Proposed Rule2022-13202
Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines
Primary source
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Published
June 22, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-2B67/P model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the detection of an iron inclusion in a forging, which may reduce the fatigue life of certain low-pressure turbine rotor (LPTR) stage 4 disks and LPTR stage 6 disks. This proposed AD would require the removal of certain LPTR stage 4 disks and LPTR stage 6 disks from service and replacement with parts eligible for installation. 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 119 (Wednesday, June 22, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 22, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37247-37249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13202]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0587; Project Identifier AD-2022-00394-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) GEnx-2B67/P model turbofan
engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the detection of an iron
inclusion in a forging, which may reduce the fatigue life of certain
low-pressure turbine rotor (LPTR) stage 4 disks and LPTR stage 6 disks.
This proposed AD would require the removal of certain LPTR stage 4
disks and LPTR stage 6 disks from service and replacement 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 August 8,
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.
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact General
Electric Company, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: (513)
552-3272; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b4d5c2ddd5c0dddbda9ad2d8d1d1c0c7c1c4c4dbc6c0f4d3d19ad7dbd9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="86e7f0efe7f2efe9e8a8e0eae3e3f2f5f3f6f6e9f4f2c6e1e3a8e5e9eb">[email protected]</span></a>; website: <a href="https://www.ge.com">https://www.ge.com</a>. You may view this service information at the
[[Page 37248]]
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-2022-0587; 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: Alexei Marqueen, Aviation Safety
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803;
phone: (781) 238-7178; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#10517c756875793e443e5d7162616575757e507671713e777f66"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="93d2fff6ebf6fabdc7bddef2e1e2e6f6f6fdd3f5f2f2bdf4fce5">[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-2022-0587; Project Identifier
AD-2022-00394-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
Alexei Marqueen, 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 engine manufacturer of the detection of
an iron inclusion in a forging, which may reduce the fatigue life of
certain LPTR stage 4 disks and LPTR stage 6 disks. The manufacturer's
investigation determined that the inclusion is a melt-related defect
and that, as a result of the inclusion forming in the forging, certain
LPTR stage 4 disks and LPTR stage 6 disks may have reduced material
properties and a lower fatigue life capability. Reduced material
properties may cause premature LPTR stage 4 disk and LPTR stage 6 disk
fracture, which could result in uncontained debris release. As a result
of its investigation, the manufacturer published service information
that specifies procedures for the removal and replacement of certain
LPTR stage 4 disks and LPTR stage 6 disks installed on GEnx-2B67/P
model turbofan engines. 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
The FAA reviewed GE GEnx-2B service bulletin (SB) 72-0448 R00,
dated February 7, 2022. This SB describes procedures for removing the
affected LPTR stage 4 disks and LPTR stage 6 disks from service.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require the removal and replacement of
certain LPTR stage 4 disks and LPTR stage 6 disks.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 4 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA
estimates that the affected disk population on engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry would include three LPTR stage 4 disks and
one LPTR stage 6 disk.
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 the LPTR stage 4 disk......... 500 work-hours x $85 per $378,400 $420,900 $1,262,700
hour = $42,500.
Replace the LPTR stage 6 disk......... 500 work-hours x $85 per 208,900 251,400 251,400
hour = $42,500.
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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
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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-2022-0587; Project
Identifier AD-2022-00394-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by August 8, 2022.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-2B67/P
model turbofan engines with an installed:
(1) Low-pressure turbine rotor (LPTR) stage 4 disk, part number
(P/N) 2440M64P01, with serial number (S/N) JHVPD762, JHVPD763,
JHVPD764, or JHVPD765; or
(2) LPTR stage 6 disk, P/N 2440M66P01, with S/N JHVVD753 or
JHVVD754.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine
Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by the detection of an iron inclusion in a
forging, which may reduce the fatigue life of certain LPTR stage 4
disks and LPTR stage 6 disks. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent
fracture and subsequent uncontainment of the LPTR stage 4 disk and
LPTR stage 6 disk. 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
(1) Before the affected LPTR stage 4 disk exceeds 3,000 cycles
since new (CSN), remove the affected LPTR stage 4 disk from service
and replace with an LPTR stage 4 disk eligible for installation.
(2) Before the affected LPTR stage 6 disk exceeds 5,000 CSN,
remove the affected LPTR stage 6 disk from service and replace with
an LPTR stage 6 disk eligible for installation.
(h) Definitions
(1) For the purpose of this AD, an ``LPTR stage 4 disk eligible
for installation'' is an LPTR stage 4 disk that does not have P/N
2440M64P01, with S/N JHVPD762, JHVPD763, JHVPD764, or JHVPD765.
(2) For the purpose of this AD, an ``LPTR stage 6 disk eligible
for installation'' is an LPTR stage 6 disk that does not have P/N
2440M66P01, with S/N JHVVD753 or JHVVD754.
(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) of this AD and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#edaca3a8c0aca9c0aca0a2aead8b8c8cc38a829b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="95d4dbd0b8d4d1b8d4d8dad6d5f3f4f4bbf2fae3">[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
For more information about this AD, contact Alexei Marqueen,
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7178; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#17567b726f727e3943395a766566627272795771767639707861"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f5b499908d909cdba1dbb89487848090909bb5939494db929a83">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on May 16, 2022.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-13202 Filed 6-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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