[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51695-51697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21008]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-0945; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-18-AD;
Amendment 39-17161; AD 2012-16-14]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. Turbofan
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-20R, -20AR, -20BR, -40, -40AR, -
40R, -50R, and -60 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by a report
of a quality escape of about 8,000 2nd stage low-pressure turbine
(LPT2) rotor blades, manufactured by Honeywell Chihuahua Manufacturing
Operation since 2009. This AD requires removing and inspecting certain
LPT2 rotor blades. We are issuing this AD to correct an unsafe
condition caused by these blades installed on these engines.
DATES: This AD is effective October 1, 2012.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of October 1,
2012.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Honeywell International Inc., 111 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-
2802; Web site: http://portal.honeywell.com; or call Honeywell toll
free at phone: 800-601-3099 (U.S./Canada) or 602-365-3099
(International Direct).
You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call 781-238-7125.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The address for the
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-
627-5246; fax: 562-627-5210; email: joseph.costa@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products.
That NPRM published in the Federal Register on January 9, 2012 (77 FR
1043). That NPRM proposed to require removing and inspecting certain
LPT2 rotor blades.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM.
[[Page 51696]]
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 3,000 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1
work-hour per engine to perform the record review, and that the average
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. For an estimated 500 engines with
discrepant blades, blade rework cost was estimated at $2,380 per engine
with a replacement parts cost about $1,100 per engine. Based on these
figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be
$1,430,100.
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.
We are 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
This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order
13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) Will 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.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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 (AD):
2012-16-14 Honeywell International Inc. (Formerly Allied Signal Inc.
and Garrett Turbine Engine Company): Amendment 39-17161; Docket No.
FAA-2011-0945; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-18-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective October 1, 2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
(1) This AD applies to Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-20R,
-20AR, -20BR, -40, -40AR, -40R, -50R, and -60 turbofan engines:
(i) With an engine model number and serial number (S/N) listed
in Table 4 of Honeywell Service Bulletin (SB) TFE731-72-5221,
Revision 0, dated November 11, 2010, or
(ii) With 2nd stage low-pressure turbine (LPT2) rotor assembly
part numbers (P/Ns) 3060608-2, 3060608-3, or 3060608-5 that had any
LPT2 rotor blades P/N 3075424-2 replaced between March 2009 and
September 2010, inclusive, or that had any LPT2 rotor blades P/N
3075424-3 replaced between July 2010 and September 2010, inclusive.
(d) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of a quality escape of about
8,000 LPT2 rotor blades, manufactured by Honeywell Chihuahua
Manufacturing Operation since 2009. During LPT rotor acceleration,
these blades may contact and damage the 3rd stage LPT (LPT3) nozzle
seal carrier that may subsequently fatigue and contact the adjacent
rotor and damage the rotor. Also, these blades could deform the
blade retainers, which could lead to blade movement that may cause
rotor damage. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition
caused by these blades installed on these engines.
(e) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(f) Remove LPT2 Rotor Blades
(1) At the next major periodic inspection, not to exceed 3,000
hours time-since-new, or within 5 years after the effective date of
this AD, or at the next access, whichever occurs first, do the
following using Section 3.0, Accomplishment Instructions, of
Honeywell SB TFE731-72-5221, Revision 0, dated November 11, 2010:
(i) Remove any suspect LPT2 rotor blades from service.
(ii) Inspect suspect LPT2 rotor blades.
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Los Angeles Certification Office, FAA, may approve
AMOCs to this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make
your request.
(h) Definition
For purposes of this AD, next access is defined as when the LPT
module is disassembled.
(i) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Joseph Costa,
Aerospace Engineer, Los Angles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA
90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5246; fax: 562-627-5210; email:
joseph.costa@faa.gov.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Honeywell SB TFE731-72-5221, Revision 0, dated November 11,
2010.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For Honeywell International Inc. service information
identified in this AD, contact Honeywell International Inc., 111 S.
34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-2802; Web site: http://portal.honeywell.com; or call Honeywell toll free at phone: 800-601-
3099 (U.S./Canada) or 602-365-3099 (International Direct).
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington,
MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call 781-238-7125.
(5) You may view this service information at the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the
availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to:
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
[[Page 51697]]
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 6, 2012.
Mark C. Fulmer,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21008 Filed 8-24-12; 8:45 am]
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