[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 209 (Thursday, October 29, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66481-66482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27555]


 ========================================================================
 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. 80, No. 209 / Thursday, October 29, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 66481]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2208; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-19-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by AlliedSignal Inc., Garrett Turbine 
Engine Company) Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-4, -4R, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R 
turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of certain 
interstage turbine transition (ITT) ducts failing to meet containment 
capability requirements. This proposed AD would require replacing 
certain ITT ducts. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the 
ITT duct, which could lead to an uncontained part release, damage to 
the engine, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 28, 
2015

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Honeywell International Inc., 111 S 34th Street Phoenix, AZ 85034-2802; 
phone: 800-601-3099; Internet: https://myaerospace.honeywell.com/wps/portal/!ut/. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
781-238-7125.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
2208; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 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 
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 
be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-
627-5246; fax: 562-627-5210; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this NPRM. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2015-2208; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-19-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this NPRM.

Discussion

    While the Honeywell Aerospace Olomouc facility in the Czech 
Republic was reworking certain ITT ducts, forgings that were not 
properly heat treated were installed on the affected engines. The heat 
treatment is necessary for the ITT ducts, part number (P/N) 3075292-4, 
to meet mechanical properties and the containment capability 
requirements of the ITT duct design. ITT ducts with unacceptable 
containment capability, if not corrected, could result in an 
uncontained part release, damage to the engine, and damage to the 
airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Honeywell Service Bulletin (SB) No. TFE731-72-3789, 
dated March 23, 2015. The SB describes procedures for removing affected 
ITT ducts. This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section of this 
NPRM.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this NPRM because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This NPRM would require replacing certain ITT ducts, P/N 3075292-4.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 47 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2 
hours per engine to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor 
rate is $85 per hour. We estimate that replacement parts would cost 
$15,000 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost 
of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $712,990. Our cost estimate 
is exclusive of possible warranty coverage.

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

[[Page 66482]]

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 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 this 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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 (AD):

Honeywell International Inc. (Type Certificate previously held by 
AlliedSignal Inc., Garrett Turbine Engine Company): Docket No. FAA-
2015-2208; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-19-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 28, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-4, -
4R, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R turbofan engines with an interstage turbine 
transition (ITT) duct, part number (P/N) 3075292-4, installed, with 
a serial number (S/N) listed in Table 2 of Honeywell Service 
Bulletin (SB) No. TFE731-72-3789, dated March 23, 2015.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of certain ITT ducts failing to 
meet containment capability requirements. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the ITT duct, which could lead to an uncontained 
part release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) At the next removal of the ITT duct from the engine not to 
exceed 2,600 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this 
AD, remove the affected ITT duct and replace with a part eligible 
for installation.
    (2) Reserved.

(f) Definitions

    For the purpose of this AD a part eligible for installation is 
an ITT duct with an S/N that is not listed in Table 2 of Honeywell 
SB No. TFE731-72-3789, dated March 23, 2015 or, if listed in Table 2 
of this SB, was reworked using Honeywell SB No. TFE731-72-3789, 
dated March 23, 2015.

(g) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install any ITT duct 
with an S/N listed in Table 2 of Honeywell SB No. TFE731-72-3789, 
dated March 23, 2015, onto any engine, unless the ITT duct is marked 
with the overhaul/repair instructions number ``P35864'' near the ITT 
duct P/N and S/N markings.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 
to make your request.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Joseph Costa, 
Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 
90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5246; fax: 562-627-5210; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD contact 
Honeywell International Inc., 111 S 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-
2802; phone: 800-601-3099; Internet: https://myaerospace.honeywell.com/wps/portal/!ut/.
    (3) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 781-238-7125.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 22, 2015.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-27555 Filed 10-28-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P