[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23217-23218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09122]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-5423; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-09-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Division Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW4164, PW4164-1D, PW4168, PW4168-1D, 
PW4168A, PW4168A-1D, and PW4170 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was 
prompted by several instances of fuel leaks on PW engines installed 
with the Talon IIB combustion chamber configuration. This proposed AD 
would require initial and repetitive inspections of the affected fuel 
nozzles and their replacement with parts eligible for installation. We 
are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the fuel nozzles, which 
could lead to engine fire and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 20, 2016.

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 NPRM, contact Pratt & 
Whitney, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108; phone: 860-565-8770; 
fax: 860-565-4503. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, 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-2016-
5423; 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: Besian Luga, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7750; fax: 781-
238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2016-5423; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-09-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD 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 proposed AD.

Discussion

    PW reported nine occurrences of fuel leaks on PW engines with the 
Talon IIB combustion chamber configuration. The subsequent 
investigation of these fuel leaks determined that the leak occurs at 
the brazed joint interface on the fuel injector support (fuel nozzle) 
between the inlet fitting and the nozzle support pad. Cracks are the 
result of thermal mechanical fatigue due to high thermal gradients on 
engines equipped with the Talon IIB combustor. The cracking may be 
aggravated by a laser tack weld that holds the nozzle fitting in place 
during the braze process. This process change, which adds this laser 
weld, was introduced to fuel nozzle, part number 51J345, in December 
2008.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed PW Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) PW4G-100-A73-45, dated 
February 16, 2016. The ASB describes procedures for inspecting and 
replacing the fuel nozzles. 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.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD 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 proposed AD would require initial and repetitive inspections 
and replacement of the affected fuel nozzles.

[[Page 23218]]

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 72 engines installed 
on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate 2.2 hours per engine to 
comply with this proposed inspection and 48 hours to replace the fuel 
nozzle when it is replaced. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. We 
estimate that parts cost would be $15,780 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed AD on U.S. operators to 
be $1,443,384.

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 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):

Pratt & Whitney: Docket No. FAA-2016-5423; Directorate Identifier 
2016-NE-09-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by June 20, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney (PW):
    (1) PW4164, PW4168, and PW4168A model engines that have 
incorporated PW Service Bulletin (SB) PW4G-100-72-214, dated 
December 15, 2011, or PW SB PW4G-100-72-219, Revision No. 1, dated 
October 5, 2011, or original issue, and have fuel nozzles, part 
number (P/N) 51J345, installed;
    (2) PW4168A model engines with Talon IIA outer combustion 
chamber assembly, P/N 51J100, and fuel nozzles, P/N 51J345, with 
serial numbers CGGUA19703 through CGGUA19718 or CGGUA22996 and 
higher, installed;
    (3) PW4168A-1D and PW4170 model engines with engine serial 
numbers P735001 thru P735190 and fuel nozzles, P/N 51J345, 
installed; and
    (4) PW4164-1D, PW4168-1D, PW4168A-1D, and PW4170 model engines 
that have incorporated PW SB PW4G-100-72-220, Revision No. 4, dated 
September 30, 2011, or earlier revision, and have fuel nozzles, P/N 
51J345, installed.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by nine instances of fuel leaks on PW 
engines with the Talon IIB combustion chamber configuration 
installed. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the fuel 
nozzles, which could lead to engine fire and damage to the airplane.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Within 800 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, 
and thereafter within every 800 flight hours accumulated on the fuel 
nozzles, do the following:
    (i) Inspect all fuel nozzles, P/N 51J345. Use Part A of PW Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) PW4G-100-A73-45, dated February 16, 2016, to 
do the inspection.
    (ii) For any fuel nozzle that fails the inspection, before 
further flight, remove and replace it with a part that is eligible 
for installation.
    (2) At the next shop visit after the effective date of this AD, 
and thereafter at each engine shop visit, remove all fuel nozzles, 
P/N 51J345, unless fuel nozzles were replaced within the last 100 
flight hours. Use Part B of PW ASB PW4G-100-A73-45, dated February 
16, 2016, to replace the fuel nozzles with parts eligible for 
installation.

(f) Definitions

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, an ``engine shop visit'' means 
the induction of an engine into the shop for any maintenance.
    (2) For the purpose of this AD, a part that is ``eligible for 
installation'' is a fuel nozzle, with a P/N other than 51J345, that 
is FAA-approved for installation or a fuel nozzle, P/N 51J345, that 
meets the requirements of Part A, paragraph 4.B., or Part B, 
paragraph 1.B. of PW ASB PW4G-100-A73-45, dated February 16, 2016.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request. You may email your request to: [email protected].

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Besian Luga, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7750; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
    (2) PW ASB PW4G-100-A73-45, dated February 16, 2016, can be 
obtained from PW using the contact information in paragraph (h)(3) 
of this proposed rule.
    (3) For service information identified in this proposed rule, 
contact Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108; 
phone: 860-565-8770; fax: 860-565-4503.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
781-238-7125.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 13, 2016.
Carlos Pestana,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-09122 Filed 4-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P