[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 10, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47445-47447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-19410]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0596; Product Identifier 2019-NE-22-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

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 reports of in-flight shutdowns due to oil leaking from the 
connection between the LP10 oil supply tube and the fuel oil cooler 
(FOC). This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive gap 
inspections of the LP10 oil supply tube and the FOC and, if a gap is 
found, replacement of these parts. This proposed AD further requires 
removal of these parts at the next engine shop visit. The FAA is 
proposing an AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 25, 
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.

[[Page 47446]]

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-
0596; 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-2010-0596; 
Product Identifier 2019-NE-22-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 we receive, 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 we receive about this NPRM.

Discussion

    The FAA received reports of two in-flight shutdowns due to oil 
leaking from the connection between the LP10 tube and the fuel oil 
cooler. This condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of 
the LP10 oil tube, engine fire and damage to the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed PW Service Bulletin (SB) PW SB PW1000-A-79-00-
0004-00B-930A-D, dated March 20, 2019, and PW SB PW1000-A-79-00-0011-
00A-930A-D, dated March 20, 2019. PW SB PW1000-A-79-00-0004-00B-930A-D 
describes procedures for modification or replacement of the FOC on 
PW1919G, PW1921G, PW1922G, PW1923G, and PW1923G-A model turbofan 
engines. PW SB PW1000-A-79-00-0011-00A-930A-D describes procedures for 
modification or replacement of the FOCs on PW1519G, PW1521G, PW1521GA, 
PW1521G-3, PW1524G, PW1524G-3, PW1525G, and PW1525G-3 model turbofan 
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.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed PW SB PW SB PW1000-A-79-00-0005-00B-930A-D, dated 
January 25, 2019; PW SB PW1000-A-79-00-0012-00A-930A-D, dated January 
25, 2019; PW SB PW1000-A-79-00-0007-00B-930A-D, dated March 29, 2019, 
and PW SB PW1000G-A-79-00-0013-00A-930A-D, dated March 29, 2019. These 
service bulletins describe procedures for inspections of the FOC for 
gaps as well as replacement of the FOC and the LP10 oil supply tube to 
prevent oil leaks.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is 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 initial and repetitive gap 
inspections of the LP10 oil supply tube and the FOC and, if a gap is 
found, replacement of these parts. This proposed AD would further 
require removal and replacement of these parts at the next engine shop 
visit.

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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Perform gap inspection................  2 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $170          $3,060
                                         hour = $170.
Replace FOC...........................  5 work-hours x $85 per            69,000          69,425       1,249,650
                                         hour = $425.
Replace LP 10 line....................  2.5 work-hours x $85 per           1,125        1,337.50          24,075
                                         hour = $212.50.
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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 
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:

[[Page 47447]]

    (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-2019-0596; Product Identifier 2019-
NE-22-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by October 25, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to 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.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7261, Turbine Engine 
Oil System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of two in-flight shutdowns due 
to oil leaking from the connection between the LP10 oil supply tube 
and the fuel oil cooler (FOC). The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the LP10 oil supply tube, engine fire and damage to the 
airplane. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
engine fire and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 300 engine cycles from the effective date of this AD, 
perform an initial gap inspection with a 0.001 inch feeler gauge 
between the LP10 oil supply tube, part number (P/N) 5312624-01, and 
the FOC, P/N 5306769.
    (i) If any gap is found, remove the LP10 oil supply tube and the 
FOC and replace with parts eligible for installation prior to 
further flight.
    (ii) If no gap is found, repeat this inspection every 850 engine 
cycles since the previous inspection.
    (2) At the next shop visit after the effective date of this AD, 
remove the LP10 oil supply tube, P/N 5312624-01, and the FOC, P/N 
5306769, and replace with parts eligible for installation.

(h) Terminating Action

    Removal of the affected LP10 oil supply tube and the FOC per the 
requirements of paragraphs (g)(1)(i) or (g)(2) of this AD 
constitutes terminating action for the inspections required by 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.

(i) Definition

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, an ``engine shop visit'' is the 
induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the 
separation of pairs of major mating engine case flanges, except 
separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of 
transportation of the engine without subsequent maintenance does not 
constitute an engine shop visit.
    (2) For the purpose of this AD, an LP10 tube eligible for 
installation is any LP10 tube with a P/N other than P/N 5312624-01.
    (3) For the purpose of this AD, a FOC eligible for installation 
is one with a P/N other than P/N 5306769 or an FOC modified per PW 
SB PW1000G-A-79-00-0004-00B-930A-D or PW SB PW1000G-A-79-00-0011-
00A-930A-D, both dated March 20, 2019.

(j) 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 (k)(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.

(k) 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 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 September 4, 2019.
Karen M. Grant,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-19410 Filed 9-9-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P