[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34070-34072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15291]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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. 83, No. 139 / Thursday, July 19, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 34070]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0368; Product Identifier 2018-NE-12-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) PW4074D, PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and 
PW4090-3 turbofan engines with a low pressure compressor (LPC) fan hub, 
part number (P/N) 51B821 or P/N 52B521, installed. This proposed AD was 
prompted by updated low cycle fatigue analysis techniques that indicate 
certain LPC fan hubs could crack prior to their published life limit. 
This proposed AD would require repetitive eddy current inspections 
(ECIs) and fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) for cracks in 
certain LPC fan hubs and removal of hubs from service that fail 
inspection. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 4, 
2018.

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 Pratt & 
Whitney Division, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06118; phone: 800-
565-0140; fax: 860-565-5442. You may view this service information at 
the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.

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-2018-
0368; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jo-Ann Theriault, Aerospace Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
781-238-7105; 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-2018-0368; 
Product Identifier 2018-NE-12-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 information concerning an updated analysis by the 
engine manufacturer, which indicated certain triple-bore LPC fan hubs 
installed in high-thrust models of the PW4000-112'' series turbofan 
engine could crack prior to their published life limit. This proposed 
AD would add additional inspections of affected triple-bore LPC fan 
hubs until they are removed from service and replaced with a part 
eligible for installation. This condition, if not addressed, could 
result in fatigue cracking of the LPC fan hub, uncontained hub failure, 
damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed PW Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) PW4G-112-A72-351, dated 
February 22, 2018. This PW ASB describes procedures for performing LPC 
fan hub ECIs and FPIs. 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.

Other Related Service Information

    We reviewed PW PW4000 Series 112 Inch Turbofan Engines Cleaning, 
Inspection and Repair (CIR) Manual, P/N 51A750, Chapter/Section 72-31-
07, Inspection/Check-02, Revision No. 76, dated March 15, 2018. The CIR 
Manual contains additional information regarding FPI and ECI of the LPC 
fan hub.

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 repetitive ECIs and FPIs of the LPC 
fan hub.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 32 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate the following costs to comply 
with this proposed AD:

[[Page 34071]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pro-rated part cost...................  0 work-hours x $85 per          $288,000        $288,000        $288,000
                                         hour = $0.
Inspection............................  40 work-hours x $85 per                0           3,400         108,800
                                         hour = $3,400.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and 
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.

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):

Pratt & Whitney Division: Docket No. FAA-2018-0368; Product 
Identifier 2018-NE-12-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 4, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) PW4074D, 
PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 turbofan engines with low-
pressure compressor (LPC) fan hub, part number (P/N) 51B821 or P/N 
52B521, installed.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by low cycle fatigue analysis techniques, 
updated by the engine manufacturer, which indicated certain LPC fan 
hubs could crack prior to their published life limit. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent failure of the LPC fan hub. The unsafe condition, 
if not addressed, could result in uncontained hub release, 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 Actions

    (1) After the effective date of this AD, perform a fluorescent 
penetrant inspection (FPI) and eddy current inspection (ECI) of the 
LPC fan hub the next time the engine is separated at the M-flange 
and the LPC fan hub has accumulated 2,000 or more flight cycles 
since the last FPI and ECI.
    (2) Thereafter, perform an FPI and an ECI of the LPC fan hub 
every time the engine is separated at the M-flange and the LPC fan 
hub has accumulated 2,000 or more flight cycles since the last LPC 
fan hub ECI and FPI inspections.
    (3) Use the Accomplishment Instructions, Step No. 11, in PW 
Alert Service Bulletin PW4G-112-A72-351, dated February 22, 2018, to 
do the eddy current inspections.
    (4) If a crack is found during the inspections required by 
paragraphs (g)(1) or (2) of this AD, remove the LPC fan hub from 
service before further flight and replace with a part eligible for 
installation.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local flight standards district office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
certification office, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. 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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Jo-Ann 
Theriault, Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7105; fax: 781-238-
7199; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt 
& Whitney Division, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06118; phone: 
800-565-0140; fax: 860-565-5442. You may view this referenced 
service information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards 
Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.


[[Page 34072]]


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on July 12, 2018.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-15291 Filed 7-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P