[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 78 (Friday, April 23, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21161-21162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9376]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0502; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-02-AD; 
Amendment 39-16273; AD 2010-09-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company (GE) CJ610 
Series Turbojet Engines and CF700 Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GE 
CJ610 series turbojet engines and CF700 turbofan engines with AFT 
Technologies combustion liners, part number (P/N) AFT-5016T30G02. This 
AD requires removing from service, AFT Technologies combustion liners, 
P/N AFT-5016T30G02. This AD results from a report of an AFT 
Technologies combustion liner that released a large section of the 
inner combustion liner and reports of six combustion liners with 
premature cracks. We are issuing this AD to prevent premature cracks in 
the combustion liner, which could release pieces of the inner 
combustion liner. A release of pieces of the inner combustion liner 
could cause an uncontained failure of the engine turbine and damage to 
the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 28, 2010.

ADDRESSES: 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: Norman Perenson, Aerospace Engineer, 
New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; e-
mail: [email protected]; telephone (516) 228-7337; fax (516) 794-
5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to GE CJ610 series turbojet 
engines and CF700 turbofan engines with AFT Technologies combustion 
liners, P/N AFT-5016T30G02 installed. We published the proposed AD in 
the Federal Register on September 9, 2009 (74 FR 46395). That action 
proposed to require replacing combustion liners, P/N AFT-5016T30G02:
     Before they accumulate 200 hours-since-new (HSN) or 300 
cycles-since-new (CSN), or
     Within 15 hours-in-service or 10 cycles-in-service, after 
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, if the 
combustion liner has already exceeded 200 HSN or 300 CSN.

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.

Agrees With the Proposed AD

    One commenter agrees with the AD.

Request To Replace ``* * * Other Products of the Same Type Design''

    One commenter, AFT Technologies, asks us to replace ``* * * other 
products of the same type design'' with ``* * * other products of the 
same manufacture.'' The commenter feels ``The A.D. inadvertently 
suggests that despite PMA approval to manufacture the subject part, 
it's failure or potential for failure is the result of a design defect, 
as opposed to an equally possible manufacturing or assembly defect.'' 
And that the AD requires clarification.
    We do not agree that there is any need to distinguish between 
design and manufacture in the AD. The regulation that controls type 
design, 14 CFR part 21.31, defines type design as design and 
manufacture. In addition, we didn't make any conclusion as to the cause 
of the excessive cracking. Determination of the cracking is the 
responsibility of the PMA holder. As stated in the discussion of the 
proposed rule, ``The PMA holder has not been able to determine the 
cause of the premature combustion liner failure.'' Also, the statement 
``* * * other products of the same type design'' appears only in the 
NPRM preamble section ``FAA's Determination and Requirements of the 
Proposed AD.'' That

[[Page 21162]]

preamble section is not part of the final rule. We didn't change the 
AD.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment[s] received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 13 engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 96 work-
hours per engine to perform the required actions, and that the average 
labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $7,000 
per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the 
AD to U.S. operators to be $190,840.

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, 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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:
2010-09-08 General Electric Company (GE): Amendment 39-16273. Docket 
No. FAA-2009-0502; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-02-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective May 28, 
2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to GE CJ610 series turbojet and CF700 series 
turbofan engines with AFT Technologies combustion liner, part number 
(P/N) AFT-5016T30G02, installed. These engines are installed on, but 
not limited to, Learjet Inc. model 24 series and model 25 series 
airplanes, Dassault Aviation Fan Jet Falcon series airplanes, and 
Sabreliner Corporation NA-265-70 and NA-265-80 series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of an AFT Technologies 
combustion liner that released a large section of the inner 
combustion liner and reports of six combustion liners with premature 
cracks. We are issuing this AD to prevent premature cracks in the 
combustion liner, which could release pieces of the inner combustion 
liner. A release of pieces of the inner combustion liner could cause 
an uncontained failure of the engine turbine 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.

Replacement of AFT Technologies Combustion Liner P/N AFT-5016T30G02

    (f) For engines that have an AFT Technologies combustion liner, 
P/N AFT-5016T30G02, with fewer than 200 hours-since-new (HSN) or 300 
cycles-since-new (CSN), remove the AFT Technologies combustion 
liner, P/N AFT-5016T30G02, before exceeding 200 HSN or 300 CSN, 
whichever occurs first.
    (g) For engines that have an AFT Technologies combustion liner, 
P/N AFT-5016T30G02, with 200 HSN or more or 300 CSN or more, remove 
the AFT Technologies combustion liner, P/N AFT-5016T30G02, within 15 
hours-in-service or 10 cycles-in-service, after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs first.
    (h) After the effective date of this AD, don't install any AFT 
Technologies combustion liner, P/N AFT-5016T30G02, in any engine.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (i) The Manager, New York Aircraft 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) Contact Norman Perenson, Aerospace Engineer, New York 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 
1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (516) 228-7337; fax (516) 794-
5531, for more information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 19, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-9376 Filed 4-22-10; 8:45 am]
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