[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77677-77678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28384]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19928; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-27-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; CFM International (CFMI) CFM56-5, -5A, 
-5B, and -5C Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for CFM International (CFMI) CFM56-5, -5A, -5B, and -5C series turbofan 
engines. This proposed AD would require removing certain part number 
(P/N) air turbine starters from service. This proposed AD results from 
several reports of failures of uncontained air turbine starters where 
high-energy particles were not contained within the containment feature 
of the starter. We are proposing this AD to prevent uncontained 
failures of air turbine starters, which could result in damage to the 
airplane.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by February 28, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
    <bullet> DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    <bullet> Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-001.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Contact CFM International, Technical Information Operation, One 
Neumann Way, Cincinnati; OH 45215-1988 for the service information 
identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Rosa, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-
7152; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-19928; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-27-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of the 
DMS web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposal, any comments 
received, and any final disposition in person at the DMS Docket Offices 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is on the plaza 
level of the Department of Transportation Nassif Building at the street 
address stated in ADDRESSES. Comments will be available in the AD 
docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    The Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the 
airworthiness authority for France, notified us that an unsafe 
condition may exist on CFMI CFM56-5, -5A, -5B, and -5C series turbofan 
engines. The DGAC advises that several uncontained failures of certain 
P/N air turbine starters where high-energy particles were not contained 
within the containment feature of the starter have occurred. This 
proposed AD would require removing the affected air turbine starters 
from service. This condition, if not corrected, could result in 
uncontained failures of air turbine starters, which could result in 
damage to the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of:
    <bullet> CFMI Service Bulletin (SB) No. (CFM56-5) 80-0018, Revision 
1, dated November 26, 2003.
    <bullet> CFMI SB No. (CFM56-5) 80-0020, Revision 1, dated November 
26, 2003.
    <bullet> CFMI SB No. (CFM56-5B) 80-0011, Revision 1, dated November 
26, 2003.
    <bullet> CFMI SB No. (CFM56-5C) 80-0013, Revision 1, dated November 
26, 2003.
    These service bulletins describe procedures for removal of the air 
turbine starter. The DGAC classified these service bulletins as 
mandatory and issued airworthiness directive AD F-2003-456, Revision 2, 
dated September 29, 2004 in order to ensure the airworthiness of these 
CFMI CFM56-5, -5A, -5B, and -5C series turbofan engines in France.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Manufacturer's Service 
Information

    The manufacturer's service information requires compliance with the 
proposed requirements of this AD at the next shop visit of the engine 
or the next air turbine starter shop visit. This proposed AD only 
requires compliance at the next air turbine starter shop visit.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    These turbofan engines, manufactured in France, are type-
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. In keeping with this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC kept us informed of the 
situation described above. We have examined the DGAC's findings, 
reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action is 
necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States. We are proposing this AD, which would 
require removing certain P/N air turbine starters from service at the 
next turbine starter shop visit, but no later than December 31, 2009.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 3,579 CFMI CFM56-5, -5A, -5B, and -5C series 
turbofan engines of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. We 
estimate that this

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proposed AD would affect 600 air turbine starters installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 
work hour per engine to perform the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
about $5,000 per air turbine starter. Based on these figures, we 
estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be 
$3,039,000.

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 have 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 that the 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); and
    3. Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this proposal and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

CFM International (CFMI): Docket No. FAA-2004-19928; Directorate 
Identifier 2004-NE-27-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by February 28, 
2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to CFMI CFM56-5, -5A, -5B, and ``5C series 
turbofan engines with air turbine starters, part numbers (P/Ns) VIN 
3505582-24 (301-807-004-0), VIN 3505582-25 (301-807-005-0), VIN 
3505582-40 (301-781-203-0), VIN 3505582-41 (301-806-602-0), VIN 
3505582-42 (301-806-802-0), VIN 3505582-60 (301-790-903-0), VIN 
3505582-61 (301-806-702-0), and VIN 3505582-62 (301-806-902-0), 
installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, 
Airbus A319, A320, A321, and A340 airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from several reports of failures of 
uncontained air turbine starters where high-energy particles were 
not contained within the containment feature of the starter. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent uncontained failures of air turbine 
starters, which could result in damage to the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the 
actions have already been done.

Removing Air Turbine Starters

    (f) At the next air turbine starter shop visit, but no later 
than December 31, 2009, remove any air turbine starter, that has a 
P/N specified in this AD, from service.

Prohibition of Air Turbine Starters Not Reworked or Remarked

    (g) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any air 
turbine starters, that have a P/N specified in this AD, into any 
engine.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

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

Related Information

    (i) The following documents also pertain to the subject of this 
AD:
    (1) Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile (DGAC) AD F-2003-
456, Revision 2, dated September 29, 2004.
    (2) CFM International (CFMI) Service Bulletin (SB) No. (CFM56-5) 
80-0018, Revision 1, dated November 26, 2003.
    (3) CFMI SB No. (CFM56-5) 80-0020, Revision 1, dated November 
26, 2003.
    (4) CFMI SB No. (CFM56-5B) 80-0011, Revision 1, dated November 
26, 2003.
    (5) CFMI SB No. (CFM56-5C) 80-0013, Revision 1, dated November 
26, 2003.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 16, 2004.
Francis A. Favara,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 04-28384 Filed 12-27-04; 8:45 am]
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