[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 25, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64397-64399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22761]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1306; Project Identifier AD-2022-01040-E]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney 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 all Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW1519G, PW1521G, PW1521G-3, PW1521GA, 
PW1524G, PW1524G-3, PW1525G, and PW1525G-3 model turbofan engines. This 
proposed AD was prompted by an uncommanded dual engine shutdown upon 
landing, resulting in compromised braking capability due to the loss of 
engine power and hydraulic systems. This proposed AD would require

[[Page 64398]]

replacement of electronic engine control (EEC) full authority digital 
engine control (FADEC) software with updated software. 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 December 9, 
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 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-1306; 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Taylor, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
(781) 238-7229; 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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-1306; Project Identifier 
AD-2022-01040-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 proposal 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 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

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 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.

Background

    The FAA was notified of an airplane that experienced an uncommanded 
dual engine shutdown upon landing, resulting in compromised braking 
capability due to the loss of engine power and hydraulic systems. A 
subsequent investigation determined that the sequence of the auto-
throttle increasing throttle to maintain Mach number, immediately 
followed by pilot command to decrease throttle to idle, caused a 
transient disagreement between actual and commanded thrust. This 
disagreement triggered the thrust control malfunction (TCM) detection 
logic and resulted in dual engine shutdown once the weight on wheels 
signal was activated upon landing. The installed EEC FADEC software 
version latches the fault and allows the engine to continue operation 
as commanded but shuts down the engine upon landing. The manufacturer 
identified the situations that could trigger the TCM logic erroneously 
and updated the EEC FADEC software. This software update makes 
corrective improvements to the TCM logic, including revised criteria 
for triggering the TCM logic and establishing criteria that permit the 
TCM logic to unlatch during flight. This condition, if not addressed, 
could result in runway excursion.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed PW Service Bulletin (SB) PW1000G-A-73-00-0054-00A-
930A-D, Issue No. 002, dated June 20, 2022. This service information 
specifies procedures for replacing or modifying the EEC to incorporate 
FADEC software version V2.11.14.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require removal from service of certain EEC 
FADEC software versions and replacement with a software version 
eligible for installation.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 147 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upgrade EEC FADEC Software............  2 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $170         $24,990
                                         hour = $170.
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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.

[[Page 64399]]

    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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:

Pratt & Whitney: Docket No. FAA-2022-1306; Project Identifier AD-
2022-01040-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by December 9, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney PW1519G, PW1521G, PW1521G-3, 
PW1521GA, PW1524G, PW1524G-3, PW1525G, and PW1525G-3 model turbofan 
engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7600, Engine 
Controls.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by an uncommanded dual engine shutdown upon 
landing, resulting in compromised braking capability due to the loss 
of engine power and hydraulic systems. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
prevent compromised braking capability due to uncommanded dual 
engine shutdown upon landing. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in runway excursion.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    For affected engines with installed electronic engine control 
(EEC) full authority digital engine control (FADEC) software version 
earlier than V2.11.14.1, within 12 months after the effective date 
of this AD, remove the EEC FADEC software and replace with EEC FADEC 
software version eligible for installation.

(h) Definitions

    For the purpose of this AD, ``EEC FADEC software version 
eligible for installation'' is EEC FADEC software version V2.11.14.1 
or later.

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

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on October 14, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-22761 Filed 10-24-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P