[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28777-28778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10781]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-5872; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-11-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company 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 all 
General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-1B64/P2, -1B67/P2, -1B70/P2, -1B70C/
P2, -1B70/75/P2, and -1B74/75/P2 turbofan engines with engine assembly, 
part number (P/N) 2447M10G01 or P/N 2447M10G02, installed. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report of a significant fan rub event. 
This proposed AD would require rework of the engine fan stator module 
assembly. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the fan blades 
and the load reduction device, loss of power to one or more engines, 
loss of thrust control, and loss of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 11, 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 General 
Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 
45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: [email protected]. You 
may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 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-
5872; 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: Christopher McGuire, Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7120; 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 NPRM. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2016-5872; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-11-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

    We received a report of a significant fan rub event involving a GE 
GEnx-1B Performance Improvement Program 2 (PIP2) engine. The fan rub 
was caused by partial fan ice shedding. Asymmetric ice shedding can 
cause large fan imbalances leading to heavy tip rubs. The fan case 
geometry on PIP2 engines makes these engines susceptible to heavy fan 
tip rubs. This can cause substantial damage to the engine and an in-
flight non-restartable power loss. We are using calendar time for 
compliance in this AD because the failure mode is caused by exposure to 
specific environmental and operational conditions. This defines the 
overall fleet risk in terms of calendar time, rather than engine cycles 
or hours.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the 
fan blades and the load reduction device, loss of power to one or more 
engines, loss of thrust control, and loss of the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed GE GEnx-1B Service Bulletin (SB) 72-0314 R00, dated 
April 1, 2016. The SB describes procedures for increasing the clearance 
of the fan stator module assembly. 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 NPRM because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely

[[Page 28778]]

to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This NPRM would require accomplishing the actions specified in the 
service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 89 engines installed 
on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 
40 hours per engine to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor 
rate is $85 per hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the total 
cost of this proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $302,600.

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):

General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA-2016-5872; Directorate 
Identifier 2016-NE-11-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 11, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-1B64/
P2, -1B67/P2, -1B70/P2, -1B70C/P2, -1B70/75/P2, and -1B74/75/P2 
turbofan engines with engine assembly, part number (P/N) 2447M10G01 
or P/N 2447M10G02, installed.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of a significant fan rub event. 
We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the fan blades and the 
load reduction device, loss of power to one or more engines, loss of 
thrust control, and loss of the airplane.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Modify the fan stator module assembly before December 31, 
2016.
    (2) Use paragraphs 3.B.(1) through 3.B.(6) or 3.C.(1) through 
3.C.(6) of the Accomplishment Instructions of GE GEnx-1B Service 
Bulletin (SB) 72-0314 R00, dated April 1, 2016, to do the 
modification.

(f) Credit for Previous Action

    You may take credit for the fan stator module assembly 
modification that is required by paragraph (e) of this AD if you 
performed the modification before the effective date of this AD 
using the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 3.B. or 3.C., of 
GE GEnx-1B SB 72-0309 R00, dated March 11, 2016.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
to 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 Christopher 
McGuire, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7120; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) AD 2016-06-08 (81 FR 14704, March 18, 2016) and AD 2016-08-
12 (81 FR 23581, April 22, 2016) pertain to the subject of this 
proposed AD.
    (3) GE GEnx-1B SB 72-0314 R00, dated April 1, 2016 can be 
obtained from GE using the contact information in paragraph (h)(4) 
of this proposed AD.
    (4) For service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann 
Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: 
[email protected].
    (5) 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 May 3, 2016.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-10781 Filed 5-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P