[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 7, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54613-54615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19189]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0514; Project Identifier AD-2022-00357-E; 
Amendment 39-22155; AD 2022-18-04]
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) GEnx-1B model turbofan engines. 
This AD was prompted by several reports of fuel leaks caused by high 
cycle fatigue (HCF) cracks found at the braze joints on fuel manifolds, 
and the subsequent manufacturer redesign of the high-pressure turbine 
(HPT) fuel hose variable stator vane (VSV) manifold, VSV fuel hose 
manifold, low-pressure turbine (LPT) fuel hose variable bleed valve 
(VBV) manifold, and VBV fuel hose manifold. This AD requires removal 
and replacement of the fuel hydraulic lines. The FAA is issuing this AD 
to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 12, 2022.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 12, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact General Electric Company, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; 
phone: (513) 552-3272; email: [email protected]; website: 
www.ge.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. It is 
also available at www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2022-0514.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0514; 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 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: Alexei Marqueen, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7178; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    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 GEnx-1B 
model turbofan engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
June 3, 2022 (87 FR 33658). The NPRM was prompted by several reports of 
fuel manifold leaks resulting in multiple flight delays and 
cancellations on four separate occasions between 2018 and 2021 on 
airplanes with GEnx-1B model turbofan engines installed. The 
manufacturer's investigation revealed that variations in braze coverage 
and braze fillet radii caused high stress concentration factors at the 
braze block joints, leading to HCF failure in the tube bundles with 
brazed joints. As a result of its investigation, the manufacturer 
determined that the HPT fuel hose VSV manifold, VSV fuel hose manifold, 
LPT fuel hose VBV manifold, and VBV fuel hose manifold required 
redesign by replacing all braze features and cushioned clamps with 
block clamps. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require the removal and 
replacement of the fuel hydraulic lines. The FAA is issuing this

[[Page 54614]]

AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from five commenters. Commenters included 
the Air Line Pilots Association, International, American Airlines, The 
Boeing Company, United Airlines, and an anonymous commenter. All 
commenters supported the NPRM without change.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments 
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting the AD as 
proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this 
AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed GE GEnx-1B Service Bulletin 73-0099 R00, dated 
February 28, 2022. This service information specifies procedures for 
the removal and replacement of the fuel hydraulic lines. 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 ADDRESSES.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 298 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 fuel hydraulic lines...........  2 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $170         $50,660
                                         hour = $170.
Install redesigned fuel hydraulic       2.50 work-hours x $85            232,000      232,212.50      69,199,325
 lines.                                  per hour = $212.50.
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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,
    (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 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:

2022-18-04 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-22155; Docket No. 
FAA-2022-0514; Project Identifier AD-2022-00357-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 12, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-1B64, GEnx-1B64/P1, GEnx-
1B64/P2, GEnx-1B67, GEnx-1B67/P1, GEnx-1B67/P2, GEnx-1B70, GEnx-
1B70/75/P1, GEnx-1B70/75/P2, GEnx-1B70/P1, GEnx-1B70/P2, GEnx-1B70C/
P1, GEnx-1B70C/P2, GEnx-1B74/75/P1, GEnx-1B74/75/P2, GEnx-1B76/P2, 
and GEnx-1B76A/P2 model turbofan engines with engine serial numbers 
956-102 through 958-775, inclusive, 958-795, and 958-802.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7310, Engine Fuel 
Distribution.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by several reports of fuel leaks caused by 
high cycle fatigue cracks found at the braze joints on certain GEnx-
1B fuel manifolds. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent fuel leaks 
on the variable bypass valve and variable stator vane fuel hose 
manifolds. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
engine fire and damage to 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 and replace the fuel hydraulic lines using the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 3.A and 3.B, of GE GEnx-1B 
Service Bulletin (SB) 73-0099 R00, dated February 28, 2022.

(h) Definition

    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 case flanges, except for 
the following situations, which do not constitute an engine shop 
visit:
    (1) Separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of 
transportation of the engine without subsequent maintenance.
    (2) Separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of 
replacing the fan or propulsor without subsequent maintenance.

[[Page 54615]]

(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 and email 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 Alexei Marqueen, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7178; 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) GE GEnx-1B Service Bulletin 73-0099 R00, dated February 28, 
2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
General Electric Company, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; 
phone: (513) 552-3272; email: [email protected]; website: 
www.ge.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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.
    (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: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on August 17, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-19189 Filed 9-6-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P