002, the stage 1 
HPT hub metering plug, P/N 2A3182, does not need to be removed.

V2525-D5 and V2528-D5 Engines

    (i) For V2525-D5 and V2528-D5 engines, remove the parts listed 
by P/N in the following Table 3 of this AD at the next shop visit 
after the effective date of this AD but not later than June 30, 
2011. The ATA chapter reference of the IAE V2500-D5 engine manual 
(E-V2500-3IA) contains information on removing the parts.

           Table 3.--V2525-D5 and V2528-D5 Parts to be Removed
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ATA chapter  reference              P/N                Nomenclature
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-42-20................  2A0367-01...............  Tube Assy of, Weep,
                                                     No. 4 Bearing
                                                     Outer.
72-42-20................  2A2873-01...............  Tube Assy of, Weep,
                                                     No. 4 Bearing
                                                     Outer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-42-33................  2A0851..................  Support Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing Seal.
72-42-33................  2A2833..................  Support, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Seal Assy.
72-42-33................  2A3537..................  Support, No. 4
                                                     Bearing Seal Assy.
72-42-33................  2A2834..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A2930..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A3525..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-33................  2A3538..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Front.
72-42-35................  2A2257-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Front.

[[Page 37130]]

 
72-43-20................  2A2056..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Rear.
72-43-20................  2A2931..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Rear.
72-43-20................  2A3526..................  Seal Assy, No. 4
                                                     Bearing, Rear.
72-43-20................  2A0847..................  Seal Ring Holder.
72-43-20................  2A1205-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Rear.
72-43-20................  2A3078-01...............  Duct Assy, Cooling
                                                     Air, No. 4 Bearing,
                                                     Rear.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-45-11................  2A3182..................  Metering Plug, HPT
                                                     Hub, Stage 1.
72-45-11................  2A2354..................  Metering Plug, HPT
                                                     Hub, Stage 1.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
72-45-13................  2A1352..................  Seal Air, HPT Stage
                                                     1.
72-45-13................  2A3032..................  Seal Air, HPT Stage
                                                     1.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

All Engines

    (j) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any part 
that has a P/N listed in this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (k) 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.

Related Information

    (l) International Aero Engines non-modification Service Bulletin 
No. V2500-ENG-72-0541, Revision 1, dated February 26, 2007, pertains 
to the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on July 2, 2007.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-13256 Filed 7-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P