40822 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 133 / Wednesday, July 11, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

England, DE248BJ; phone: 011–44–1332– 

242424; fax: 011–44–1332–245418 or email 

from http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/ 

civil_team.jsp, or download the publication 

from https://www.aeromanager.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced 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 

June 25, 2012. 

Peter A. White, 

Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–16856 Filed 7–10–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0546; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NE–15–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & 

Whitney Division Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt 

& Whitney PW4050, PW4052, PW4056, 

PW4060, PW4060A, PW4060C, 

PW4062, PW4062A, PW4152, PW4156, 

PW4156A, PW4158, PW4160, PW4460, 

PW4462, and PW4650 turbofan engines, 

including models with any dash number 

suffix. This proposed AD was prompted 

by 16 reports of damaged or failed 3rd 

stage low-pressure turbine (LPT) duct 

segments. This proposed AD would 

require removing from service certain 

part numbers (P/Ns) of 3rd stage LPT 

duct segments. We are proposing this 

AD to prevent failure of the 3rd stage 

LPT duct segments, which could lead to 

LPT rotor damage, uncontained engine 

failure, and damage to the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by September 10, 

2012. 

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. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Pratt & 

Whitney, 400 Main St., East Hartford, 

CT 06108; phone: 860–565–8770; fax: 

860–565–4503. You may review copies 

of the referenced 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. 

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: 

James Gray, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 

& Propeller Directorate, FAA, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; phone: 781–238–7742; fax: 781– 

238–7199; email: james.e.gray@faa.gov. 

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– 

2012–0546; Directorate Identifier 2012– 

NE–15–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 received 16 reports of damaged or 

failed 3rd stage LPT duct segments that 

resulted in 5 in-flight shutdowns, two of 

which were uncontained engine 

failures. The 3rd stage LPT duct 

segment assembly has seal plates that 

are attached with rivets. During normal 

engine operation, vibration may cause 

these seal plates to loosen or fall off, 

which allows hot gaspath air to enter 

the cavity behind the duct. This can 

cause the 3rd stage LPT duct segment to 

distort, fall into the gaspath, and 

damage the downstream LPT rotor 

blades. This condition, if not corrected, 

could result in failure of the 3rd stage 

LPT duct segments, which could lead to 

LPT rotor damage, uncontained engine 

failure, and damage to the airplane. 

Relevant Service Information 

We reviewed Pratt & Whitney EngineDuct Segment, Third Stage LPT 

Assembly Service Bulletin (SB) No. 

PW4ENG 72–488, Revision 3, dated 

August 13, 2009. The SB lists the part 

numbers of parts to be removed and 

parts to be installed. 

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 

removal from service of 3rd stage LPT 

duct segments P/Ns 50N095; 50N095– 

001; 50N235; 50N235–001; 50N494–01; 

50N494–001; 50N495–01; and 50N495– 

001, at the next piece-part exposure 

after the effective date of the proposed 

AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 151 engines installed on 

airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate 

that no additional labor costs would be 

incurred to perform the required work 

as the work is done when the 3rd stage 

LPT duct segments are at piece-part 

exposure. The average labor rate is $85 

per work-hour. Required parts would 

cost about $44,441 per engine. Based on 

these figures, we estimate the total cost 

of the AD to U.S. operators to be 

$6,710,591. 

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. 


erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS-1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 133 / Wednesday, July 11, 2012 / Proposed Rules 40823 

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 

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, 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 

1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Pratt & Whitney Division: Docket No. FAA– 

2012–0546; Directorate Identifier 2012– 

NE–15–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by September 

10, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Pratt & Whitney 

PW4050, PW4052, PW4056, PW4060, 

PW4060A, PW4060C, PW4062, PW4062A, 

PW4152, PW4156, PW4156A, PW4158, 

PW4160, PW4460, PW4462, and PW4650 

turbofan engines, including models with any 

dash number suffix, with 3rd stage LPT duct 

segments P/N 50N095; 50N095–001; 50N235; 

50N235–001; 50N494–01; 50N494–001; 

50N495–01; or 50N495–001, installed. 

(d) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by 16 reports of 

damaged or failed 3rd stage low-pressure 

turbine (LPT) duct segments. We are issuing 

this AD to prevent failure of the 3rd stage 

LPT duct segments, which could lead to LPT 

rotor damage, uncontained engine failure, 

and damage to the airplane. 

(e) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(f) 3rd Stage LPT Duct Segments Removal 

From Service 

At the next piece-part exposure after the 

effective date of this AD, remove from service 

3rd stage LPT duct segments, P/Ns 50N095; 

50N095–001; 50N235; 50N235–001; 50N494– 

01; 50N494–001; 50N495–01; and 50N495– 

001. 

(g) Installation Prohibition 

After the effective date of this AD, do not 

install into any engine any 3rd stage LPT 

duct segment, P/N 50N095; 50N095–001; 

50N235; 50N235–001; 50N494–01; 50N494– 

001; 50N495–01; or 50N495–001, that is at 

piece-part exposure. 

(h) Definition 

For the purpose of this AD, piece-part 

exposure is when the 3rd stage LPT duct 

segment is removed from the engine and 

completely disassembled. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

The Manager, Engine Certification Office, 

may approve AMOCs for this AD. Use the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make 

your request. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) Pratt & Whitney Engine-Duct Segment, 

Third Stage LPT Assembly Service Bulletin 

(SB) No. PW4ENG 72–488, Revision 3, dated 

August 13, 2009. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact James Gray, Aerospace Engineer, 

Engine & Propeller Directorate, FAA, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; phone: 781–238–7742; fax: 781–238– 

7199; email: james.e.gray@faa.gov. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main 

St., East Hartford, CT 06108; phone: 860– 

565–8770; fax: 860–565–4503. You may 

review copies of the 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 

July 2, 2012. 

Peter A. White, 

Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–16857 Filed 7–10–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0150; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–234–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM); 

reopening of comment period. 

SUMMARY: We are revising an earlier 

proposed airworthiness directive (AD) 

for all Airbus Model A318 series 

airplanes, Airbus Model A319 series 

airplanes, Airbus Model A320 series 

airplanes, and Airbus Model A321 

series airplanes. That NPRM proposed 

an inspection to determine if certain 

angle of attack (AOA) probes are 

installed, and replacing the affected 

AOA probe if necessary. That NPRM 

was prompted by reports of oil residue 

between the stator and the rotor parts of 

the position resolvers of the AOA vane, 

which was a result of incorrect removal 

of the machining oil during the 

manufacturing process of the AOA 

resolvers. This action revises that NPRM 

by including an inspection to determine 

if certain other AOA probes are 

installed, and replacing the affected 

probes. We are proposing this AD to 

prevent erroneous AOA information and 

consequent delayed or non-activation of 

the AOA protection systems which, 

during flight at a high angle of attack, 

could result in reduced control of the 

airplane. Since these actions impose an 

additional burden over that proposed in 

the NPRM, we are reopening the 

comment period to allow the public the 

chance to comment on these proposed 

changes. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by August 27, 2012. 


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