[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 227 (Friday, November 27, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62215-62217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28167]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24171; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-08-AD; 
Amendment 39-16093; AD 2007-11-18R1]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company CF6-50C Series 
Turbofan Engines

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 
for General Electric Company (GE) CF6-50C series turbofan engines. That 
AD currently requires reworking certain forward fan stator cases and 
installing a fan module secondary containment shield. This AD requires 
the same actions but eliminates a certain service bulletin from the 
compliance method. This AD results from a review that shows that only 
one of the service bulletins referenced in the original AD is 
applicable as a compliance method. We are issuing this AD revision to 
eliminate a certain service bulletin from the compliance method and to 
prevent uncontained fan blade failures, which can result in separation 
of airplane hydraulic lines, damage to critical airplane systems, and 
possible loss of airplane control.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 4, 2010. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of January 4, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from General Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 Newmann Way, 
Cincinnati, OH 45215, telephone (513) 552-3272; fax (513) 552-3329; e-
mail: [email protected].
    The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Rosa, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7152; fax (781) 238-7199.

[[Page 62216]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to GE CF6-50C series 
turbofan engines. We published the proposed AD in the Federal Register 
on June 24, 2009 (74 FR 30018). That action proposed to require 
reworking certain forward fan stator cases, installing a fan module 
secondary containment shield on Airbus A300 series airplanes, and 
eliminating GE Service Bulletin (SB) No. CF6-50 S/B 72-0986, Revision 
2, dated March 21, 2007, as an acceptable compliance method.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in 
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.

Request To Change Service Bulletin References

    One commenter, Airbus, requests that we reference the latest 
revision of GE SB No. CF6-50 S/B 72-0985 in the AD, which is Revision 
3, dated August 22, 2007.
    We agree. We changed the SB references in the AD to Revision 3.

Request To Remove European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD Reference

    Airbus requests that we remove the reference to EASA AD 2004-0007 
from the AD, as it has been cancelled by EASA.
    We agree and have removed the EASA AD reference.

Request To Include GE SB No. CF6-50 S/B 72-0986

    One commenter, Tradewinds Airlines, requests that we include GE SB 
No. CF6-50 S/B 72-0986 in the AD, as this will give credit for previous 
installation of required shields.
    We agree. If shields have been previously installed per GE SB No. 
CF6-50 S/B 72-0986, CF6-50 S/B 72-0986, Revision 01, or CF6-50 S/B 72-
0986, Revision 02, credit will be allowed for that previous 
installation.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. 
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the 
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 40 CF6-50C series turbofan 
engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it will take about 2.5 work hours per engine to perform the actions, 
and that the average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts 
will cost about $9,451 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate 
the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be $386,040.

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 AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    (3) 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing Amendment 39-15075 (72 FR 
30249, May 31, 2007), and by adding a new airworthiness directive, 
Amendment 39-16093, to read as follows:

2007-11-18R1 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-16093. Docket 
No. FAA-2006-24171; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-08-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 
4, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD revises AD 2007-11-18, Amendment 39-15075.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) CF6-50C, 
CF6-50C1, CF6-50C2, and CF6-50C2R turbofan engines, with a forward 
fan stator case, part number (P/N) 9064M53G04, G05, G06, G07, G08, 
G09, G10, G12, or G13, or P/N 9173M37G01, G02, G03, G04, G05, or G06 
installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, 
Airbus A300, McDonnell Douglas DC-10 series, and DC-10-30F (KC-10A, 
KDC-10) airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD revision results from a review that shows that only 
one of the service bulletins referenced in the original AD is 
applicable as a compliance method. We are issuing this AD to 
eliminate a certain service bulletin from the compliance method and 
to prevent uncontained fan blade failures, which can result in 
separation of airplane hydraulic lines, damage to critical airplane 
systems, and possible loss of airplane control.

[[Page 62217]]

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) At the next engine shop visit after the effective date of 
this AD, but no later than June 30, 2010, rework the forward fan 
stator case and install the fan module secondary containment shield.
    (1) For engines on Airbus 300 series airplanes, use paragraph 3, 
Accomplishment Instructions, of GE Service Bulletin (SB) No. CF6-50 
S/B 72-0985, Revision 3, dated August 22, 2007, to do the rework and 
installation.
    (2) Deleted.
    (g) The rework and installation specified in paragraph (f)(1) of 
this AD can also be done on-wing.

Previous Credit

    (h) Previous credit is allowed for fan stator cases reworked and 
containment shields installed using GE SB No. CF6-50 S/B 72-0985, 
dated December 2, 1991, Revision 1, dated September 15, 1998, or 
Revision 2, dated March 21, 2007, before the effective date of this 
AD. Credit is also allowed for fan stator cases reworked and 
containment shields installed using GE SB No. CF6-50 S/B 72-0986, 
dated December 2, 1991, Revision 1, dated September 15, 1998, or 
Revision 2, dated march 21, 2007.

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.

Related Information

    (j) Deleted.
    (k) Contact James Rosa, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification 
Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: [email protected]; 
telephone (781) 238-7152; fax (781) 238-7199, for more information 
about this AD.
    (l) Contact General Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 
Newmann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215, telephone (513) 552- 3272; fax 
(513) 552-3329; e-mail: [email protected], for a copy of the service 
information referenced in this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (m) You must use GE Service Bulletin No. CF6-50 S/B 72-0985, 
Revision 3, dated August 22, 2007, to do the rework and installation 
required by this AD. The Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of this service bulletin in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact General 
Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 Newmann Way, Cincinnati, 
OH 45215, telephone (513) 552- 3272; fax (513) 552-3329; e-mail: 
[email protected], for a copy of this service information. You may 
review copies at the FAA, New England Region, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 16, 2009.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-28167 Filed 11-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P