[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 47 (Friday, March 8, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16710-16712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04870]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-0461; Project Identifier AD-2023-00994-E]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; CFE Company Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain CFE Company (CFE) Model CFE738-1-1B engines. This proposed 
AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that revealed certain 
high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 and stage 2 disks were manufactured 
from powder metal material suspected to contain iron inclusion. This 
proposed AD would require replacement of affected HPT stage 1 and stage 
2 disks with parts 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 April 22, 
2024.

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 under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-0461; 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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For service information identified in this NPRM, contact 
CFE Company, 111 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034-2802; phone: 
(800) 601-3099; website: https://www.myaerospace.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.

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

[[Page 16711]]

arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-0461; Project Identifier 
AD-2023-00994-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 certain HPT stage 1 
and HPT stage 2 disks. installed on certain CFE738-1-1B model engines 
were manufactured from powder metal material suspected to contain iron 
inclusion. Further investigation by the manufacturer determined that 
the iron inclusion is attributed to deficiencies in the manufacturing 
process and may cause reduced material properties and a lower fatigue 
life capability, which may result in structural failure. The 
manufacturer also informed the FAA that additional risk assessments 
determined that there were no failed events associated with the 
discovery of this iron inclusion material, however concluded that 
replacement of the affected HPT stage 1 and HPT stage 2 disks is 
necessary.
    This condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained 
debris release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

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 Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed CFE Service Bulletin (SB) CFE738-72-A8082, dated 
July 4, 2023 (CFE738-72-A8082), which specifies the affected part and 
serial numbers of the HPT stage 1 and stage 2 disks and specifies 
replacement instructions for these affected parts. 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.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require replacement of certain HPT stage 1 
and HPT stage 2 disks with parts eligible for installation.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 29 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace HPT stage 1 disk..............  8 work-hours x $85 per           $78,797         $79,477      $1,986,925
                                         hour = $680.
Replace HPT stage 2 disk..............  8 work-hours x $85 per            56,268          56,948         227,792
                                         hour = $680.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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,

[[Page 16712]]

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:

CFE Company: Docket No. FAA-2024-0461; Project Identifier AD-2023-
00994-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by April 22, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to CFE Company (CFE) Model CFE738-1-1B engines 
with an installed high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 disk or HPT 
stage 2 disk with a part number (P/N) and serial number (S/N) 
identified in Section 1. Planning Information, paragraph E. 
Compliance, Tables 2 and 3, of CFE Service Bulletin (SB) CFE738-72-
A8082, dated July 4, 2023 (CFE SB CFE738-72-A8082).

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that 
revealed certain HPT stage 1 disks and HPT stage 2 disks were 
manufactured from powder metal material suspected to contain iron 
inclusion. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent premature fracture 
and consequent uncontained failure. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in uncontained debris release, 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

    At the applicable times specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) 
of this AD, remove each affected HPT stage 1 disk and HPT stage 2 
disk from service and replace with a part eligible for installation, 
in accordance with steps (1) through (9) in paragraph B. of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of CFE SB CFE738-72-A8082.
    (1) For affected HPT stage 1 disks, at the next piece part 
exposure or before exceeding 2,450 cycles since new (CSN), whichever 
occurs first.
    (2) For affected HPT stage 2 disks, at the next piece part 
exposure or before exceeding 2,930 CSN, whichever occurs first.

(h) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD:
    (1) A ``part eligible for installation'' is any HPT stage 1 disk 
or HPT stage 2 disk with a P/N and S/N that is not identified in 
Section 1. Planning Information, paragraph E. Compliance, Tables 2 
and 3, of CFE SB CFE738-72-A8082.
    (2) ``Piece-part exposure'' is when the affected part is removed 
from the engine.

(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 AIR-520 Continued 
Operational Safety 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 Steet, Des Moines, 
WA 98198; 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) CFE Service Bulletin (SB) CFE738-72-A8082, dated July 4, 
2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact CFE 
Company, 111 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034-2802; phone: 
(800) 601-3099; website: https://www.myaerospace.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 March 1, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-04870 Filed 3-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P