[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 72 (Monday, April 17, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18082-18084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07677]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9167; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-20-AD; 
Amendment 39-18855; AD 2017-08-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
General Electric Company (GE) GE90 turbofan engines. This AD was 
prompted by a report of an engine and airplane fire. This AD requires 
replacing affected fuel/oil lube/servo coolers (``main fuel oil heat 
exchangers'') with a part eligible for installation. We are issuing 
this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 22, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of May 22, 2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
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 referenced service 
information at the FAA, 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. It is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9167.

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-
9167; 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Frost, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7756; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain GE GE90 turbofan 
engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2016 
(81 FR 88145) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by a report of an 
engine and airplane fire. The NPRM proposed to require replacing 
affected fuel/oil lube/servo coolers (``main fuel oil heat 
exchangers'') with a part eligible for installation. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent failure of a main fuel oil heat exchanger, which 
could result in an engine fire.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and 
the FAA's response to each comment.

Request To Revise Applicability Reference

    All Nippon Airways, MTU Maintenance Hannover GmbH (MTU), and Air 
New Zealand commented that this AD should list all vendor part numbers 
referenced in GE Service Bulletin (SB) GE90-100 S/B 79-0034, Revision 
03, dated August 5, 2016. This would ensure that the applicability of 
the AD is not misinterpreted.
    We agree. We changed this AD by adding a reference in the 
Applicability paragraph to the respective vendor number after the part 
number.

Request To Clarify Tracking of Accomplishment of AD

    MTU commented that clarification of the accomplishment of this AD 
is needed because GE SB GE90-100 S/B 79-0034, Revision 03, dated August 
5, 2016, requires marking repaired parts with the suffix ``A'' at the 
end of the serial number but the proposed AD does not. MTU indicated 
that ``GE fleet highlites'' note that the suffix is not part of the 
actual serial number and must not appear on EASA or FAA documents.
    We disagree. Although we are not requiring that parts be marked 
with the suffix ``A'' to reflect compliance with this AD, these parts 
are typically marked after repair per the requirements of GE SB GE90-
100 S/B 79-0034. Operators are free, however, to devise an alternate 
tracking system, i.e. through part markings and/or records, to show 
that the part has been repaired and is eligible for installation. We 
did not change this AD.

Request To Reference Latest Service Bulletin

    MTU requested that we change the reference to GE SB GE90-100 S/B 
79-0034, Revision 03, dated August 5, 2016, to the ``latest version'' 
of this SB.
    We disagree. We cannot require compliance to a document that does 
not exist. We note that operators may submit a request for an alternate 
method of compliance if this SB is revised after the publication of 
this AD. We did not change this AD.

Request To Revise References to Main Heat Exchanger

    GE requested that references in the AD to the ``main heat 
exchanger'' be changed to the ``main fuel oil heat exchanger'' and/or 
the ``MFOHE.'' GE indicated that ``main fuel oil heat exchanger'' is 
the term that it uses in communications with its operators.
    We agree. We changed references in this AD from ``main heat 
exchanger'' to ``main fuel oil heat exchanger.''

Request To Revise Description of Incident and Unsafe Condition 
Statement

    GE requested that we revise the discussion in the NPRM of the cause 
of the incident and the unsafe condition

[[Page 18083]]

statement. GE indicated that this AD should say: ``The incident 
investigation determined the cause to be the separation of a tube 
internal to the main fuel oil heat exchanger, which resulted in leakage 
of fuel into the oil system, causing fuel to flood the oil sump that 
overwhelmed the scavenge and venting system. This condition (engine 
with main fuel oil heat exchanger that has not been repaired), if not 
corrected, could result in failure of a main fuel oil heat exchanger, 
which could result in an engine fire.''
    We disagree. The description of the incident in the NPRM is not 
repeated in this final rule AD. The description of the unsafe condition 
in this AD is accurate. These changes, therefore, are unnecessary. We 
did not change this AD.

Support for the NPRM

    Federal Express and the Air Line Pilots Association expressed 
support for the NPRM as written. The Boeing Company and United Airlines 
indicated that they have no objections to the content of this NPRM.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD with the changes described previously and minor editorial 
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed GE SB GE90-100 S/B 79-0034, Revision 03, dated August 
5, 2016, and GE SB GE90 S/B 79-0058, Revision 02, dated August 5, 2016. 
These service bulletins describe procedures to repair and replace a 
main fuel oil heat exchanger. These documents are distinct since they 
apply to different engine models. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 185 engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace main fuel oil heat exchanger  5 work-hours x $85 per           $7,000           $7,425       $1,373,625
                                       hour = $425.
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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

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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):

2017-08-06 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-18855; Docket No. 
FAA-2016-9167; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-20-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective May 22, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) GE90-76B, GE90-
85B, GE90-90B, GE90-94B, GE90-110B1, and GE90-115B turbofan engines 
with a fuel/oil lube/servo cooler (``main fuel oil heat 
exchanger''), part number (P/N) 1838M88P11 (VIN UA541461-12) or 
1838M88P13 (VIN UA541461-14), with a serial number (S/N) listed in 
paragraph 1.A of GE Service Bulletin (SB) GE90-100 S/B 79-0034, 
Revision 03, dated August 05, 2016; or GE SB GE90 S/B 79-0058, 
Revision 02, dated August 05, 2016.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7921, Engine Oil 
Cooler.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by an engine and airplane fire. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of a main fuel oil heat 
exchanger, which could result in an engine fire.

[[Page 18084]]

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, replace 
the main fuel oil heat exchanger with a part eligible for 
installation.

(h) Definition

    For the purposes of this AD, a part eligible for installation is 
a main fuel oil heat exchanger:
    (1) That has been repaired in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraphs 3.C.(2) through 3.C.(7), of GE SB GE90-100 
S/B 79-0034, Revision 03, dated August 5, 2016; or GE SB GE90 S/B 
79-0058, Revision 02, dated August 05, 2016; or
    (2) with an S/N not listed in paragraph 1.A. of GE SB GE90-100 
S/B 79-0034, Revision 03, dated August 05, 2016; or SB GE90 S/B 79-
0058, Revision 02, dated August 05, 2016.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for the replacement that is required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD if you performed the replacement before the 
effective date of this AD using a main fuel oil heat exchanger 
repaired in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraphs 3.C.(2) through 3.C.(7), of GE SB GE90-100 S/B 79-0034, 
Revision 02, dated November 6, 2015, or earlier versions; or GE SB 
GE90 S/B 79-0058, Revision 01, dated December 10, 2015, or earlier 
versions.

(j) 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].

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact John Frost, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7756; fax: 781-238-
7199; email: [email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) General Electric Company (GE) SB GE90-100 S/B 79-0034, 
Revision 03, dated August 5, 2016.
    (ii) GE SB GE90 S/B 79-0058, Revision 02, dated August 05, 2016.
    (3) For GE service information identified in this AD, contact 
General Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, 
Cincinnati, OH 45215, phone: 513-552-3272; 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.
    (5) You may view this service information at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: 
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 5, 2017.
Carlos A. Pestana,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-07677 Filed 4-14-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P