[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 58 (Monday, March 25, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20551-20553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06216]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 58 / Monday, March 25, 2024 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 20551]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-0763; Project Identifier AD-2023-00924-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines, LLC
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 International Aero Engines, LLC (IAE LLC) Model PW1122G-JM,
PW1124G1-JM, PW1124G-JM, PW1127G1-JM, PW1127G1A-JM, PW1127G1B-JM,
PW1127G-JM, PW1127GA-JM, PW1129G-JM, PW1130G-JM, PW1133G-JM, and
PW1133GA-JM engines. This proposed AD was prompted by an in-flight
shutdown (IFSD) caused by the fracture of a low-pressure compressor
(LPC) 1st-stage integrally bladed rotor (IBR-1). This proposed AD would
require removal and replacement of affected LPC key washers and
affected LPC IBR-1 and installation of inlet guide vane (IGV) spacers.
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 May 9,
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-2024-0763; 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: Carol Nguyen, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone:
(781) 238-7655; 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-2024-0763; Project Identifier
AD-2023-00924-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 Carol
Nguyen, 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
On July 8, 2022, an Airbus Model A320neo airplane powered by IAE
LLC Model PW1127G-JM engines experienced an IFSD. A manufacturer
investigation determined that the IFSD was caused by a fractured LPC
IBR-1 which resulted from an aerodynamic excitation. The most likely
cause of the aerodynamic excitation was a misaligned IGV located
directly upstream of the IBR-1. As a result, Pratt & Whitney (PW)
redesigned the LPC IGV arm assembly by adding a spacer to provide
additional torque capability and to prevent a misaligned vane. PW also
redesigned the IBR-1 to better withstand an aerodynamic excitation from
a misaligned IGV. As a result, the FAA is proposing to require the
removal and replacement of certain affected LPC key washers and
affected LPC IBR-1, and installation of LPC IGV spacers. This
condition, if not addressed, could result in damage to the engine,
damage to the airplane, and possible loss of the airplane.
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 removal and replacement of affected
LPC key washers and affected LPC IBR-1 and installation of LPC IGV
spacers.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 215 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
[[Page 20552]]
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 LPC IBR-1..................... 1 work-hours x $85 per $36,350 $36,435 $7,833,525
hour = $85.
Replace IGV key washers and install 20 work-hours x $85 per 4,392 6,092 1,309,780
IGV spacers. hour = $1,700.
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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
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:
International Aero Engines, LLC: Docket No. FAA-2024-0763; Project
Identifier AD-2023-00924-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by May 9, 2024.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to International Aero Engines Model PW1122G-JM,
PW1124G1-JM, PW1124G-JM, PW1127G1-JM, PW1127G1A-JM, PW1127G1B-JM,
PW1127G-JM, PW1127GA-JM, PW1129G-JM, PW1130G-JM, PW1133G-JM, and
PW1133GA-JM engines.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine
Compressor Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by an in-flight shutdown caused by the
fracture of a low-pressure compressor (LPC) 1st-stage integrally
bladed rotor (IBR-1). The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the
failure of the LPC IBR-1. The unsafe condition, if not addressed,
could result in damage to the engine, damage to the airplane, and
possible 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 installed LPC key washers having
part number (P/N) 5375416, at the next engine shop visit after the
effective date of this AD, remove the affected LPC key washers and
replace them with LPC key washers and LPC inlet guide vane (IGV)
spacers that are eligible for installation.
(2) For affected engines with an installed LPC IBR-1 having P/N
5373831, at the next piece-part exposure after the effective date of
this AD, remove the affected LPC IBR-1 and replace with an LPC IBR-1
eligible for installation.
(h) Definitions
For the purposes of this AD:
(1) An ``engine shop visit'' is the induction of an engine into
the shop for maintenance involving the separation of pairs of major
mating engine flanges, except that the separation of engine flanges
solely for the purposes of transportation without subsequent engine
maintenance does not constitute an engine shop visit.
(2) A ``piece-part exposure'' is when the LPC IBR-1 is separated
from the LPC module.
(3) ``LPC key washers eligible for installation'' are any LPC
key washers having P/N 5375434 or later-approved P/N.
(4) ``LPC IGV spacers eligible for installation'' are any LPC
IGV spacers having P/N 5375433 or later-approved P/N.
(5) An ``LPC IBR-1 eligible for installation'' is any LPC IBR-1
having P/N 5373841 or later-approved P/N.
(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 AIR-520 Continued Operational
Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in
paragraph (j) of this AD.
(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) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Carol Nguyen,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines,
WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7655; email: [email protected].
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
[[Page 20553]]
Issued on March 19, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-06216 Filed 3-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P