DEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATIONFederalAviationAdministration14CFRPart39[4910-13-P][DocketNo.FAA-2015-4023;DirectorateIdentifier2015-NE-29-AD;Amendment39-18445;AD2016-06-14]RIN2120-AA64AirworthinessDirectives;GeneralElectricCompanyTurbofanEnginesAGENCY:FederalAviationAdministration(FAA),DOT.ACTION:Finalrule.SUMMARY:Weareadoptinganewairworthinessdirective(AD)forallGeneralElectricCompany(GE)CF6-80Elturbofanengineswithrotatingcompressordischargepressure(CDP)seal,partmunber(PIN)1669M73P02,installed.ThisADwaspromptedbyrepot1sfromthemanufacturerofcracksintheteethoftworotatingCDPsealsfoundduringengineshopvisits.ThisADrequiresstrippingofthecoating,inspecting,andrecoatingtheteethoftheaffectedrotatingCDPseals.WeareissuingthisADtopreventcrackingoftheCDPsealteeth,uncontainedpartrelease,damagetotheengine,anddamagetotheairplane.DATES:ThisADiseffective[INSERTDATE35DAYSAFTERDATEOFPUBLICATIONINTHEFEDERALREGISTER].TheDirectoroftheFederalRegisterapprovedtheincorporationbyreferenceofacertainpublicationlistedinthisADasof[INSERTDATE35DAYSAFTERDATEOFPUBLICATIONINTHEFEDERALREGISTER].ADDRESSES:Forserviceinformationidentifiedinthisfinalrule,contactGeneralElectricCompany,GEAviation,Room285,1NeumannWay,Cincinnati,OH45215;phone:513-552-3272;email:aviation.fleetsupport@ge.com.YoumayviewthisserviceinfonnationattheFAA,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,1200DistrictAvenue,Burlington,MA.ForinformationontheavailabilityofthismaterialattheFAA,call781-238-7125.ItisalsoavailableontheInternetathttp://www-.regulations.govbysearchingforandlocatingDocketNo.FAA-2015-4023.ExaminingtheADDocketYoumayexaminetheADdocketontheInternetathttp://www-.regulations.govbysearchingforandlocatingDocketNo.FAA-2015-4023;orinpersonattheDocketManagementFacilitybetween9a.m.and5p.m.,MondaythroughFriday,exceptFederalholidays.TheADdocketcontainsthisAD,theregulatoryevaluation,anycommentsreceived,andotherinformation.TheaddressfortheDocketOffice(phone:800-647-5527)isDocumentManagementFacility,U.S.DepartmentofTransportation,DocketOperations,M-30,WestBuildingGroundFloor,RoomW12-140,1200NewJerseyAvenueSE.,Washington,DC20590.FORFURTHERINFORMATIONCONTACT:HermanMak,AerospaceEngineer,EngineCertificationOffice,FAA,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,1200DistrictAvenue,Burlington,MA01803;phone:781-238-7147;fax:781-238-7199;email:herman.mak@faa.gov.SUPPLEMENTARYINFORMATION:DiscussionWeissuedanoticeofproposedrulemaking(NPRM)toamend14CFRpart3 9byaddinganADthatwouldapplytoallGECF6-80ElturbofanengineswithrotatingCDPseal,PIN1669M73P02,installed.TheNPRMpublishedintheFederalRegisteronNovember17,2015(80FR71747).TheNPRMwaspromptedbyreportsofcracksintheteethoftworotatingCDPsealsfoundduringengineshopvisits.TheNPRMproposedtorequirestrippingofthecoating,inspecting,andrecoatingtheteethoftheaffectedrotatingCDPseals.WeareissuingthisADtopreventcrackingoftheCDPsealteeth,uncontainedpartrelease,damagetotheengine,anddamagetotheairplane.2CommentsWegavethepublictheopportunitytoparticipateindevelopingthisAD.ThefollowingpresentsthecommentsreceivedontheNPRM(80FR71747,November17,2015)("theNPRM")andtheFAA'sresponsetoeachcomment.RequesttoClarifyDefinitionQantas,AirFrance,KLMRoyalDutchAirlines(KLM),andGEAviationrequestedthattheshopvisitdefinitionbeclarifiedtoallowforrandomlyoccurringexemptions.Includingexemptionswouldnotincreasethetimebetweenfullshopvisits.Weagree.Wechangedtheshopvisitdefinitiontoincludespecificconditionsthatdonotqualifyasshopvisits.RequesttoClarifytheShopVisitDefinitionKLMandAirFrancerequestedweclarifythephrase"separationofpairsofmajormatingengineflanges".Weagree.Wechangedthedefinitionforengineshopvisit.RequesttoChangeComplianceTimeQantasrequestedamorerestrictivecompliancetimeforenginesthatexperienceblade-outeventsandalessrestrictivecompliancetimeofnextpartexposureforallotheraffectedengines.Onlyenginesthatexperienceblade-outconditionsrequireurgentcompliancetimes.Wedisagree.ThecompliancetimesintheNPRMwerederivedfromanalysisthatincludestherisksasSociatedwithengineswithandwithoutblade-outevents.WedidnotchangethisAD.RequesttoClarifyComplianceQantasrequestedthatweclarifythespecifictypeofstationaryCDPsealrepairandthatweclarifywhatisconsideredareplacedstationaryCDPseal.3

# We agree.

We modified

the Compliance

section

to specify

the repair

as 'honeycomb'.

We

also added

a definition

to define

a replaced

CDP

seal. Request

to Change Applicability KLM requested

that

the applicability

be expanded

to include

spare

parts. We partially

agree.

We agree

with

the concern

for accidental installation

of borazon-nickel

coated rotating

CDP

seals because

the NPRM

does

not preclude

this scenario.

We disagree

with expanding

this

AD

to include

spare

parts because

ADs address

unsafe conditions

of engines,

not spare

parts.

We changed

this

AD

by adding

an installation

prohibition

paragraph

to address

this concern. Request

to Change

Credit

for Previous

Action KLM requested

the Credit

for Previous

Action paragraph

allow

for other approved

original equipment manufacturer

approved procedures

for stripping

and recoating

rotating

CDP

seal teeth.

KLM recoated

two CDP

seals using

a procedure approved

by GE. We disagree.

It



# is unknown

whether previous

recoating procedures

are equivalent to the procedures"

specified

in the Credit

for Previous

Action paragraph

of this

AD.

Any party

may submit

a request

for

an Alternative

Method

of Compliance

using

the procedures

listed

in this

AD.

We

did

not change

this

AD. Additional

Changes We clarified paragraphs

( e)(2)(i)

and

( e)(2)(ii)

of this

AD. We updated

the cost estimate.

We changed

the Costs

of Compliance

paragraph

of this

AD

by increasing

the number

of affected

engines

by four

and updating

the costs accordingly.



# 4ConclusionWereviewedtherelevantdata,consideredthecommentsreceived,anddeterminedthatairsafetyandthepublicinterestrequireadoptingthisADwiththechangesdescribedpreviously.Wealsodetermined thatthesechangeswillnotincreasetheeconomicburdenonanyoperator orincreasethescopeofthisAD.RelatedServiceInformationunder1CFRpart51WereviewedGEServiceBulletin(SB)CF6-80ElS/B72-0529,Revision01,datedAugust21,2015.TheSBdescribesproceduresforstripping,inspecting,andreplacingthesealtoothcoatingontheaffectedrotatingCDPseals.ThisserviceinformationisreasonablyavailablebecausetheinterestedpartieshaveaccesstoitthroughtheirnormalcourseofbusinessorbythemeansidentifiedintheADDRESSESsection.OtherRelatedServiceInformationWereviewedGECF6-80El(GEK99376)EngineManual,Revision42,datedMarch15,2014.Theenginemanualdescribesacceptablerepairproceduresforthesealteeth.CostsofComplianceWeestimatethatthisADwillaffectI0enginesinstalledonairplanesofU.S.registry.Wealsoestimatethatitwilltakeabout7.15hoursperenginetocomplywiththisAD.Theaveragelaborrateis$85perhour.Partswouldcostabout$7,835perengine.Basedonthesefigures,weestimatethetotalcostofthisADtoU.S.operatorstobe$84,428.AuthorityforthisRulemakingTitle49oftheUnitedStatesCodespecifiestheFAA'sauthoritytoissuerulesonaviationsafety.SubtitleI,section106,describestheauthorityoftheFAAAdministrator.5SubtitleVII:AviationPrograms,describesinmoredetailthescopeoftheAgency'sauthority.WeareissuingthisrulemakingundertheauthoritydescribedinSubtitleVII,PartA,SubpartIII,Section44701:"Generalrequirements."Underthatsection,CongresschargestheFAAwithpromotingsafeflightofcivilaircraftinaircommercebyprescribingregulationsforpractices,methods,andprocedurestheAdministratorfindsnecessaryforsafetyinaircommerce.Thisregulationiswithinthescopeofthatauthoritybecauseitaddressesanunsafeconditionthatislikelytoexistordeveloponproductsidentifiedinthisrulemakingaction.RegulatoryFindingsThisADwillnothavefederalismimplicationsunderExecutiveOrder13132.ThisADwillnothaveasubstantialdirecteffectontheStates,ontherelationshipbetweenthenationalgovernmentandtheStates,oronthedistributionofpowerandresponsibilitiesamongthevariouslevelsofgovernment.Forthereasonsdiscussedabove,IcertifythatthisAD:(I)Isnota"significantregulatoryaction"underExecutiveOrder12866,(2)Isnota"significantrule"underDOTRegulatoryPoliciesandProcedures(44FR11034,February26,1979),(3)WillnotaffectintrastateaviationinAlaskatotheextentthatitjustifiesmakingaregulatorydistinction,and(4)Willnothaveasignificanteconomicimpact,positiveornegative,onasubstantialnumberofsmallentitiesunderthecriteriaoftheRegulatoryFlexibilityAct.ListofSubjectsin14CFRPart39Airtransportation,Aircraft,Aviationsafety,Incorporationbyreference,Safety.6AdoptionoftheAmendmentAccordingly,undertheauthoritydelegatedtomebytheAdministrat?r,theFAAamends14CFRpart39asfollows:PART39-AIRWORTHINESSDIRECTIVES1.Theauthoritycitationforpart3 9continuestoreadasfollows:Authority:49U.S.C.IQ6(g),40113,44701.§39.13[Amended]2.TheFAAamends§39.13byaddingthefollowingnewairworthinessdirective(AD):2016-xx-xxGeneralElectricCompany:Amendment39-18xxx;DocketNo.FAA-2015-4023;DirectorateIdentifier2015-NE-29-AD.(a)EffectiveDateThisADiseffective[INSERTDATE35DAYSAFTERDATEOFPUBLICATIONINTHEFEDERALREGISTER].(b)AffectedADsNone.(c)ApplicabilityThisADappliestoallGeneralElectricCompany(GE)CF6-80Elturbofanengineswithrotatingcompressordischargepressure(CDP)seals,partnumber(PIN)1669M73P02,installed.(d)UnsafeConditionThisADwaspromptedbyreportsfromthemanufacturerofcracksintheteethoftworotatingCDPsealsfoundduringengineshopvisits.WeareissuingthisADtopreventcrackingoftheCDPsealteeth,whichcanleadtouncontainedpartrelease,damagetotheengine,anddamagetotheairplane.7(e)Compliance(1)ComplywiththisADwithinthecompliancetimesspecified,unlessalreadydone.(2)Stripcoating,inspect,andrecoattheteethoftherotatingCDPseal,PIN1669M73P02.Useparagraph3.C.(2)ofGEServiceBulletin(SB)CF6-80ElSIB72-0529,Revision01,datedAugust21,2015todothestripcoating,inspecting,andrecoating,asfollows:(i)ForenginesthathavehadstationaryCDPseal,PIN1347M28G02,replacedorstationaryCDPsealhoneycombrepaired;stripcoating,inspect,andrecoattheteethoftherotatingCDPsealatthenextengineshopvisit.(ii)ForenginesthathavenothadstationaryCDPseal,PIN1347M28G02,replacedorstationaryCDPsealhoneycombrepaired;stripcoating,inspect,andrecoattheteethoftherotatingCDPsealatthenextpartexposureoftherotatingCDPseal.(f)InstallationProhibitionAftertheeffectivedateofthisAD,donotinstallanyrotatingCDPseal,PIN1669M73P02,thathasnothaditssealteethiecoatedusingproceduresspecifiedinESM72-31-10,REPAIR002ofGECF6-80El(GEK99376)EngineManual,Revision42,datedMarch15,2014,intoanyengine.(g)Definitions(1)ForthepurposeofthisAD,exposureoftherotatingCDPsealisdefinedasremovalofthecompressorrearframefromthehigh-pressurecompressor(HPC)module.(2)ForthepurposeofthisAD,anengineshopvisitisdefinedastheinductionofanengineintotheshopformaintenanceinvolvingtheseparationofanymajormatingengineflanges,exceptthattheseparationofengineflangessolelyforthefollowingpurposesisnotconsideredashopvisit:(i)Transportationwithoutsubsequentenginemaintenance.8(ii)Removingtheturbinerearframe(TRF)forrepairofTRFcracking.(iii)RemovingthetoporbottomHPCcase,orboth,forHPCairfoilmaintenance.(iv)Removingonlytheaccessorygearboxand/ortransfergearbox.(v)Replacingthehigh-pressureturbine(HPT)stage1bladesperCF6-80ElSB72-0504"Quick-TumWorkscopeProceduretoReplaceCF6-80ElStage1HPTBlades".(3)ForthepurposeofthisAD,astationaryCDPsealisreplacedifatanypreviousshopvisit,thesealhasbeenremovedandadifferentsealisinstalled.(h)CreditforPreviousActionYoumaytake creditfortheactionsthatarerequiredbyparagraph(e)ofthisADifthe actionswereperformedbeforetheeffectiVedateofthisADusingtheproceduresinESM72-31-10,REPAIR002oftheGECF6-80El(GEK99376)EngineManual,Revision42,datedMarch15,2014,orearlierversions.(i)AlternativeMethodsofCompliance(AMOCs)TheManager,Engine CertificationOffice,FAA,mayapproveAMOCstothisAD.Usetheproceduresfoundin14CFR39.19tomakeyourrequest.Youmayemailyourrequestto:ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov.G)RelatedInformation(1)FormoreinformationaboutthisAD,contactHermanMak,AerospaceEngineer,EngineCertificationOffice,FAA,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,1200DistrictAvenue,Burlington,MA01803;phone:781-238-7147;fax:781-238-7199;email:herman.mak@faa.gov.(k)MaterialIncorporatedbyReference(1)TheDirectoroftheFederalRegisterapprovedtheincorporationbyreference(IBR)oftheserviceinformationlistedinthisparagraphunder5U.S.C.552(a)and1CFRpart51.9(2)YoumustusethisserviceinformationasapplicabletodotheactionsrequiredbythisAD,unlesstheADspecifiesotherwise.(i)GeneralElectricCompanyServiceBulletinCF6-80ElS/B72-0529,Revision01,datedAugust21,2015.(ii)Reserved.(3)ForGEserviceinformationidentifiedinthisAD,contactGeneralElectricCompany,GEAviation,Room285,1NeumannWay,Cincinnati,01-145215;phone:513-552-3272;email:aviation.fleetsupport@ge.corn.(4)YoumayviewthisserviceinformationatFAA,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,1200DistrictAvenue,Burlington,MA.ForinformationontheavailabilityofthismaterialattheFAA,call781-238-7125.(5)YoumayviewthisserviceinformationattheNationalArchivesandRecordsAdministration(NARA).ForinformationontheavailabilityofthismaterialatNARA,call202-741-6030,orgoto:http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.htrnl.IssuedinBurlington,Massachusetts,onMarch16,2016.AnnC.Mollica,ActingManager,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,AircraftCertificationService.10