[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1664-1666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00414]



[[Page 1664]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-1182; Project Identifier AD-2021-01393-E; 
Amendment 39-21902; AD 2022-02-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Pratt & Whitney (P&W) PW1500G and PW1900G model turbofan 
engines. This AD was prompted by an analysis of an event involving an 
International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2533-A5 model turbofan engine, 
which experienced an uncontained failure of a high-pressure turbine 
(HPT) 1st-stage disk that resulted in high-energy debris penetrating 
the engine cowling. This AD requires removing certain HPT 1st-stage and 
HPT 2nd-stage disks from service and replacing with parts eligible for 
installation. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 27, 2022.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by February 28, 2022.

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 final rule, contact 
Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06118; phone: (800) 
565-0140; email: [email protected]; website: https://fleetcare.prattwhitney.com. 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 (817) 222-5110.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-1182; 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, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for the 
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Taylor, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
(781) 238-7229; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 18, 2020, an Airbus Model A321-231 airplane, powered by 
IAE V2533-A5 model turbofan engines, experienced an uncontained HPT 
1st-stage disk failure that resulted in high-energy debris penetrating 
the engine cowling. Based on a preliminary analysis of this event, on 
March 21, 2020, the FAA issued Emergency AD 2020-07-51 (followed by 
publication in the Federal Register on April 13, 2020, as a Final Rule, 
Request for Comments (85 FR 20402)), which requires the removal from 
service of certain HPT 1st-stage disks installed on IAE V2522-A5, 
V2524-A5, V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, 
and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines.
    Since the FAA issued AD 2020-07-51, P&W determined that the failure 
of the IAE V2533-A5 model turbofan engine was due to an undetected 
subsurface material defect in an HPT disk that may affect the life of 
the part. In June 2021, P&W expanded its root cause analysis to include 
a review of records for all other IAE and P&W engines that contain 
parts of similar material.
    P&W's analysis identified a different population of HPT 1st-stage 
and HPT 2nd-stage disks installed on P&W PW1519G, PW1521G, PW1521G-3, 
PW1521GA, PW1524G, PW1524G-3, PW1525G, and PW1525G-3 (PW1500G) model 
turbofan engines, and P&W PW1919G, PW1921G, PW1922G, PW1923G, and 
PW1923G-A (PW1900G) model turbofan engines that are subject to the same 
unsafe condition identified in AD 2020-07-51 and require removal from 
service. This condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained 
HPT disk failure, release of high-energy debris, damage to the engine, 
damage to the airplane, and loss of the airplane. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the 
unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in 
other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Pratt & Whitney Special Instruction (SI) No. 225F-
21, dated December 1, 2021. This SI describes procedures for removing 
and replacing the affected HPT 1st-stage and HPT 2nd-stage disks, 
identified by part number (P/N) and serial number (S/N), installed on 
PW1500G model turbofan engines.
    The FAA reviewed Pratt & Whitney SI No. 226F-21, dated December 1, 
2021. This SI describes procedures for removing and replacing the 
affected HPT 1st-stage and HPT 2nd-stage disks, identified by P/N and 
S/N, installed on PW1900G model turbofan engines.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires the removal from service of certain HPT 1st-stage 
and HPT 2nd-stage disks installed on PW1500G and PW1900G model turbofan 
engines.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective 
Date

    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and 
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds 
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to 
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good 
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking 
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA 
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, 
upon a finding of good cause.
    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to 
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public 
justifies foregoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule. 
On March 18, 2020, an Airbus Model A321-231 airplane, powered by IAE 
V2533-A5 model turbofan engines, experienced an uncontained HPT 1st-
stage disk failure that resulted in high-energy debris penetrating the 
engine cowling. Based on a preliminary

[[Page 1665]]

analysis of this event, on March 21, 2020, the FAA issued Emergency AD 
2020-07-51 (followed by publication in the Federal Register on April 
13, 2020, as a Final Rule, Request for Comments (85 FR 20402)), which 
requires the removal from service of certain HPT 1st-stage disks 
installed on IAE V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, 
V2527M-A5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines. 
Since the FAA issued AD 2020-07-51, the manufacturer conducted a root 
cause analysis and identified a different population of HPT 1st-stage 
and HPT 2nd-stage disks installed on P&W PW1500G and PW1900G model 
turbofan engines that are subject to the same unsafe condition 
identified in AD 2020-07-51. The FAA considers removal of the affected 
HPT 1st-stage and HPT 2nd-stage disks to be an urgent safety issue. 
These HPT disks have the highest risk of failure and removal is 
required within 30 days after the effective date of this AD to prevent 
additional HPT disk failures and maintain an acceptable level of 
safety. This unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
uncontained HPT disk failure, release of high-energy debris, damage to 
the engine, damage to the airplane, and loss of the airplane. 
Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(B).
    In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days, 
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forego notice and 
comment.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments 
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under 
ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-1182 and Project Identifier 
AD-2021-01393-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, 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 final rule because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) 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 agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this final rule.

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 AD 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 AD, 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 AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Mark 
Taylor, Aviation Safety 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.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not 
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt 
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined 
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and 
comment, RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 8 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
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Replace HPT 1st-stage or HPT 2nd-stage  316 work-hours x $85 per        $121,516        $148,376      $1,187,008
 disk.                                   hour = $26,860.
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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

    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, and
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

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.

[[Page 1666]]

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2022-02-05 Pratt & Whitney: Amendment 39-21902; Docket No. FAA-2021-
1182; Project Identifier AD-2021-01393-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 27, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney (P&W) PW1519G, PW1521G, 
PW1521G-3, PW1521GA, PW1524G, PW1524G-3, PW1525G, PW1525G-3, 
PW1919G, PW1921G, PW1922G, PW1923G, and PW1923G-A model turbofan 
engines with an installed:
    (1) High-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage disk, part number (P/
N) 30G5701, with serial number (S/N) LKLBCY9473, LKLBDG4865, 
LKLBDG4877, LKLBDG5064, LKLBDG4951, LKLBEH5482, LKLBCY9462, 
LKLBDG5142, LKLBFL9238, or LKLBF88737; or
    (2) HPT 2nd-stage disk, P/N 30G5002, with S/N LKLBCT8724, 
LKLBDA4633, LKLBDA4689, LKLBD40801, LKLBEL3603, LKLBD40863, 
LKLBCT8771, LKLBDA4691, LKLBEL3600, LKLBD40830, or LKLBD40845.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by an analysis performed by P&W of an event 
involving an uncontained failure of an HPT 1st-stage disk that 
resulted in high-energy debris penetrating the engine cowling. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of HPT 1st-stage and HPT 
2nd-stage disks. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in uncontained HPT disk failure, release of high-energy 
debris, damage to the engine, damage to the airplane, and loss of 
the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For affected engines with an installed HPT 1st-stage disk, 
P/N 30G5701, having an S/N listed in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD, 
within 30 days after the effective date of the AD, remove the HPT 
1st-stage disk from service and replace with a part eligible for 
installation.
    (2) For affected engines with an installed HPT 2nd-stage disk, 
P/N 30G5002, having an S/N listed in paragraph (c)(2) of this AD, 
within 30 days after the effective date of the AD, remove the HPT 
2nd-stage disk from service and replace with a part eligible for 
installation.

(h) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, a ``part eligible for installation'' 
is an HPT 1st-stage disk or HPT 2nd-stage disk that is not 
identified in paragraph (c)(1) or (2) of this AD.

(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. Information may be emailed 
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 Mark Taylor, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7229; fax: (781) 238-7199; 
email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on January 6, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-00414 Filed 1-7-22; 4:15 pm]
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