Proposed Rule2021-18148
Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 24, 2021
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) CF34-10E model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that revealed Teflon material in the A-sump oil strainer (strainer assembly) screen after several reports of in-flight shutdowns (IFSDs) and unscheduled engine removals (UERs). This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive visual inspections of the strainer assembly screen. As a terminating action to the initial and repetitive visual inspections, this proposed AD would require the replacement of the stationary oil seal at the No. 1 forward bearing. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 161 (Tuesday, August 24, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 24, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47264-47266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18148]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0699; Project Identifier AD-2020-01685-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company 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 certain General Electric Company (GE) CF34-10E model turbofan
engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation
that revealed Teflon material in the A-sump oil strainer (strainer
assembly) screen after several reports of in-flight shutdowns (IFSDs)
and unscheduled engine removals (UERs). This proposed AD would require
initial and repetitive visual inspections of the strainer assembly
screen. As a terminating action to the initial and repetitive visual
inspections, this proposed AD would require the replacement of the
stationary oil seal at the No. 1 forward bearing. 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 October 8,
2021.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact General
Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH
45215; phone: (513) 552-3272; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ee8f98878f9a878180c088828b8b9a9d9b9e9e819c9aae8f8bc0898bc08d8183"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e584938c84918c8a8bcb8389808091969095958a9791a58480cb8280cb868a88">[email protected]</span></a>;
website: <a href="http://www.ge.com">www.ge.com</a>. 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 (781) 238-7759.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0699; 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: Scott Stevenson, Aviation Safety
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803;
phone: (781) 238-7132; fax: (781) 238-7199; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b0e3d3dfc4c49efd9ee3c4d5c6d5dec3dfdef0d6d1d19ed7dfc6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1d4e7e7269693350334e69786b78736e72735d7b7c7c337a726b">[email protected]</span></a>.
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-2021-0699; Project Identifier
AD-2020-01685-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
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, 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
[[Page 47265]]
(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 Scott Stevenson, 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 received reports of several IFSDs and UERs on airplanes
operating with GE CF34-10E5, CF34-10E5A1, CF34-10E6, and CF34-10E7
model turbofan engines. After investigation, the manufacturer
determined that the failures were the result of Teflon oil seals
disbonding from the aluminum housing when used with either high thermal
stability (HTS) or high performance capability (HPC) oils. The
stationary oil seal deterioration resulted from the failure of the
bonding adhesive, known as EA9658, which does not have the high
temperature capabilities as designed and is negatively impacted by the
use of HTS or HPC oils. This deterioration results in Teflon particles
collecting in the strainer assembly. The manufacturer determined that
CF34-10E2A1, CF34-10E6A1, and CF34-10E7-B model turbofan engines are
also subject to this unsafe condition. This condition, if not
addressed, could result in failure of the engine, in-flight shutdown,
and loss of control 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.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed GE CF34-10E Service Bulletin 72-0365 R04, dated
April 27, 2021. This service information specifies procedures for
performing a visual inspection and a borescope inspection of the
strainer assembly for Teflon particles. 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 initial and repetitive visual
inspections of the strainer assembly screen. As a terminating action to
the repetitive visual inspections, this proposed AD would require the
replacement of the stationary oil seal at the No. 1 forward bearing.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 46 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
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Inspect the strainer assembly 1 work-hour x $85 per hour $0 $85 $3,910
screen. = $85.
Replace the stationary oil seal.... 2 work-hours x $85 per hour 8,628 8,798 404,708
= $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.
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-2021-0699; Project
Identifier AD-2020-01685-E.
[[Page 47266]]
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by October 8, 2021.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all General Electric Company (GE) CF34-
10E2A1, CF34-10E5, CF34-10E5A1, CF34-10E6, CF34-10E6A1, CF34-10E7,
and CF34-10E7-B model turbofan engines with a stationary oil seal,
part number (P/N) B1316-00453 or P/N B1316-01274, installed at the
No.1 forward bearing, that has used high thermal stability (HTS) oil
or high performance capability (HPC) oil for 56 or more flight hours
(FHs) during the life of the stationary oil seal.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7261, Turbine Engine
Oil System.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by investigation by the manufacturer that
revealed Teflon material in the A-sump oil strainer (strainer
assembly) screen after several reports of in-flight shutdowns and
unscheduled engine removals. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent
failure of the stationary oil seal at the No.1 forward bearing. The
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the
engine, in-flight shutdown, and loss of control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
(1) Within the compliance time specified in paragraph (g)(1)(i)
or (ii) of this AD, as applicable, perform an initial visual
inspection of the strainer assembly screen for Teflon material.
Guidance on performing the visual inspections of the strainer
assembly screen can be found in the Accomplishment Instructions,
paragraphs 3.A.(1)(d), of GE CF34-10E Service Bulletin (SB) 72-0365
R04, dated April 27, 2021.
(i) For an affected stationary oil seal having fewer than 2,250
flight hours (FHs) since new on the effective date of this AD,
perform the initial inspection of the strainer assembly screen at
the next engine shop visit after accumulating 2,250 FHs since new,
but no later than 2,350 FHs since new.
(ii) For an affected stationary oil seal having 2,250 or more
FHs since new on the effective date of this AD, perform the initial
inspection of the strainer assembly screen within 100 FHs after the
effective date of this AD.
(2) Thereafter, within the following compliance times, repeat
the visual inspection of the strainer assembly screen required by
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD:
(i) For an affected stationary oil seal having 2,250 to 7,000
FHs since new at the time of the last inspection, repeat the visual
inspection every 750 FHs.
(ii) For an affected stationary oil seal having 7,001 to 10,000
FHs since new at the time of the last inspection, repeat the visual
inspection every 375 FHs.
(iii) For an affected stationary oil seal having more than
10,000 FHs since new at the time of the last inspection, repeat the
visual inspection every 100 FHs.
(3) If, based on the inspections required by paragraph (g)(1) or
(2) of this AD, Teflon material is found in the strainer assembly
screen, before further flight, remove the stationary oil seal at the
No. 1 forward bearing from service and replace it with a part
eligible for installation.
(4) Before an affected stationary oil seal accumulates 10,000
FHs since new or within 500 FHs after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs later, remove the stationary oil seal at the No. 1
forward bearing from service and replace it with a part eligible for
installation.
(h) Terminating Action
Removal of the stationary oil seal, P/N B1316-00453 or P/N
B1316-01274, installed at the No. 1 forward bearing, and replacement
with a part eligible for installation, constitutes terminating
action for the initial and repetitive inspections required by
paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this AD.
(i) Definition
For the purpose of this AD, a ``part eligible for installation''
is a stationary oil seal that has a P/N other than P/N B1316-00453
or P/N B1316-01274.
(j) Special Flight Permit
Special flight permits, as described in 14 CFR 21.197 and
21.199, are subject to the requirements of paragraph (j)(1) of this
AD.
(1) Operators who are prohibited from further flight due to
Teflon material found in the strainer assembly screen may perform a
non-revenue ferry flight, consisting of no more than five cycles, to
a location where the engine can be removed from service if operators
perform the actions in Appendix--A, paragraph 4.A., GE CF34-10E
Service Bulletin (SB) 72-0365 R04, dated April 27, 2021 and the
engine still meets the criteria in paragraph 4.A. for flying an
additional five cycles. This ferry flight must be performed with
only essential flight crew, without passengers, and involve non-
ETOPS operations.
(2) [Reserved]
(k) 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 Related Information. You may email your request to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f6e616a026e6b026e62606c6f494e4e01484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="64252a214925204925292b27240205054a030b12">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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.
(l) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Scott Stevenson,
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7132; fax: (781) 238-7199;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5407373b20207a197a07203122313a273b3a143235357a333b22"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cb98a8a4bfbfe586e598bfaebdaea5b8a4a58badaaaae5aca4bd">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way,
Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: (513) 552-3272; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b0d1c6d9d1c4d9dfde9ed6dcd5d5c4c3c5c0c0dfc2c4f0d1d59ed7d59ed3dfdd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="87e6f1eee6f3eee8e9a9e1ebe2e2f3f4f2f7f7e8f5f3c7e6e2a9e0e2a9e4e8ea">[email protected]</span></a>; website: <a href="http://www.ge.com">www.ge.com</a>. You may view
this referenced 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 (781) 238-7759.
Issued on August 18, 2021.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18148 Filed 8-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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