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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 111 (Monday, June 10, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34605-34607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing 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: 
antonio.cancelliere@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-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)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   CFM56-7B (except
                                  CFM56-7B27A, CFM56- CFM56-7B27A, CFM56-
             CFM56-3              7B27A/3, and CFM56- 7B27A/3, and CFM56-
                                        7B27AE)             7B27AE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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...................  ..................  ..................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(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: antonio.cancelliere@faa.gov.
    (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: geae.aoc@ge.com; or CFM 
International SA, Customer Support Center, International phone: 33 1 
64 14 88 66; fax: 33 1 64 79 85 55; email: snecma.csc@snecma.fr.
    (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
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