Proposed Rule2022-00509
Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. Turbofan Engines
Primary source
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Published
January 18, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all CFM International, S.A. (CFM) LEAP-1A23, LEAP-1A24, LEAP- 1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-1A29, LEAP-1A29CJ, LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2, and LEAP-1A35A model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the detection of melt-related freckles in the billet, which may reduce the life of certain compressor rotor stages 6-10 spools, high pressure turbine (HPT) rotor interstage seals, HPT rotor stage 2 disks, low pressure turbine (LPT) stage 1 disks, LPT stage 2 disks, LPT stage 3 disks, and LPT stage 4 disks. This proposed AD would require revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the applicable CFM LEAP-1A Engine Shop Manual (ESM) and the operator's existing approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program (CAMP) to incorporate reduced life limits for these parts. This proposed AD would also require the removal of certain LPT stage 4 disks identified by serial number (S/N) prior to their new life limits. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2563-2566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00509]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-1183; Project Identifier AD-2021-01193-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. 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 all CFM International, S.A. (CFM) LEAP-1A23, LEAP-1A24, LEAP-
1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-1A29, LEAP-1A29CJ,
LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2, and LEAP-1A35A model
turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the detection of
melt-related freckles in the billet, which may reduce the life of
certain compressor rotor stages 6-10 spools, high pressure turbine
(HPT) rotor interstage seals, HPT rotor stage 2 disks, low pressure
turbine (LPT) stage 1 disks, LPT stage 2 disks, LPT stage 3 disks, and
LPT stage 4 disks. This proposed AD would require revising the
airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the applicable CFM LEAP-1A
Engine Shop Manual (ESM) and the operator's existing approved
continuous airworthiness maintenance program (CAMP) to incorporate
reduced life limits for these parts. This proposed AD would also
require the removal of certain LPT stage 4 disks identified by serial
number (S/N) prior to their new life limits. 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 March 4,
2022.
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.
[[Page 2564]]
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact CFM
International, S.A., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D
Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; phone: (877) 432-3272; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#63050f060617101613130c11172304064d000c0e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="40262c252534333530302f32340027256e232f2d">[email protected]</span></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 (817) 222-5110.
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-2021-1183; 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: Mehdi Lamnyi, Aviation Safety
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803;
phone: (781) 238-7743; fax: (781) 238-7199; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fbb69e939f92d5b79a96958292bb9d9a9ad59c948d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2efc7cac6cb8ceec3cfccdbcbe2c4c3c38cc5cdd4">[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-2021-1183; Project Identifier
AD-2021-01193-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 (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 Mehdi
Lamnyi, 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 was notified by the manufacturer of the detection of melt-
related freckles in the billet, which may reduce the life of certain
compressor rotor stages 6-10 spools, HPT rotor interstage seals, HPT
rotor stage 2 disks, LPT stage 1 disks, LPT stage 2 disks, LPT stage 3
disks, and LPT stage 4 disks (life-limited parts (LLPs)). Through the
manufacturer's investigation, it was determined that these LLPs may
have subsurface anomalies that developed during the manufacturing
process, resulting in a lower life capability. As a result of its
investigation, the manufacturer determined the need to reduce the life
limits of these LLPs. To reflect these reduced life limits, the
manufacturer revised the CFM ALS, Chapter 05 of CFM LEAP 1A ESM.
Additionally, the manufacturer published service information that
specifies procedures for the removal and replacement of these LLPs
before reaching their new life limits.
The FAA is proposing to require operators to update the ALS of the
applicable CFM LEAP-1A ESM, with the reduced life limits for these
LLPs. The FAA is also proposing to require operators to remove certain
LPT stage 4 disks identified by S/N before reaching their new life
limits. The LPT stage 4 disks, identified by S/N in Figure 1 to
paragraph (g)(2) of this proposed AD, were discovered by the
manufacturer after publication of the ALS updates. This condition, if
not addressed, could result in uncontained debris release, damage to
the engine, 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.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed CFM High Pressure Compressor Rotor Life Limits
LEAP 1A-05-11-02-01A-0B1B-C, Issue 010-00, dated September 15, 2021
(CFM LEAP 1A-05-11-02-01A-0B1B-C); CFM High Pressure Turbine Rotor Life
Limits LEAP 1A-05-11-03-01A-0B1B-C, Issue 007-00, dated September 15,
2021 (CFM LEAP 1A-05-11-03-01A-0B1B-C); and CFM Low Pressure Turbine
Rotor Life Limits LEAP 1A-05-11-04-01A-0B1B-C, Issue 009-00, dated June
1, 2021 (LEAP 1A-05-11-04-01A-0B1B-C). CFM LEAP 1A-05-11-02-01A-0B1B-C,
CFM LEAP 1A-05-11-03-01A-0B1B-C, and CFM LEAP 1A-05-11-04-01A-0B1B-C
provide the new life limits for the LLPs. 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.
Other Related Service Information
The FAA reviewed CFM LEAP 1A-05-11-02-01A-0B1B-C, Issue 009-00,
dated July 26, 2021; and CFM LEAP 1A-05-11-03-01A-0B1B-C, Issue 006-00,
dated July 26, 2021. This service information provides the new life
limits for the LLPs.
The FAA also reviewed CFM Service Bulletin (SB) LEAP-1A-72-00-0413-
01A-930A-D, Issue 004-00, dated December 11, 2021 (CFM SB LEAP-1A-72-
00-0413-01A-930A-D). CFM SB LEAP-1A-72-00-0413-01A-930A-D specifies
procedures for removing and replacing the LLPs, and provides new life
limits for certain S/Ns of the LLPs.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the CFM LEAP-1A
ESM, as applicable to each affected engine model, and the operator's
existing approved CAMP to incorporate reduced life limits for certain
LLPs. This proposed AD also requires replacement of two LPT stage 4
disks.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 256 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA
estimates that 256 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry
would require revising the ALS of the CFM LEAP-1A ESM and the
operator's existing approved CAMP. The FAA estimates that zero
airplanes of
[[Page 2565]]
U.S. registry would require replacement of the LPT stage 4 disk.
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
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Revise ALS of Engine Manual and the 1 work-hour x $85 per hour $0 $85 $21,760
operator's existing approved CAMP. = $85.
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The FAA estimates the following costs to replace the LPT stage 4
disk:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace LPT Stage 4 disk........... 225 work-hours x $85 per $129,000 $148,125 $0
hour = $19,125.
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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:
CFM International, S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2021-1183; Project
Identifier AD-2021-01193-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by March 4, 2022.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to CFM International, S.A. (CFM) LEAP-1A23,
LEAP-1A24, LEAP-1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-
1A29, LEAP-1A29CJ, LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2, and
LEAP-1A35A model turbofan engines.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine
Compressor Section, and JASC Code 7250, Turbine Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by the detection of melt-related freckles
in the billet, which may reduce the life of certain compressor rotor
stages 6-10 spools, high pressure turbine (HPT) rotor interstage
seals, HPT rotor stage 2 disks, low pressure turbine (LPT) stage 1
disks, LPT stage 2 disks, LPT stage 3 disks, and LPT stage 4 disks.
The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the failure of the high-
pressure compressor, HPT rotor, and LPT rotor. The unsafe condition,
if not addressed, could result in release of uncontained debris,
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
(1) Within 60 days after the effective date of this AD, revise
the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the applicable CFM
LEAP-1A Engine Shop Manual (the ESM) and the operator's existing
approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program (CAMP) by
incorporating the following service information:
(i) CFM High Pressure Compressor Rotor Life Limits LEAP 1A-05-
11-02-01A-0B1B-C, Issue 010-00, dated September 15, 2021; and
(ii) CFM High Pressure Turbine Rotor Life Limits LEAP 1A-05-11-
03-01A-0B1B-C, Issue 007-00, dated September 15, 2021; and
(iii) CFM Low Pressure Turbine Rotor Life Limits LEAP 1A-05-11-
04-01A-0B1B-C, Issue 009-00, dated June 1, 2021.
(2) Before the LPT stage 4 disk, P/N 362-039-520-0, with serial
numbers identified in Figure 1 to paragraph (g)(2) of this AD
(Figure 1) accumulates the cycles in Figure 1, or within 100 cycles
after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, remove
the affected LPT stage 4 disk from service and replace with a part
eligible for installation.
[[Page 2566]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP18JA22.000
(h) Credit for Previous Actions
(1) You may take credit for the action required by paragraph
(g)(1)(i) of this AD if the following service information was
incorporated into the ALS of the applicable ESM and the operator's
existing approved CAMP prior to the effective date of this AD: CFM
High Pressure Compressor Rotor Life Limits LEAP 1A-05-11-02-01A-
0B1B-C, Issue 009-00, dated July 26, 2021.
(2) You may take credit for the action required by paragraph
(g)(1)(ii) of this AD if the following service information was
incorporated into the ALS of the applicable ESM and the operator's
existing approved CAMP prior to the effective date of this AD: CFM
High Pressure Turbine Rotor Life Limits LEAP 1A-05-11-03-01A-0B1B-C,
Issue 006-00, dated July 26, 2021.
(i) 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 paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. You may email your
request to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7a3b343f573b3e573b3735393a1c1b1b541d150c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7f6f9f29af6f39af6faf8f4f7d1d6d699d0d8c1">[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.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Mehdi Lamnyi,
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7743; fax: (781) 238-7199;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6f220a070b0641230e020116062f090e0e41080019"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ec3ebe6eae7a0c2efe3e0f7e7cee8efefa0e9e1f8">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact CFM
International, S.A., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D
Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; phone: (877) 432-3272; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#57313b323223242227273825231730327934383a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="12747e777766616762627d60665275773c717d7f">[email protected]</span></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
(817) 222-5110.
Issued on January 7, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-00509 Filed 1-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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