[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 1, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 75761-75762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26010]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9128; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-19-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; CFM International S.A. 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 CFM International S.A. (CFM) CFM56-5B turbofan engines. This 
proposed AD was prompted by reports of the failure of the radial drive 
shaft (RDS) on CFM CFM56-5B engines. This proposed AD would require 
removal of the RDS assembly and the RDS outer housing and their 
replacement with parts eligible for installation. We are proposing this 
AD to prevent failure of the RDS, which could lead to failure of one or 
more engines, loss of thrust control, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 16, 
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 CFM 
International Inc., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D Room 
285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; phone: 877-432-3272; fax: 877-432-3329; 
email: [email protected]. You may view this service 
information at 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-
9128; 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: Kyle Gustafson, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7183; 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-2016-9128; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-19-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 have received 9 reports of failure of the RDS on CFM CFM56-5B 
engines. CFM has identified an affected population of RDSs suspected of 
generating unbalance levels that would lead to failure of the RDS 
bearing. This proposed AD would require removal of the RDS assembly and 
the RDS outer housing for the affected population. This condition, if 
not corrected, could result in failure of the RDS, which could lead to 
failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and damage to 
the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed CFM Service Bulletin (SB) CFM56-5B S/B 72-0934, dated 
August 1, 2016. The service information describes procedures for 
removal of the suspect RDS assembly and the RDS outer housing. 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 removal of the RDS assembly and the 
RDS outer housing and their replacement with parts eligible for 
installation.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    CFM SB CFM56-5B S/B 72-0934, dated August 1, 2016, separates the 
affected RDS population into three batches with different removal dates 
for each batch. This proposed AD requires removal of the affected RDS 
assembly and RDS outer housing within 6 months of the effective date 
after this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects eight engines installed 
on airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 75762]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
              Action                        Labor cost            Parts cost        product         operators
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Removal and replacement of the RDS  6 work-hours x $85 per            $37,000          $37,510         $300,080
 assembly and RDS outer housing.     hour = $510.
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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):

CFM International S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2016-9128; Directorate 
Identifier 2016-NE-19-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 16, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to CFM International S.A. (CFM) CFM56-5B series, 
CFM56-5B/P series, CFM56-5B/3 series, CFM56-5B/2P series, CFM56-5B/
P1 series, CFM56-5B/2P1 series, and CFM56-5B/3B1 series engines with 
a radial drive shaft (RDS) serial number (S/N) listed in Appendix A 
of CFM Service Bulletin (SB) CFM56-5B S/B 72-0934, dated August 1, 
2016, installed.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 83, Accessory 
Gearboxes.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of the failure of the RDS on CFM 
CFM56-5B engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
RDS, which could lead to failure of one or more engines, loss of 
thrust control, and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, remove the 
RDS assembly, part number (P/N) 305-165-101-0, and RDS outer 
housing, P/N 301-295-106-0, and replace with parts eligible for 
installation.

(g) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install on any 
engine an RDS with an S/N identified in Appendix A of CFM S/B No. 
CFM56-5B S/B 72-0934, dated August 1, 2016.

(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 Kyle Gustafson, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7183; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) CFM SB CFM56-5B S/B 72-0934, dated August 1, 2016, can be 
obtained from CFM using the contact information in paragraph (i)(3) 
of this proposed AD.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact CFM 
International Inc., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D 
Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; phone: 877-432-3272; fax: 877-432-
3329; email: [email protected].
    (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 October 21, 2016.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-26010 Filed 10-31-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P