[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 59 (Friday, March 28, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14057-14059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05329]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-0480; Project Identifier AD-2024-00546-E]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines LLC 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 International Aero Engines, LLC (IAE LLC) Model PW1122G-JM, 
PW1124G-JM, PW1124G1-JM, PW1127G-JM, PW1127G1-JM, PW1127G1A-JM, 
PW1127G1B-JM, PW1127GA-JM, PW1129G-JM, PW1130G-JM, PW1133G-JM, 
PW1133GA-JM, PW1428G-JM, PW1428GA-JM, PW1428GH-JM, PW1431G-JM, 
PW1431GA-JM, and PW1431GH-JM engines. This proposed AD was prompted by 
a report of six fan blade fracture events due to bird strikes, three of 
which resulted in an engine under cowl fire or pool fire. This proposed 
AD would require removal of one loop cushion clamp from the hydraulic 
fuel pressure fuel oil cooler fuel tube assembly (CP09 tube assembly) 
and replacement of the thermal management system (TMS) clevis mounts 
with redesigned TMS clevis mounts. 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 12, 
2025.

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-2025-0480; 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 Pratt & Whitney (PW) material identified in this 
proposed AD, contact International Aero Engines, LLC, 400 Main Street, 
East Hartford, CT 06118; phone: (860) 565-0140; email: 
[email protected]; website: connect.prattwhitney.com.
     You may view this material 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: 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 the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-0480; 
Project Identifier AD-2024-00546-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,

[[Page 14058]]

and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments 
received by the closing date and may revise 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

    The FAA received a report that the IAE LLC PW1100G fleet 
experienced six fan blade fracture events due to bird strikes, three of 
which resulted in an engine under cowl fire or pool fire. The 
manufacturer determined that during the events that resulted in a fire, 
the loads from the fan-blade-out caused the fracture of clevis mount 
bolts that attach the TMS manifold to the engine. The clevis mount bolt 
fracture allowed movement in the TMS manifold, causing the CP09 tube 
assembly to flex and fracture. The under cowl fire and pool fire events 
resulted from the ignition of high-pressure fuel released from the 
fractured CP09 fuel line. Engine fan blade fracture that results in 
clevis mount bolt fracture, if not addressed, could result in engine 
fire and damage to 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed the following material:
     PW Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) PW1000G-C-72-00-0214-00A-
930A-D, Issue No. 004, dated September 18, 2024, which specifies 
procedures for replacement of the TMS clevis mounts with redesigned TMS 
clevis mounts.
     PW ASB PW1000G-C-73-00-0053-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 005, 
dated September 18, 2024, which specifies procedures for removing one 
loop cushion clamp from the CP09 tube assembly.
    This material is reasonably available because the interested 
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by 
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information already described.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers that this proposed AD would be an interim action. 
The manufacturer is currently developing a modification to address the 
unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once this modification is 
developed, FAA-approved, and available, the FAA might consider 
additional rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 586 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
    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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove one cushion clamp from the CP09     9 work-hours x $85 per hour           $0         $765        $448,290
 tube assembly.                             = $765.
Replace the TMS clevis mounts............  107 work-hours x $85 per          17,000       26,095      15,291,670
                                            hour = $9,095.
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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.

[[Page 14059]]

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-2025-0480; Project 
Identifier AD-2024-00546-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by May 12, 2025.

 (b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to International Aero Engines, LLC Model 
PW1122G-JM, PW1124G-JM, PW1124G1-JM, PW1127G-JM, PW1127G1-JM, 
PW1127G1A-JM, PW1127G1B-JM, PW1127GA-JM, PW1129G-JM, PW1130G-JM, 
PW1133G-JM, PW1133GA-JM, PW1428G-JM, PW1428GA-JM, PW1428GH-JM, 
PW1431G-JM, PW1431GA-JM, and PW1431GH-JM engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 1400, Miscellaneous 
Hardware.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of six fan blade fracture 
events due to bird strikes, three of which resulted in an engine 
under cowl fire or pool fire. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
an engine under cowl fire or pool fire. 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

    (1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, remove 
one loop cushion clamp, part number ST1540-06, from the hydraulic 
fuel pressure fuel oil cooler fuel tube assembly (CP09 tube 
assembly) in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, For 
Engines Installed On Aircraft, paragraph C, or For Engines Not 
Installed On Aircraft, paragraph A, of Pratt & Whitney (PW) Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) PW1000G-C-73-00-0053-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 
005, dated September 18, 2024.
    (2) At the next engine shop visit after the effective date of 
this AD, replace the thermal management system (TMS) clevis mount 
with redesigned TMS clevis mounts in accordance with paragraphs AJ, 
AK, and AM through AO of the Accomplishment Instructions of PW ASB 
PW1000G-C-72-00-0214-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 004, dated September 18, 
2024.

(h) Terminating Action

    The actions specified in paragraph (g)(2) of this AD constitute 
terminating action for the requirements of paragraph (g)(1) of this 
AD. This terminating action may be accomplished instead of the 
actions specified in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    (1) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, if done before the effective date of 
this AD using any of the material specified in paragraph (i)(1)(i) 
through (iv) of this AD inclusive.
    (i) PW ASB PW1000G-C-73-00-0053-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 001, dated 
October 25, 2022.
    (ii) PW ASB PW1000G-C-73-00-0053-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 002, 
dated November 07, 2022.
    (iii) PW ASB PW1000G-C-73-00-0053-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 003, 
dated November 21, 2022.
    (iv) PW ASB PW1000G-C-73-00-0053-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 004, 
dated March 15, 2024.
    (2) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, if done before the effective date of 
this AD using any of the material specified in paragraph (i)(2)(i) 
through (iii) of this AD inclusive.
    (i) PW ASB PW1000G-C-72-00-0214-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 001, dated 
July 19, 2023.
    (ii) PW ASB PW1000G-C-72-00-0214-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 002, 
dated March 15, 2024.
    (iii) PW ASB PW1000G-C-72-00-0214-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 003, 
dated May 16, 2024.

 (j) 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 (k) 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.

 (k) 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].

 (l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Pratt & Whitney (PW) Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) PW1000G-C-
72-00-0214-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 004, dated September 18, 2024.
    (ii) PW ASB PW1000G-C-73-00-0053-00A-930A-D, Issue No. 005, 
dated September 18, 2024.
    (3) For PW material identified in this AD, contact International 
Aero Engines, LLC, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06118; phone: 
(860) 565-0140; email: [email protected]; website: 
connect.prattwhitney.com.
    (4) You may view this material 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.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on March 24, 2025.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-05329 Filed 3-27-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P