[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 70 (Friday, April 10, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20151-20152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07451]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 70 / Friday, April 10, 2020 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 20151]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0665; Project Identifier 2019-NE-25-AD; Amendment
39-21107; AD 2020-08-01]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain General Electric Company (GE) CF34-1A, CF34-3A, CF34-3A1, CF34-
3A2, CF34-3B, and CF34-3B1 model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted
by an in-flight failure of a fan blade that led to an in-flight
shutdown. This AD requires removal and replacement of the affected fan
blades. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
DATES: This AD is effective May 15, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of May 15, 2020.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way,
Cincinnati, OH, 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email:
[email protected]. 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. It is also available on the
internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2019-0665.
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-
0665; 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 final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for Docket Operations 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: Christopher McGuire, Aerospace
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803;
phone: 781-238-7120; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain GE CF34-1A,
CF34-3A, CF34-3A1, CF34-3A2, CF34-3B, and CF34-3B1 model turbofan
engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 15, 2019
(84 FR 55073). The NPRM was prompted by an in-flight failure of a fan
blade that led to an in-flight shutdown. The NPRM proposed to require
removal and replacement of the affected fan blades. The FAA is issuing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Comments
The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this final rule. The FAA considered the comment received. An
individual commenter supported the NPRM.
Conclusion
The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments
received, and determined that air safety and the public interest
require adopting this final rule as proposed.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed GE Service Bulletin (SB) CF34-BJ S/B 72-0306,
dated September 27, 2017, and GE SB CF34-AL S/B 72-0314, dated
September 27, 2017. GE SB CF34-BJ S/B 72-0306 describes procedures for
removal and replacement of affected fan blades installed on CF34-1A, -
3A, -3A1, -3A2, and -3B model turbofan engines. GE SB CF34-AL S/B 72-
0314 describes procedures for removal and replacement of affected fan
blades installed on CF34-3A1 and -3B1 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 also reviewed GE SB CF34-AL S/B 72-0148, Revision 05, dated
July 23, 2015; and GE SB CF34-BJ S/B 72-0123, Revision 04, dated
October 21, 2015. GE SB CF34-AL S/B 72-0148 describes procedures for
repair of fan blades installed on GE CF34-3A1 and -3B1 model turbofan
engines. GE SB CF34-BJ S/B 72-0123 describes procedures for repair of
fan blades installed on GE CF34-1A, -3A, -3A1, -3A2, and -3B model
turbofan engines.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 121 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates 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 fan blade.......... 2 work-hours x $85 per $11,000 $11,170 $1,351,570
hour = $170.
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[[Page 20152]]
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.
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:
(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.
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):
2020-08-01 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-21107; Docket No.
FAA-2019-0665; Project Identifier 2019-NE-25-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective May 15, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) CF34-1A, CF34-
3A, CF34-3A1, CF34-3A2, CF34-3B, and CF34-3B1 model turbofan engines
having a fan blade with a part number listed in Planning
Information, paragraph 1.A., of GE Service Bulletin (SB) CF34-AL S/B
72-0314, dated September 27, 2017 or of GE SB CF34-BJ S/B 72-0306,
dated September 27, 2017, and with any serial number listed in
paragraph 4., Appendix A, of GE SB CF34-AL S/B 72-0314 or of GE SB
CF34-BJ S/B 72-0306.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7220, Turbine Engine
Inlet Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by an in-flight failure of a fan blade that
led to an in-flight shutdown. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent
failure of the fan blade. The unsafe condition, if not addressed,
could result in 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
Remove the affected fan blades from service within 90 days after
the effective date of this AD and replace with a part eligible for
installation.
(h) Definition
A part that is eligible for installation is any fan blade other
than those identified by paragraph (c) of this AD or a fan blade
that has been repaired per GE SB CF34-AL S/B 72-0148, Revision 05,
dated July 23, 2015; or GE SB CF34-BJ S/B 72-0123, Revision 04,
dated October 21, 2015.
(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) 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
For more information about this AD, contact Christopher McGuire,
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA, 01803; phone: 781-238-7120; fax: 781-238-7199;
email: [email protected].
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) General Electric Company (GE) Service Bulletin (SB) CF34-BJ
S/B 72-0306, dated September 27, 2017.
(ii) GE SB CF34-AL S/B 72-0314, dated September 27, 2017.
(3) For GE service information identified in this AD, contact
General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way,
Cincinnati, OH, 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email:
[email protected].
(4) You may view this service information at 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.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, email [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued on April 3, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-07451 Filed 4-9-20; 8:45 am]
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