[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 105 (Friday, May 31, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25203-25205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11285]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0365; Product Identifier 2019-NE-12-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

[[Page 25204]]


ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW1519G, PW1521G, PW1521GA, PW1524G, 
PW1525G, PW1521G-3, PW1524G-3, PW1525G-3, PW1919G, PW1921G, PW1922G, 
PW1923G, and PW1923G-A model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was 
prompted by corrosion found on the high-pressure compressor (HPC) front 
hub, which could result in certain HPC front hubs cracking before 
reaching their published life limit. This proposed AD would require 
revisions to the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the 
manufacturer's Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) and air 
carrier's approved Continued Airworthiness Maintenance Programs (CAMP) 
to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The 
FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 15, 
2019.

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, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06118; phone: 800-565-0140; 
fax: 860-565-5442; email: [email protected]; internet: http://fleetcare.pw.utc.com. 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-2019-
0365; 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 is listed above. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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-2019-0365; 
Product Identifier 2019-NE-12-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because of those comments.
    The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. 
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Discussion

    The FAA was notified that corrosion was found on an HPC front hub 
during a routine engine overhaul. This corrosion, also found beneath 
the anti-corrosion coating, reduces the low-cycle fatigue capability 
and can occur even during engine downtime. As a result, PW decreased 
the certified life of the affected HPC front hub. This condition, if 
not addressed, could result in uncontained HPC front hub release, 
damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed PW Service Bulletin (SB) PW1000G-A-72-00-0109-00A-
930A-D, Issue No. 001, dated April 2, 2019 (``PW SB PW1000G-A-72-00-
0109-00A-930A-D''), and PW SB PW1000G-A-72-00-0058-00B-930A-D, Issue 
No. 002, dated May 10, 2019 (``PW SB PW1000G-A-72-00-0058-00B-930A-
D''). PW SB PW1000G-A-72-00-0109-00A-930A-D describes the revised 
maximum cycle limits of the HPC front hub for PW PW1500G engines. PW SB 
PW1000G-A-72-00-0058-00B-930A-D describes the revised maximum cycle 
limits of the HPC front hub for PW PW1900 engines. 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

    The FAA is proposing this AD because it 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 revisions to the ALS of the 
manufacturer's ICA and air carrier's approved CAMP to incorporate 
revised airworthiness limitations.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 18 engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise the ALS and CAMP...............  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85          $1,530
                                         hour = $85.
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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.
    The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in

[[Page 25205]]

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

    The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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: Docket No. FAA-2019-0365; Product Identifier 2019-
NE-12-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by July 15, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW1519G, PW1521G, 
PW1521GA, PW1524G, PW1525G, PW1521G-3, PW1524G-3, PW1525G-3, 
PW1919G, PW1921G, PW1922G, PW1923G, and PW1923G-A model turbofan 
engines.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by corrosion found on the high-pressure 
compressor (HPC) front hub, which could result in certain HPC front 
hubs cracking before reaching their published life limit. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPC front hub. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained HPC front 
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 Action

    Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
Airworthiness Limitations Section of the PW Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness, and for air carrier operations, the 
approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program, with the 
following maximum cycle limits for HPC front hub, part number 
30G3210.
    (1) For PW PW1519G, PW1521G, PW1521GA, PW1524G, PW1525G, 
PW1521G-3, PW1524G-3, and PW1525G-3 model turbofan engines, use the 
cycle limits established in Table 3, Revision to Table of Limits, of 
PW Service Bulletin (SB) PW1000G-A-72-00-0109-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 
001, dated April 2, 2019.
    (2) For PW PW1919G, PW1921G, PW1922G, PW1923G, and PW1923G-A 
model turbofan engines, use the cycle limits established in Table 3, 
Revision to Table of Limits, of PW SB PW1000G-A-72-00-0058-00B-930A-
D, Issue No. 002, dated May 10, 2019.

(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 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].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt 
& Whitney, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06118; phone: 800-565-
0140; fax: 860-565-5442; email: [email protected]; internet: http://fleetcare.pw.utc.com. 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 24, 2019.
Karen M. Grant,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-11285 Filed 5-30-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P