[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 3 (Thursday, January 5, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1258-1260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31780]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9380; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-21-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; CFE 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 
certain CFE Company (CFE) turbofan engines. This proposed AD was 
prompted by a quality escape for high-pressure compressor (HPC) 
impellers made from forgings with nonconforming material grain size. 
This proposed AD would require removal of the HPC impeller. We are 
proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 21, 
2017.

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 CFE 
Company, 111 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034-2802; phone: 800-
601-3099; Internet: https://www.myaerospace.com. You may view this 
referenced 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-
9380; 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: Martin Adler, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7157; 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-2016-9380; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-21-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 propose to adopt an AD for certain CFE CFE738-1-1B model 
turbofan engines with HPC impeller, part number (P/N) 6079T77P07 or P/N 
6079T77P09 installed. This proposed AD was prompted by a quality escape 
for HPC impellers made from forgings with nonconforming material grain 
size. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the 
HPC impeller, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed CFE Service Bulletin (SB) CFE738-72-8080, Revision 0, 
dated August 18, 2016. The SB

[[Page 1259]]

describes procedures for replacing specific serial numbered HPC 
impellers, P/N 6079T77P07 or P/N 6079T77P09. 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 affected HPC impellers 
from service and replacement with a part eligible for installation.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 176 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
                   Action                        Labor cost       Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pro-rated HPC impeller......................           $0.00          $42,240          $42,240       $7,434,240
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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, 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):

CFE Company: Docket No. FAA-2016-9380; Directorate Identifier 2016-
NE-21-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by February 21, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to CFE Company (CFE) CFE738-1-1B model turbofan 
engines with a high-pressure compressor (HPC) impeller, part number 
(P/N) 6079T77P07 or P/N 6079T77P09, with a serial number listed in 
CFE Service Bulletin (SB) CFE738-72-8080, Revision 0, dated August 
18, 2016, installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) of America Code 7230, 
Turbine Engine Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a quality escape for HPC impellers made 
from forgings with nonconforming material grain size. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent uncontained failure of the HPC impeller, damage 
to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Action

    Remove all affected HPC impellers from service at the next 
piece-part exposure and replace with a part eligible for 
installation.

(h) Definition

    For the purposes of this AD, ``piece-part exposure'' is defined 
as separation of the impeller from the compressor rotor assembly.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) 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].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Martin Adler, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7157; fax: 781-238-
7199; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact CFE Company, 111 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034-
2802; phone: 800-601-3099; Internet: https://www.myaerospace.com.
    (3) 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.


[[Page 1260]]


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 22, 2016.
Carlos A. Pestana,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-31780 Filed 1-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P