[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77570-77572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31172]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-1151; Directorate Identifier 95-ANE-10-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company CF6 Series 
Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness 
directive (AD) for General Electric (GE) CF6-45/-50 series and CF6-80A 
series turbofan engines with certain part number (P/N) side links of 
the five-link forward mount assembly installed. That AD currently 
requires an initial and repetitive visual inspection of the side links 
for cracks, and stripping and reapplying the Sermetel W coating on the 
side link at every exposure of the side link. That AD also requires 
replacing the side links and pylon attachment bolts, and inspecting the 
fail-safe bolt and platform lug if the side links are cracked. This 
proposed AD would continue to require those same inspections and 
stripping and reapplying the Sermetel W coating, and would add two part 
numbers to the applicability. This proposed AD results from a review of 
the inspection program, which revealed that GE had omitted two affected 
part numbers from the applicability. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent failure of the side links and possible engine separation from 
the airplane.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by February 11, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD.
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: 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, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tomasz Rakowski, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-
7735; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-1151; Directorate 
Identifier 95-ANE-10-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://www.regulations.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 Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any 
of our dockets, including, if provided, 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).

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
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 Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
the same as the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

[[Page 77571]]

Discussion

    The FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 by superseding AD 2006-12-
24, Amendment 39-14650 (71 FR 34807, June 16, 2006). That AD requires 
inspecting and stripping and reapplying the Sermetel W coating on the 
side links every time one or more of the bolts attaching the side link 
to the fan frame--front high-pressure compressor case or the bolt 
attaching the side link to the mount platform are removed. That AD 
resulted from a report of a cracked side link found during a routine 
inspection at a shop visit in 2006. That condition, if not corrected, 
could result in failure of the side links and possible engine 
separation from the airplane.

Actions Since AD 2006-12-24 Was Issued

    Since that AD was issued, GE performed an evaluation of the 
inspection program and determined that they had omitted the P/Ns for 
two side links that could be installed on CF6-45/-50 series and CF6-80A 
series engines. GE introduced those P/N side links in 2000. The age of 
those side links means that they might have experienced only two shop 
visits (the average time between shop visits is about four years) since 
they were put into service. Also, about 50 percent of the new side 
links are spare parts and they might not be installed on any engines in 
service yet. Because of those conditions, we haven't received any 
reports of cracks in the new P/N links. However, due to the similarity 
in design between these additional parts and the parts that are listed 
in AD 2006-12-24, the same unsafe condition could exist or develop on 
the additional side links. Because there is no requirement to inspect 
or strip and reapply the Sermetel W coating on these additional part 
numbers in AD 2006-12-24, they might not have been inspected for 
cracks, which could lead to part failure. This proposed AD would add 
left-hand side link, P/N 9346M99P03, and right-hand side link, P/N 
9346M99P04, to the applicability. We have also updated the 
applicability section to list the affected engine models in the same 
way they are listed on their Type Certificate Data Sheets.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of GE Service 
Bulletins CF6-50 S/B 72-1255, Revision 1, dated June 17, 2009, and CF6-
80A S/B 72-0797, Revision 1, dated June 17, 2009, that describe 
procedures for inspecting and stripping and reapplying the Sermetel W 
coating on the side links.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products 
of this same type design. For that reason, we are proposing this AD, 
which would require inspecting and stripping and reapplying the 
Sermetel W coating on the side links at each exposure of the side link. 
The proposed AD would require that you do these actions using the 
service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 194 engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would 
take about 8 work-hours per engine to perform the proposed actions, and 
that the average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. We estimate the parts 
cost to be negligible because only a small percentage of parts will 
actually require replacement as a result of this proposed AD. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. 
operators to be $131,920 per year.

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 AD:
    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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the 
Federal Aviation Administration 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 removing Amendment 39-14650 (71 FR 
34807, June 16, 2006), and by adding a new airworthiness directive to 
read as follows:

General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA-2010-1151; Directorate 
Identifier 95-ANE-10-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by February 11, 
2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2006-12-24, Amendment 39-14650.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to General Electric (GE) CF6-45A, CF6-45A2, 
CF6-50A, CF6-50C, CF6-50CA, CF6-50C1, CF6-50C2, CF6-50C2B, CF6-
50C2D, CF6-50E, CF6-50E1, CF6-50E2, CF6-50E2B, CF6-80A, CF6-80A1, 
CF6-80A2, and CF6-80A3 turbofan engines with left-hand side links 
part numbers (P/Ns) 9204M94P01, 9204M94P03, 9346M99P01, and 
9346M99P03, and right-hand side links, P/Ns 9204M94P02, 9204M94P04, 
9346M99P02, and 9346M99P04, installed on the five-link forward 
engine mount assembly (also known

[[Page 77572]]

as Configuration 2). These engines are installed on, but not limited 
to, Boeing DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A, KDC-10), 767, and 747 series 
airplanes and Airbus A300 and A310 series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a review of the inspection program, 
which revealed that GE had omitted two affected part numbers from 
the applicability. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
side links and possible engine separation from the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed at every exposure of the side link.

Inspecting and Stripping and Reapplying the Sermetel W Coating on the 
Side Links

    (f) Inspect and strip and reapply the Sermetel W coating on each 
side link at every exposure of the side links. Use the following GE 
service bulletins (SBs):
    (1) For CF6-45/-50 series engines, use paragraphs 3.A. through 
3.E. of the Accomplishment Instructions of CF6-50 S/B 72-1255, 
Revision 1, dated June 17, 2009.
    (2) For CF6-80A series engines, use paragraphs 3.A. through 3.E. 
of the Accomplishment Instructions of CF6-80A S/B 72-0797, Revision 
1, dated June 17, 2009.

Definition of Exposure of Side Link

    (g) A side link is exposed when one or more bolts that attach 
the side links to the fan frame-front high-pressure compressor case 
are removed, or when the bolt attaching the side link to the mount 
platform is removed.

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) Contact Tomasz Rakowski, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-
7735; fax (781) 238-7199, for more information about this AD.
    (j) General Electric SBs CF6-50 S/B 72-1255, Revision 1, dated 
June 17, 2009, and CF6-80A S/B 72-0797, Revision 1, dated June 17, 
2009, pertain to the subject of this AD. Contact General Electric 
Aviation Operations Center (AOC), telephone (877) 432-3272; fax 
(877) 432-3329; or go to: https://customer.geae.com, for a copy of 
this service information.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 17, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-31172 Filed 12-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P