[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 111 (Monday, June 10, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34605-34607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13721]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0407; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-22-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; CFM International S.A. Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
[[Page 34606]]
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
CFM56-3 and CFM56-7B series turbofan engines with certain accessory
gearboxes (AGBs) not equipped with a handcranking pad ``oil dynamic
seal'' assembly. This proposed AD was prompted by 42 events of total
loss of engine oil from CFM56 series turbofan engines while in flight.
This proposed AD would require an independent inspection to verify re-
installation of the handcranking pad cover after removal of the pad
cover for maintenance until installation of a handcranking pad oil
dynamic seal assembly. This inspection requirement exceeds normal
maintenance and is necessary due to the design and location of the
handcranking pad cover on the accessory gear box. We are proposing this
AD to prevent loss of engine oil while in flight, which could result in
engine failure, loss of thrust control, and damage to the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 9, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
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.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
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 proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Antonio Cancelliere, Aerospace
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts,
01803; phone: 781-238-7751; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2013-0407;
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-22-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
We have received reports of 42 incidents of total loss of engine
oil from engines while in flight. Thirty-four incidents were single-
engine events and resulted in an in-flight shutdown of the engine or an
air turnback (ATB). Four incidents involved total loss of engine oil in
both engines installed on dual-engine airplanes, which caused an
immediate ATB of the airplane. The loss of engine oil was traced to the
AGB handcranking pad cover, which had not been reinstalled after
maintenance, for example, after a borescope inspection of the engine.
This proposed AD would require an independent inspection of the AGB
handcranking pad cover to verify its re-installation after removal.
This inspection requirement exceeds normal maintenance and is necessary
due to the design and location of the handcranking pad on the AGB. If
an operator's approved maintenance program includes an independent
inspection of the AGB handcranking pad cover after removal then
compliance with those procedures will constitute compliance to the
inspection requirements of the AD. This condition, if not corrected,
could result in loss of engine oil in flight, which could lead to
engine failure, loss of thrust control, and damage to the airplane.
FAA's Determination
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require an independent inspection to verify
correct installation of the handcranking pad cover after removal of the
pad cover for maintenance. Introduction of a handcranking pad oil
dynamic seal is available as an optional terminating action to the
repetitive inspection requirements of this AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 2,702 CFM56-3 and
CFM56-7B engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also
estimate that it would take about 1 hour to perform the independent
inspection required by this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour.
We estimate that normal maintenance will require the AGB handcranking
pad cover to be removed every 1,300 flights cycles. Based on an average
use of these model engines of approximately 6,000,000 flight cycles per
year, we estimate that an independent inspection would be required
approximately 4,615 times per year. Therefore, assuming that an
operator does not already have an independent inspection of the AGB
handcranking pad cover in its approved maintenance program, we estimate
the cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators to be $392,275.
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
We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This
[[Page 34607]]
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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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.
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 (AD):
CFM International S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2013-0407; Directorate
Identifier 2012-NE-22-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by August 9, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to CFM International S.A. CFM56-3 series and
CFM56-7B series turbofan engines equipped with the accessory gearbox
(AGB) part numbers (P/Ns) listed in Table 1 to paragraph (c) of this
AD.
Table 1 to Paragraph (c)
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CFM56-7B (except
CFM56-7B27A, CFM56- CFM56-7B27A, CFM56-
CFM56-3 7B27A/3, and CFM56- 7B27A/3, and CFM56-
7B27AE) 7B27AE
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335-300-103-0................... 340-046-503-0 340-188-601-0
335-300-105-0................... 340-046-504-0 340-188-603-0
335-300-106-0................... 340-046-505-0 ..................
335-300-107-0................... .................. ..................
335-300-108-0................... .................. ..................
335-300-109-0................... .................. ..................
335-300-110-0................... .................. ..................
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(d) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by 42 events of total loss of engine oil
while in flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of engine
oil while in flight, which could result in engine failure, loss of
thrust control, and damage to the airplane.
(e) Compliance
Unless already done, do the following:
(f) Inspection of the AGB handcranking pad cover
(1) Perform an independent inspection to verify re-installation
of the AGB handcranking pad cover after maintenance.
(2) The presence of an independent inspection as a required
inspection item in the approved continuous airworthiness maintenance
program satisfies the requirement of paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.
(g) Optional Terminating Action
(1) As an optional terminating action to the inspection
requirement of paragraph (f) of this AD, do the following:
(i) For CFM56-3 series engine models, modify the AGB
handcranking pad per Paragraph 3, ``Accomplishment Instructions'' in
CFM International Service Bulletin (SB) 72-1129, Revision 2, dated
November 16, 2012.
(ii) For CFM56-7B series engine models, with the exception of
the models listed in paragraph (g)(2), modify the AGB handcranking
pad per Paragraph 3, ``Accomplishment Instructions'' in CFM
International SB 72-0564, Revision 3, dated May 25, 2011 or
Paragraph 3, ``Accomplishment Instructions'' in CFM International SB
72-0879, Revision 1, dated April 12, 2012.
(2) No terminating action is available at this date for engine
models CFM56-7B27A, CFM56-7B27A/3, and CFM56-7B27AE, equipped with
AGB P/N 340-188-601-0 and AGB P/N 340-188-603-0.
(h) Definition
For the purposes of this AD, an independent inspection means a
second inspection by a qualified individual who was not involved in
the original re-installation of the AGB handcranking pad cover
following maintenance to confirm that the cover is installed
correctly.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your
request.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Antonio
Cancelliere, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA,
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, Massachusetts, 01803; phone: 781-238-7751; fax: 781-238-
7199; email: [email protected].
(2) For service information identified in this proposed AD,
contact CFM International Inc., Aviation Operations Center, 1
Neumann Way, M/D Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; USA phone: 877-432-
3272; USA fax: 877-432-3329; International phone: 1-513-552-3272;
International fax: 1-513-552-3329; email: [email protected]; or CFM
International SA, Customer Support Center, International phone: 33 1
64 14 88 66; fax: 33 1 64 79 85 55; email: [email protected].
(3) You may view this service information at the 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.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 24, 2013.
Thomas A. Boudreau,
Acting Directorate, Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-13721 Filed 6-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P