[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 27 (Friday, February 8, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2715-2718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01127]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0735; Product Identifier 2018-NE-26-AD; Amendment 
39-19505; AD 2018-24-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines 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 
International Aero Engines (IAE) PW1100G-JM turbofan engine models with 
certain low-pressure turbine (LPT) 1st- and 3rd-stage disks installed. 
This AD was prompted by a report of manufacturing defects found on 
delivered LPT 1st- and 3rd-stage disks. This AD requires removing the 
LPT 1st- or 3rd-stage disk from service and replacing with a part 
eligible for installation. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 15, 2019.

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-
0735 or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday

[[Page 2716]]

through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this 
final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is 
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: Kevin M. Clark, Aerospace Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
781-238-7088; 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 all International Aero 
Engines (IAE) PW1133G-JM, PW1133GA-JM, PW1130G-JM, PW1127G-JM, 
PW1127GA-JM, PW1127G1-JM, PW1124G-JM, PW1124G1-JM, and PW1122G-JM 
turbofan engines with certain LPT 1st- and 3rd-stage disks installed. 
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 7, 2018 (83 FR 
45359). The NPRM was prompted by a report that multiple LPT 1st- and 
3rd-stage disks were delivered before the ingot lot was rejected due to 
material inclusion. The suspect LPT 1st- and 3rd-stage disks may 
include defects that may not have been discovered during inspections. 
The NPRM proposed to require removing the LPT 1st- or 3rd-stage disk 
from service and replacing with a part eligible for installation. We 
are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Comments

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

Request To Change Compliance Time

    IAE requested that we change the compliance time for removing from 
service the LPT 1st- and 3rd-stage disks from ``at the next shop 
visit'' to ``within a service period.'' IAE states its safety risk 
analysis shows that the prescribed corrective action exceeds all 
required safety risk criteria. Therefore, requiring removal and 
replacement of the LPT 1st- and 3rd-stage disks with serial numbers (S/
Ns) listed in Figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD ``at the next shop 
visit'' is overly restrictive.
    We partially agree. We agree that requiring removal and replacement 
of the LPT 1st- and 3rd-stage disks with S/Ns listed in Figure 1 to 
paragraph (g) of this AD ``at the next shop visit'' may be overly 
restrictive based on the risk presented in the safety risk assessment. 
We disagree with using the words ``within a service period'' because 
this might allow reinstallation of parts that do not conform to the 
approved type design. Therefore, we changed the references in 
paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this AD from ``at the next shop visit'' to 
``at the next piece-part exposure.'' We find that this change still 
meets the safety objectives of this AD. We also removed the Definitions 
paragraph from this AD since it is no longer necessary.

Request To Revise Cost of Compliance

    An individual commenter requested that we define the costs 
associated with the removal of the LPT 1st- or 3rd grade disks from 
each unit.
    We disagree. We did not define a removal cost estimate because 
removal of the LPT 1st- or 3rd grade disks occurs when the unit is ``at 
the next piece-part exposure'' level. Therefore, no additional cost is 
incurred by removal of the LPT disks.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this final rule with the change described previously. We have 
determined that these minor changes:
     [Agr]re consistent with the intent that was proposed in 
the NPRM for addressing 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 final 
rule.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 0 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove and replace LPT 1st- or 3rd-   0 work-hours x $85 per         $210,000         $210,000               $0
 stage disk.                           hour = $0.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    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:

[[Page 2717]]

    (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, 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):

2018-24-01 International Aero Engines: Amendment 39-19505; Docket 
No. FAA-2018-0735; Product Identifier 2018-NE-26-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective March 15, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to International Aero Engines (IAE) PW1133G-JM, 
PW1133GA-JM, PW1130G-JM, PW1127G-JM, PW1127GA-JM, PW1127G1-JM, 
PW1124G-JM, PW1124G1-JM, and PW1122G-JM turbofan engines with a low-
pressure turbine (LPT) 3rd-stage disk with a serial number (S/N) 
listed in Figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD or an LPT 1st-stage 
disk with an S/N listed in Figure 2 to paragraph (g) of this AD, 
installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine 
Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of manufacturing defects found 
on delivered LPT 1st- and 3rd-stage disks. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the LPT 1st- or 3rd-stage disk. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained LPT 1st- or 
3rd-stage disk 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

    Remove from service the LPT 1st- and 3rd-stage disk within 30 
days after the effective date of this AD, or as identified in 
paragraphs (g)(1) or (2) of this AD, whichever occurs later, and 
replace with a part eligible for installation.
    (1) Remove the LPT 3rd-stage disk with a serial number (S/N) 
listed in Figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD at the next piece-
part exposure, not to exceed 4,800 cycles since new (CSN).
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR08FE19.004

    (2) Remove the LPT 1st-stage disk with an S/N listed in Figure 2 
to paragraph (g) of this AD at the next piece-part exposure, not to 
exceed 2,240 CSN.

[[Page 2718]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR08FE19.005

(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) 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

    For more information about this AD, contact Kevin M. Clark, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7088; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on January 31, 2019.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-01127 Filed 2-7-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P