[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37812-37815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12286]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1208; Project Identifier AD-2023-00325-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company 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 General Electric Company (GE) Model CF6-80E1A2, CF6-80E1A3,
CF6-80E1A4, and CF6-80E1A4/B engines. This proposed AD was prompted by
a manufacturer investigation that revealed that a certain forward outer
seal and certain high-pressure turbine rotor (HPTR) stage 1
[[Page 37813]]
disks and rotating seals were manufactured from material suspected to
contain iron inclusion, which may cause reduced material properties and
a lower fatigue life capability. This proposed AD would require the
replacement of the affected forward outer seal, HPTR stage 1 disks, and
rotating seals. 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 July 24,
2023.
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-2023-1208; 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: Alexei Marqueen, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone:
(781) 238-7178; 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-2023-1208; Project Identifier
AD-2023-00325-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
Alexei Marqueen, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th
Street, Des Moines, WA 98198. 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 by the manufacturer that a certain forward
outer seal and certain HPTR stage 1 disks and rotating seals on Model
CF6-80E1A2, CF6-80E1A3, CF6-80E1A4, and CF6-80E1A4/B engines were made
from billets manufactured from material that are suspected to contain
iron inclusion. Such iron inclusion may cause premature fracture and
subsequent uncontained failure. The FAA has determined that the
operators with affected HPTR stage 1 disks have proactively removed
these parts from service. As a result, the proposed compliance time for
removal and replacement of the affected HPTR stage 1 disks is before
further flight. This condition, if not addressed, could result in
uncontained debris release, damage to the engine, and damage to the
aircraft.
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.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require the removal of a certain forward
outer seal and certain HPTR stage 1 disks and rotating seals from
service and replacement with parts eligible for installation.
Interim Action
The FAA considers that this proposed AD would be an interim action.
This unsafe condition is still under investigation by the manufacturer
and, depending on the results of that investigation, the FAA may
consider further rulemaking action.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 1 engine installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. This engine
would require replacement of the rotating seal. The FAA estimates that
there are no engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry that would
require replacement of the forward outer seal or HPTR stage 1 disk.
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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Replace HPTR stage 1 disk......... 8 work-hours x $85 $1,479,623 (prorated) $1,480,303 $0
per hour = $680.
Replace rotating seal............. 8 work-hours x $85 $732,517 (prorated).. 733,197 733,197
per hour = $680.
Replace forward outer seal........ 8 work-hours x $85 $1,290,000 (prorated) 1,290,680 0
per hour = $680.
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[[Page 37814]]
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) 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:
General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA-2023-1208; Project
Identifier AD-2023-00325-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by July 24, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to General Electric Company Model CF6-80E1A2,
CF6-80E1A3, CF6-80E1A4, and CF6-80E1A4/B engines with an installed
forward outer seal, high-pressure turbine rotor (HPTR) stage 1 disk,
or rotating seal having a part number (P/N) and serial number (S/N)
identified in Table 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD.
Table 1 to Paragraph (c)--Affected Forward Outer Seal, HPTR Stage 1
Disks, and Rotating Seals
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Part name P/N Part S/N
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Forward outer seal............. 1778M70P03........ NCU65340.
HPTR stage 1 disk.............. 1863M36G06........ TMT5TD23.
TMT5TD26.
TMT5TD27.
Rotating seal.................. 1778M69P06........ BTB20610.
BTB20611.
BTB20612.
BTB26650.
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(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine
Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that
revealed that a certain forward outer seal and certain HPTR stage 1
disks and rotating seals were manufactured from material suspected
to contain iron inclusion, which may cause reduced material
properties and a lower fatigue life capability. The FAA is issuing
this AD to prevent fracture and subsequent uncontained failure of a
certain forward outer seal and certain HPTR stage 1 disks and
rotating seals. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result
in uncontained debris release, damage to the engine, and damage to
the aircraft.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
(1) At the next piece-part exposure of the affected forward
outer seal or before the affected forward outer seal exceeds 5,400
cycles since new (CSN), whichever occurs first after the effective
date of this AD, remove the affected forward outer seal from service
and replace with a part eligible for installation.
(2) At the next piece-part exposure of the affected rotating
seal or before the affected rotating seal exceeds 5,200 CSN,
whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD, remove
the affected rotating seal from service and replace with a part
eligible for installation.
(3) Before further flight after the effective date of this AD,
remove the affected HPTR stage 1 disk from service and replace with
a part eligible for installation.
(h) Definitions
(1) For the purpose of this AD, a ``part eligible for
installation'' is any forward outer seal, HPTR stage 1 disk, or
rotating seal that does not have a P/N and S/N identified in Table 1
to paragraph (c) of this AD.
(2) For the purpose of this AD, ``piece-part exposure'' is when
the affected part is removed from the engine and completely
disassembled.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety 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 branch, 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, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines,
WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7178; email: [email protected].
[[Page 37815]]
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on June 2, 2023.
Michael Linegang,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-12286 Filed 6-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P