[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 140 (Thursday, July 21, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47313-47314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17159]


 ========================================================================
 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. 81, No. 140 / Thursday, July 21, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 47313]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-7099; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-15-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines AG 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 International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2527-
A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2530-A5, V2533-A5, V2525-D5, V2528-D5, and 
V2531-E5 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by nine in-
flight shutdowns that resulted from premature failure of the No. 3 
bearing. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive 
inspections of the master magnetic chip detector (MMCD) and, if 
metallic debris is found, further actions depending on the type of 
metallic debris. This proposed AD would also require removal of the No. 
3 bearing from service at the next engine shop visit. We are proposing 
this AD to prevent failure of the No. 3 bearing, failure of one or more 
engines, loss of thrust control, and loss of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 19, 
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 
International Aero Engines AG, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 
06118; phone: 860-565-0140; email: [email protected]; Internet: https://fleetcare.pw.utc.com. 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-
7099; 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: Brian Kierstead, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7772; 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-2016-7099; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-15-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

    We learned from the manufacturer that nine in-flight shutdowns 
resulted from premature failure of the No. 3 bearing. This condition, 
if not corrected, could result in failure of the No. 3 bearing, failure 
of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and loss of the 
airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed IAE Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) V2500-ENG-
72-0671, dated March 22, 2016. The NMSB describes procedures for 
inspecting the MMCD and further actions if metallic debris is found. 
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 
of the MMCD and, if metallic debris is found, further actions depending 
on the type of metallic debris. This proposed AD would also require 
removal of the No. 3 bearing from service at the next engine shop visit 
and its replacement with a part eligible for installation.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 11 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate that it would take about 1 hour 
to perform the inspection. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. We 
estimate the cost to replace a No. 3 bearing to be $54,510. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed AD on U.S. 
operators to be $600,545.

[[Page 47314]]

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):

International Aero Engines AG: Docket No. FAA-2016-7099; Directorate 
Identifier 2016-NE-15-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 19, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to International Aero Engines (IAE) V2522-A5, 
V2524-A5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2530-A5, V2533-A5, V2525-
D5, V2528-D5, and V2531-E5 turbofan engines with No. 3 bearing 
serial numbers listed in Appendix 1 of IAE Non-Modification Service 
Bulletin (NMSB) V2500-ENG-72-0671, dated March 22, 2016.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by several in-flight shutdowns that 
resulted from premature failure of the No. 3 bearing. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent failure of the No. 3 bearing, failure of 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) Prior to accumulating 125 flight hours after the effective 
date of this AD, inspect the master magnetic chip detector (MMCD) 
for metallic debris. If no metallic debris is found during the MMCD 
inspection, repeat the inspection within every 125 flight hours.
    (2) If metallic debris is found during the MMCD inspection, 
evaluate the debris using paragraph 2.B. of the Accomplishment 
Instructions in IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0671, dated March 22, 2016. 
Perform additional inspections or remove the engine from service in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions in IAE NMSB V2500-
ENG-72-0671.
    (3) Remove the No. 3 bearing from service at the next engine 
shop visit and replace it with a bearing part/serial number 
combination not listed in Appendix 1 of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0671, 
dated March 22, 2016.

(f) Mandatory Terminating Action

    Removal of the No. 3 bearing from service at the next engine 
shop visit and replacement with a bearing not listed in Appendix 1 
of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0671, dated March 22, 2016, is terminating 
action to this AD.

(g) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, an ``engine shop visit'' is the 
induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the 
separation of pairs of major mating engine flanges, except that the 
separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of 
transportation without subsequent engine maintenance does not 
constitute an engine shop visit.

(h) 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].

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Brian Kierstead, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7772; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0671, dated March 22, 2016, can be 
obtained from IAE using the contact information in paragraph (i)(3) 
of this proposed AD.
    (3) For service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact International Aero Engines AG, 400 Main Street, East 
Hartford, CT 06118; phone: 860-565-0140; email: [email protected]; 
Internet: http://fleetcare.pw.utc.com.
    (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 July 13, 2016.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-17159 Filed 7-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P