[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
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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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[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]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P