[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 143 (Friday, July 24, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44798-44800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16042]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0729; Project Identifier AD-2020-00620-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. 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 CFM International, S.A. (CFM) LEAP-1A23, LEAP-1A24, LEAP-
1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-1A29, LEAP-1A29CJ,
LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2, LEAP-1A35A model turbofan
engines. This proposed AD was prompted by an investigation by CFM that
showed a subsurface anomaly in a part manufactured using the same
material as the LEAP-1A high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 2 disk. This
proposed AD would require an ultrasonic inspection (UI) of the HPT
stage 2 disk and replacement of any HPT stage 2 disk that fails the UI
with a part eligible for installation. 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 September
8, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
[[Page 44799]]
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 CFM
International, S.A., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D
Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125, United States; phone: (877) 432-3272;
email: [email protected]. You may view this service information at
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety 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-2020-
0729; 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, 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: 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:
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-2020-0729;
Project Identifier AD-2020-00620-E'' at the beginning of your comments.
The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal,
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date
and may amend this NPRM because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information as described in the
following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, 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 proposal.
Confidential Business Information
Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552),
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to
this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is
customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and
that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you
clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page
of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat
such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will
not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing
CBI should be sent to Christopher McGuire, Aerospace Engineer, ECO
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. Any
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA learned that during a broad investigation by CFM into melt-
related material anomalies, a subsurface anomaly was found in a part
manufactured from the same material used to manufacture the LEAP-1A HPT
stage 2 disk. This condition, if not addressed, could result in failure
of the HPT stage 2 disk, uncontained release of the HPT stage 2 disk,
damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is issuing this NPRM because the agency has determined that
the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop
in other products of the same type design.
Service Information Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed CFM Service Bulletin (SB) LEAP-1A-72-00-0405-01A-
930A-D, Issue 001, dated March 5, 2020. The SB describes procedures for
performing an ultrasonic inspection of the HPT stage 2 disk. 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.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require a UI of the HPT stage 2 disk and
replacement of any HPT stage 2 disk that fails the inspection with a
part eligible for installation.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, as proposed, would affect 148
engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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UI of HPT stage 2 disk............. 8 work-hours x $85 per hour $0 $680 $100,640
= $680.
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacements that would be required based on the results of the
proposed inspection. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
aircraft that might need these replacements:
[[Page 44800]]
On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
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Replace HPT stage 2 disk................... 0.25 work-hours x $85.00 per hour = $286,000 $286,021.25
$21.25.
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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.
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):
CFM International, S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2020-0729; Project
Identifier AD-2020-00620-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments by September 8, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to CFM International, S.A. (CFM) LEAP-1A23,
LEAP-1A24, LEAP-1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-
1A29, LEAP-1A29CJ, LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2,
LEAP-1A35A model turbofan engines with a high-pressure turbine (HPT)
stage 2 disk, part number (P/N) 2466M52G03 or P/N 2788M26G01
installed, and with a serial number listed in Table 1 of CFM Service
Bulletin (SB) LEAP-1A-72-00-0405-01A-930A-D, Issue 001, dated March
5, 2020.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine
Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by an investigation by CFM that discovered
a subsurface anomaly in a part manufactured from the same material
as used to manufacture the LEAP-1A HPT stage 2 disk. The FAA is
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LEAP-1A HPT stage 2 disk.
The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained
release of the HPT stage 2 disk, 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 Actions
(1) At next piece part exposure after the effective date of this
AD, perform an ultrasonic inspection of the HPT stage 2 disk in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 5.A.(1),
of CFM SB LEAP-1A-72-00-0405-01A-930A-D, Issue 001, dated March 5,
2020.
(2) Replace any disk that fails the inspection required by
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD with a part eligible for installation.
(h) Definition
For the purpose of this AD, a part eligible for installation is
a HPT stage 2 disk not affected by this AD, or an HPT stage 2 disk
that has been inspected in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions, paragraph 5.A.(1), of CFM SB LEAP-1A-72-00-0405-01A-
930A-D, Issue 001, dated March 5, 2020, and is not rejected by the
inspection limits as specified in the service information.
(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 Christopher
McGuire, Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7120; fax: (781) 238-7199;
email: [email protected].
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact CFM
International, S.A., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D
Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125, United States; phone: (877) 432-
3272; email: [email protected]. You may view this referenced
service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section,
Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA,
01803. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call 781-238-7759.
Issued on July 21, 2020.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-16042 Filed 7-23-20; 8:45 am]
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