Proposed Rule2022-23460
Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines
Primary source
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Published
November 4, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80E1A2, CF6-80E1A3, CF6- 80E1A4, and CF6-80E1A4/B model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that revealed that certain compressor discharge pressure seals (CDP seals) and forward outer seals were manufactured from powder metal material suspected to contain iron inclusion. This proposed AD would require the replacement of the affected CDP seals and forward outer seals. 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 213 (Friday, November 4, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 213 (Friday, November 4, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66625-66627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23460]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1401; Project Identifier AD-2022-01017-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) CF6-80E1A2, CF6-80E1A3, CF6-
80E1A4, and CF6-80E1A4/B model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was
prompted by a manufacturer investigation that revealed that certain
compressor discharge pressure seals (CDP seals) and forward outer seals
were manufactured from powder metal material suspected to contain iron
inclusion. This proposed AD would require the replacement of the
affected CDP seals and forward outer seals. 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 December
19, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
[[Page 66626]]
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">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.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-1401; 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#d998b5bca1bcb0f78df794b8aba8acbcbcb799bfb8b8f7beb6af"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aaebc6cfd2cfc384fe84e7cbd8dbdfcfcfc4eacccbcb84cdc5dc">[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-2022-1401; Project Identifier
AD-2022-01017-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="http://regulations.gov">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 manufacturer of the detection of iron
inclusion in a turbine disk manufactured from the same powder metal
material used to manufacture certain CDP seals and forward outer seals
for GE CF6-80E1A2, CF6-80E1A3, CF6-80E1A4, and CF6-80E1A4/B model
turbofan engines. Further investigation by the manufacturer determined
that the iron inclusion is attributed to deficiencies in the
manufacturing process. The investigation by the manufacturer also
determined that certain CF6-80E1A2, CF6-80E1A3, CF6-80E1A4, and CF6-
80E1A4/B CDP seals and forward outer seals made from billets
manufactured using the same process may have reduced material
properties and a lower fatigue life capability due to iron inclusion,
which may cause premature fracture and uncontained failure. As a result
of its investigation, the manufacturer published service information
that specifies procedures for the removal and replacement of certain
CDP seals and forward outer seals installed on CF6-80E1A2, CF6-80E1A3,
CF6-80E1A4, and CF6-80E1A4/B model turbofan engines. This condition, if
not addressed, could result in uncontained debris release, damage to
the engine, and damage to the aircraft.
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 CF6-80E1 Service Bulletin (SB) 72-0597 R00,
dated August 5, 2022. This service information specifies procedures for
removing the CDP seal and forward outer seal from service.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require the removal of certain CDP seals and
forward outer seals from service and replacement with parts eligible
for installation.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 0 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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Replace CDP seal.................. 8 work-hours x $85 $154,768 (prorated).. $155,448 $0
per hour = $680.
Replace forward outer seal........ 8 work-hours x $85 1,289,792 (prorated). 1,290,472 0
per hour = $680.
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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
[[Page 66627]]
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-2022-1401; Project
Identifier AD-2022-01017-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by December 19, 2022.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to General Electric Company CF6-80E1A2, CF6-
80E1A3, CF6-80E1A4, CF6-80E1A4/B model turbofan engines with an
installed:
(1) Compressor discharge pressure seal (CDP seal) with part
number (P/N) 1669M73P02 and serial number (S/N) TMT1C0E1 or
TMT1C0E2; or
(2) Forward outer seal with P/N 1778M70P03 and S/N NCU65340.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine
Compressor Section; 7250, Turbine Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that
revealed that certain CDP seals and forward outer seals were
manufactured from powder metal material suspected to contain iron
inclusion. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent fracture and
uncontained failure of certain CDP seals and forward outer seals.
The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained
debris release, damage to the engine, and damage to the aircraft.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
(1) At the next piece-part exposure after the effective date of
this AD or before the affected CDP seal exceeds 6,400 cycles since
new (CSN), whichever occurs first, remove the affected CDP seal from
service and replace with a part eligible for installation.
(2) At the next piece-part exposure after the effective date of
this AD or before the affected forward outer seal exceeds 5,400 CSN,
whichever occurs first, remove the affected forward outer seal from
service and replace with a part eligible for installation.
(h) Definitions
(1) For the purpose of this AD, a ``part eligible for
installation'' is a CDP seal that does not have P/N 1669M73P02 and
S/N TMT1C0E1 or S/N TMT1C0E2, and a forward outer seal that does not
have P/N 1778M70P03 and S/N NCU65340.
(2) For the purpose of this AD, ``piece-part exposure'' is when
the affected part is removed from the engine.
(i) Installation Prohibition
After the effective date of this AD, do not install a CDP seal
with P/N 1669M73P02 and S/N TMT1C0E1 or S/N TMT1C0E2, or a forward
outer seal with P/N 1778M70P03 and S/N NCU65340, onto any engine.
(j) 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 (k) of this AD and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6f2e212a422e2b422e22202c2f090e0e41080019"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d5949b90f89491f894989a9695b3b4b4fbb2baa3">[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.
(k) 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#f3b29f968b969adda7ddbe9281828696969db3959292dd949c85"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a9e8c5ccd1ccc087fd87e4c8dbd8dcccccc7e9cfc8c887cec6df">[email protected]</span></a>.
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on October 24, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-23460 Filed 11-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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