[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 14, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 60657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24248]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 199 / Tuesday, October 14, 2008 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 60657]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0242; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-51]


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company CF6-80C2 and 
CF6-80E1 Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to General 
Electric Company (GE) CF6-80C2 and CF6-80E1 series turbofan engines. 
That action would have required replacement of all clevis pins 
installed on the thrust reverser central drive units and upper and 
lower actuators, or replacement of pins that fail an on-wing rebound 
hardness test. Since we issued that NPRM, we determined there is no 
unsafe condition that warrants issuing an AD. The likelihood of this 
event occurring again and significantly damaging an aircraft is very 
low. Accordingly, we withdraw the proposed rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Richards, Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-
mail: [email protected]; 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) to add a new airworthiness 
directive (AD), applicable to (GE) CF6-80C2 and CF6-80E1 series 
turbofan engines, was published in the Federal Register on February 25, 
2008 (73 FR 9970). The proposed rule would have required replacement of 
all clevis pins installed on the thrust reverser central drive units 
and upper and lower actuators, or replacement of pins that fail an on-
wing rebound hardness test. That action results from failure of a 
thrust reverser during landing due to unapproved clevis pins being 
installed. The failure was due to lack of clevis pin hardness. The 
proposed actions were intended to prevent thrust reverser failure, 
which could lead to damage to the thrust reverser and airplane.
    Since we issued that NPRM we have determined we don't need to issue 
an Airworthiness Directive to mandate an inspection. We have determined 
that the probability that inferior pin material is present in the fleet 
does not present sufficient risk to warrant an AD. However, operators 
and maintenance facilities should remain diligent in their normal 
maintenance practices to prevent installation of unapproved materials 
and to recognize when a clevis pin of inferior material is installed. 
We issued Safety Information Alert Bulletin No. NE-08-44, dated 
September 3, 2008, to aid in identifying and understanding the inferior 
clevis pin material.
    Upon further consideration, we determined there is no unsafe 
condition that warrants issuing an AD. The likelihood of this event 
occurring again and significantly damaging an aircraft is very low. 
Accordingly, we withdraw the proposed rule.
    Withdrawing this notice of proposed rulemaking constitutes only 
such action, and does not preclude us from issuing another notice in 
the future, nor does it commit us to any course of action in the 
future.
    Since this action only withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking, 
it is neither a proposed nor a final rule and therefore, is not covered 
under Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Withdrawal

    Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket No. FAA-
2007-0242, published in the Federal Register on February 25, 2008 (73 
FR 9970), is withdrawn.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 1, 2008.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-24248 Filed 10-10-08; 8:45 am]
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