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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64293-64295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26823]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0946; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-02-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S. A. Model CFM56-5B 
Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This proposed AD would require removing from 
service certain serial number (S/N) fan blades, part number (P/N) 338-
002-114-0. This proposed AD was prompted by a normal quality sampling 
at CFM that isolated a production batch of fan blades with 
nonconforming geometry of mid-span shroud tips of the fan blades. This 
defect would cause the upper panel of the fan blade to be liberated 
following foreign object damage (FOD) or bird strike, and likely result 
in an inflight shutdown (IFSD). We are proposing this AD to prevent an 
IFSD of one or more engines following FOD or a bird strike.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 2, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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 CFM 
International, Inc., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D 
Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; International Phone: 1-513-552-3272; 
USA Phone: 877-432-3272; International Fax: 1-513-552-3329; USA Fax: 
877-432-3329; e-mail: 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; e-mail: snecma.csc@snecma.fr.

[[Page 64294]]

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: Carlos Fernandes, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7189; 
fax: 781-238-7199; e-mail: carlos.fernandes@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-2011-0946; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-02-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 a report that CFM International conducted a normal 
quality sampling on fan blades, P/N 338-002-114-0, from a supplier. 
That quality investigation isolated a production batch of 706 blades 
that did not conform to the engineering drawings for the fan blades. 
The supplier had performed a hand-polishing operation that reduced the 
contact surface on adjacent blades. The reduced surface contact will 
likely create greater contact forces on the adjacent blades during a 
FOD or bird strike event. The increased forces would cause the upper 
panel of the fan blade to be liberated following FOD or bird strike and 
likely result in an IFSD.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed CFM International Service Bulletin (SB) CFM56-5B S/B 
72-0777, Revision 1, dated April 11, 2011. The SB describes procedures 
for replacing the suspect fan blades and contains an appendix that 
lists suspect fan blades, P/N 338-002-114-0, by blade S/N and known 
engine S/N.

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 removing from service within 5,000 
flight hours (FHs) after the effective date of this proposed AD, any 
fan blade, P/N 338-002-114-0, that has an S/N listed in CFM 
International SB CFM56-5B S/B 72-0777, Revision 1, dated April 11, 
2011. After the effective date of this proposed AD, it would also 
prohibit installing any fan blade, P/N 338-002-114-0, that has an S/N 
listed in Appendix A of CFM International SB CFM56-5B S/B 72-0777, 
Revision 1, dated April 11, 2011.

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information

    CFM International SB CFM56-5B S/B 72-0777, Revision 1, dated April 
11, 2011, requires replacing suspect fan blades within 1,600 FHs on 
airplanes with suspected blades on both engines and within 5,000 FHs on 
airplanes with suspected blades on one engine. This proposed AD would 
require removing from service suspect blades on any engine within 5,000 
FHs based on risk analysis.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 16 engines installed 
on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take 
about 6 work-hours per engine to perform the required actions and that 
the average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $47,830 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total 
cost of this proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $773,440.

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 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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

CFM International S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2011-0946; Directorate 
Identifier 2011-NE-02-AD.

[[Page 64295]]

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by December 2, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to CFM International, S.A. CFM56-5B1/3, 
CFM56-5B2/3, CFM56-5B3/3, CFM56-5B4/3, CFM56-5B5/3, CFM56-5B6/3, 
CFM56-5B7/3, CFM56-5B8/3, CFM56-5B9/3, CFM56-5B3/3B1, and CFM56-5B4/
3B1 engines equipped with fan blades P/N 338-002-114-0 that have a 
serial number (S/N) listed in Appendix A of CFM International 
Service Bulletin (SB) CFM56-5B S/B 72-0777, Revision 1, dated April 
11, 2011.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a normal quality sampling at CFM 
that isolated a production batch of fan blades with nonconforming 
geometry of mid-span shroud tips of the fan blades. This defect 
would cause the upper panel of the fan blade to be liberated 
following foreign object damage (FOD) or a bird strike and likely 
result in an inflight shutdown (IFSD). We are proposing this AD to 
prevent an IFSD of one or more engines following FOD or a bird 
strike.

Compliance

    (e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

Remove Fan Blades From Service

    (f) For engines that have fan blades, P/N 338-002-114-0 with S/
Ns listed in Appendix A of CFM International SB CFM56-5B S/B 72-
0777, Revision 1, dated April 11, 2011, remove the fan blade from 
service within 5,000 flight hours after the effective date of this 
AD.

Installation Prohibition

    (g) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any fan 
blade, P/N 338-002-114-0 that has an S/N listed in Appendix A of CFM 
International SB CFM56-5B S/B 72-0777, Revision 1, dated April 11, 
2011, onto any engine.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (i) For more information about this AD, contact Carlos 
Fernandes, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7189; fax: 781-238-7199; e-
mail: carlos.fernandes@faa.gov.
    (j) For service information identified in this AD, contact CFM 
International, Inc., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D 
Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; International Phone: 1-513-552-3272; 
USA Phone: 877-432-3272; International Fax: 1-513-552-3329; USA Fax: 
877-432-3329; e-mail: 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; e-mail: snecma.csc@snecma.fr. You may review 
copies of the referenced 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on October 6, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-26823 Filed 10-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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