[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 226 (Friday, November 22, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64441-64443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25224]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0906; Product Identifier 2019-NE-31-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines 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 certain International Aero Engines, LLC (IAE) PW1133G-JM, PW1133GA-
JM, PW1130G-JM, PW1129G-JM, PW1127G-JM, PW1127GA-JM, PW1127G1-JM, 
PW1124G-JM, PW1124G1-JM, and PW1122G-JM model turbofan engines. This 
proposed AD was prompted by reports of failures of certain low-pressure 
turbine (LPT) 3rd-stage blades. This proposed AD would require 
replacement of the affected LPT 3rd-stage blades. 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 January 6, 
2020.

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 https://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 
International Aero Engines, LLC, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 
06118; phone: 800-565-0140; email: [email protected]; internet: https://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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0906; 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: 

[[Page 64442]]

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-2019-0906; 
Product Identifier 2019-NE-31-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 https://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 received several reports of failures of the affected LPT 
3rd-stage blades. These failures appear to be caused by debris passing 
through the engine. The manufacturer has determined the need to replace 
any affected LPT 3rd-stage blade with an LPT blade made of a different 
material that is less susceptible to impact damage. This condition, if 
not addressed, could result in uncontained release of the LPT 3rd-stage 
blades, failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and 
loss of the airplane.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Pratt & Whitney Service Bulletin PW1000G-C-72-00-
0111-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 002, dated October 18, 2019. The service 
information describes procedures for removal of the affected LPT 3rd-
stage blades and their replacement with parts eligible for 
installation.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is proposing this AD because the Agency 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 removal from service of LPT 3rd-
stage blades part/number (P/N) 5387343, 5387493, 5387473, or 5387503, 
and their replacement with parts eligible for installation.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 65 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace set of LPC 3rd-stage        0 work-hours x $85     $750,000 per blade           $750,000     $48,750,000
 blades.                             per hour = $0.         set.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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, the FAA certifies 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):

International Aero Engines Turbofan Engines: Docket No. FAA-2019-
0906; Product Identifier 2019-NE-31-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by January 6, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to International Aero Engines (IAE) PW1133G-JM, 
PW1133GA-JM, PW1130G-JM, PW1129G-JM, PW1127G-JM, PW1127GA-JM, 
PW1127G1-JM, PW1124G-JM, PW1124G1-JM, and PW1122G-JM turbofan model 
engines with low-pressure turbine (LPT) 3rd-stage blades, part 
number

[[Page 64443]]

(P/N) 5387343, 5387493, 5387473 or 5387503, installed.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of failure of certain LPT 3rd-
stage blades. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of these 
LPT 3rd-stage blades. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in uncontained release of the LPT 3rd-stage blades, failure 
of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and loss of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    At the next engine shop visit after the effective date of this 
AD, remove from service any LPT 3rd-stage blade, P/N 5387343, 
5387493, 5387473, or 5387503, and replace with a part eligible for 
installation.

(h) Definitions

    (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 flanges, except that the 
separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of 
transportation of the engine without subsequent engine maintenance 
does not constitute an engine shop visit.
    (2) For the purpose of this AD, a ``part eligible for 
installation'' is any LPT 3rd-stage blade that does not have a P/N 
5387343, 5387493, 5387473, or 5387503.

(i) 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 (j)(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.

(j) 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 
International Aero Engines, LLC, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT, 
06118; phone: 800-565-0140; email: [email protected]; internet: 
https://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 November 15, 2019.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-25224 Filed 11-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P