Proposed Rule2023-09887
Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Engines
Primary source
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Published
May 11, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) Model PW307D engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a root cause analysis of an event involving an uncontained failure of a high-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage disk, on an International Aero Engines AG Model V2533-A5 engine, that resulted in high-energy debris penetrating the engine cowling and an aborted takeoff. This proposed AD would require removing certain HPT 2nd-stage disks from service and would also prohibit installation of certain HPT 2nd-stage disks on any affected engine. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 91 (Thursday, May 11, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 91 (Thursday, May 11, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30264-30266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-09887]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-0939; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00743-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. 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 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) Model PW307D engines. This
proposed AD was prompted by a root cause analysis of an event involving
an uncontained failure of a high-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage disk,
on an International Aero Engines AG Model V2533-A5 engine, that
resulted in high-energy debris penetrating the engine cowling and an
aborted takeoff. This proposed AD would require removing certain HPT
2nd-stage disks from service and would also prohibit installation of
certain HPT 2nd-stage disks on any affected engine. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by June 26, 2023.
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="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> under
Docket No. FAA-2023-0939; 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, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781)
238-7146; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#492b283b2b283b28672a283c2f202c252d092f2828672e263f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="84e6e5f6e6e5f6e5aae7e5f1e2ede1e8e0c4e2e5e5aae3ebf2">[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-2023-0939; Project Identifier
MCAI-2022-00743-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
[[Page 30265]]
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
Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, 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
Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has
issued Transport Canada AD CF-2022-31, dated June 9, 2022 (Transport
Canada AD CF-2022-31) (referred to after this as the MCAI), to correct
an unsafe condition on P&WC Model PW307D engines with serial numbers
(S/Ns) CM0226 and CM0238, and with an installed HPT 2nd-stage disk,
part number (P/N) 30P3182-01 with S/Ns A004D8X1 and A004E9K3,
respectively. The MCAI states that on March 18, 2020, an Airbus Model
A321-231 airplane, powered by International Aero Engines AG (IAE) Model
V2533-A5 engines, experienced an uncontained HPT 1st-stage disk failure
that resulted in an aborted takeoff and high-energy debris penetrating
the engine cowling.
In response to the March 2020 uncontained HPT 1st-stage disk
failure, the FAA issued a series of ADs, including Emergency AD 2020-
07-51, Amendment 39-21110 (85 FR 20402, April 13, 2020) (AD 2020-07-
51). Since the FAA issued AD 2020-07-51, IAE determined that the
failure of the V2533-A5 engine was due to an undetected subsurface
material defect in the HPT 1st-stage disk that may affect the life of
the part. In coordination with IAE, P&WC performed a records review and
analysis of PW307A and PW307D engine parts made of similar material and
identified two additional affected HPT 2nd-stage disks (S/Ns A004D8X1
and A004E9K3), installed on PW307D engines. These two additional HPT
2nd-stage disks may have a material defect which could reduce the life
of the part. As such, the affected HPT 2nd-stage disks must be removed
from service. The FAA is proposing this AD to prevent failure of the
HPT 2nd-stage disks, which could result in damage to the engine, damage
to the airplane, and loss of the airplane.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the aviation authority of
another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in
the MCAI described above. 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.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require removing certain part-numbered HPT
2nd-stage disks from service and would prohibit the installation of
these HPT 2nd-stage disks onto any engine.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 2 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 high pressure turbine (HPT) 10 work-hours x $85 per $176,000 $176,850 $353,700
2nd-stage disk. hour = $850.
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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 30266]]
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:
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Docket No. FAA-2023-0939; Project
Identifier MCAI-2022-00743-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by June 26, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) Model
PW307D engines.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine
Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a root cause analysis of an event
involving an International Aero Engines AG Model V2533-A5 engine,
which experienced an uncontained failure of a high pressure turbine
(HPT) 1st-stage disk that resulted in high-energy debris penetrating
the engine cowling. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of
the HPT 2nd-stage disk. The unsafe condition, if not addressed,
could result in uncontained HPT disk failure, damage to the engine,
damage to the airplane, and loss of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
For engines with an HPT 2nd-stage disk, part number (P/N)
30P3182-01, with serial number (S/N) A004D8X1 or A004E9K3 installed,
within 100 engine cycles after the effective date of this AD, remove
the HPT 2nd-stage disk from service.
(h) Installation Prohibition
After the effective date of this AD, do not install any HPT 2nd-
stage disk having P/N 30P3182-01 with S/N A004D8X1 or A004E9K3 on
any engine.
(i) 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
responsible Flight Standards 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. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ac9581ede2e181ffc9cdd8d8c0c981edefe381ede1e3ef81fec9ddd9c9dfd8dfeccacdcd82cbc3da"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a79e8ae6e9ea8af4c2c6d3d3cbc28ae6e4e88ae6eae8e48af5c2d6d2c2d4d3d4e7c1c6c689c0c8d1">[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) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Barbara Caufield,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA
01803; phone: (781) 238-7146; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0a686b78686b786b24696b7f6c636f666e4a6c6b6b246d657c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="75171407171407145b161400131c101911351314145b121a03">[email protected]</span></a>.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on May 3, 2023.
Michael Linegang,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-09887 Filed 5-10-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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