(Docket No. F AA-2015-3713; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-23-AD; Amendment 

39-18425; AD 2016-05-07] 

R1N 2120-AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Engine Alliance Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Engine 

Alliance (EA) GP7270 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by reports of the 

installation of non-conforming honeycomb cartridges in the high-pressure compressor 

(HPC) adjacent to the HPC rotor stage 2 to 5 spool and stage 7 to 9 spool. This AD 

requires removal and replacement of the affected HPC rotor stage 2 to 5 and stage 7 to 9 

spools and adjacent honeycomb cartridges. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 

the HPC rotor stage 2 to 5 and stage 7 to 9 spools, which could lead to Wlcontained 

engine failure and damage to the airplane. 

DATES: This AD is effective [INSERT DATE 35 DAYS AFTER DATE OF 

PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. 

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Engine Alliance, 

400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108, MIS 169-10, phone: 800-565-0140; email: 

help24@pw.utc.com; website: www.engineallianceportal.com. You may view this 

service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, 

Burlington, MA. For infonnation on the availability ofthis material at the FAA, call 781-

238-7125. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 

for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-3713. 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 

800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 

Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kyle Gustafson, Aerospace Engineer, 

Engine & Propeller Directorate, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 

phone: 781-238-7183; fax: 781-238-7199; email: kyle.gustafson@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by 

adding an AD that would apply to certain EA GP7270 turbofan engines. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on October 23,2015 (80 FR 64373). The NPRM was 

prompted by reports of the installation of non-conforming honeycomb cartridges in the 

1-IPC adjacent to the 1-IPC rotor stage 2 to 5 spool and stage 7 to 9 spool. The NPRM 

proposed to require removal and replacement of the affected 1-IPC rotor stage 2 to 5 and 

stage 7 to 9 spools and adjacent honeycomb cartridges. We are issuing this AD to correct 

the unsafe condition on these products. 

Related Service Information under 1 CFR part 51 

We reviewed EA Service Bulletin (SB) No. EAGP7-72-327, dated July 21, 2015; 

and SB No. EAGP7-72-328, dated July 21,2015. The SBs describe procedures for 

removal and replacement of the affected HPC rotor stage 2 to 5 spools and 1-IPC rotor 

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We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to each 

comment. 

Support for the NPRM (80 FR 64373, October 23, 2015) 

A commenter supports the NPRM (80 FR 64373, October 23, 2015). 

Request to Change Applicability 

EA requested that we expand the applicability to include GP7272 and GP7277 

turbofan engines models. EA stated that the AD applies to GP7272 and GP7277 turbofan 

engines ratings in addition to GP7270. 

We disagree. No GP7272 or GP7277 turbofan engines have been delivered. New 

engines would be delivered in the corrected configuration and would not be impacted by 

this AD. We did not change this AD. 

Request to Change the Unsafe Condition Statement 

EA requested that we change the unsafe condition statement to "We are issuing 

this AD to prevent a hazardous engine condition." because no engine failures have 

occurred in the field due to non-conforming honeycomb cartridges. 

We disagree. The unsafe condition describes the condition we are trying to 

prevent and is the justification for this AD. It does not describe what has occurred in the 

past. We did not change this AD. 

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We agree because the proposed change more completely describes the 

requirements of this AD. We changed the Summary and Relevant Service Information 

paragraphs of this AD. 

Request to Change the Relevant Service Information, Applicability, and 

Compliance Paragraphs 

EA requested that we revise the Relevant Service Information, Applicability, and 

Compliance paragraphs of this AD to allow future revisions of the applicable Service 

Bulletins (SBs). 

We disagree. We are only authorized to mandate use of SBs that we have 

reviewed and which are published. Since future revisions of SBs are not yet published, 

we are not authorized to mandate their use. We did not change this AD. 

Request to Change the Compliance Paragraph 

EA requested that we revise Compliance paragraph (e)(l )(ii) of this AD to 

"Remove and replace the honeycomb cartridges on the HPC stage 5 vanes with a part 

eligible for installation." 

EA also requested that we revise Compliance paragraph (e)(2)(ii) to "Remove and 

replace the honeycomb cartridges on the HPC stage 6, stage 7, and stage 8 vanes with a 

part eligible for installation." 

We agree. We changed "remove" to "remove from service" and "seal" to 

"cartridges" and added" ... with a part eligible for installation" in compliance paragraphs 

(e)(l)(ii) and (e)(2)(ii) of this AD. 

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• Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 

64373) for correcting the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 64373). 

We also determined that these changes will not increase the economic burden on 

any operator or increase the scope of this AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects zero engines installed on airplanes of U.S. 

registry. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the 

cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be $0. 

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 tmder 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. 

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among the various levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD: 

(1) Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Is not a "significant rule" under 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 nwnber of small entities tmder the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

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

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, tmder the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA 

amends 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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends§ 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive 

(AD): 

2016-05-07 Engine Alliance: Amendment 39-18425; Docket No. FAA-2015-3713; 

Directorate Identifier 

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None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Engine Alliance (EA) GP7270 turbofan engines with one or 

both of the following installed: 

(1) A high-pressure compressor (HPC) rotor stage 2 to 5 spool, part number (PIN) 

382-104-807-0, with a serial number (SIN) listed in EA Service Bulletin (SB) No. 

EAGP7-72-327, dated July 21, 2015; or 

(2) An HPC rotor stage 7 to 9 spool, PIN 2031M90G04, 203!M90G05, or 

2031M90G07, with an SIN listed in EA SB No. EAGP7-72-328, dated July 21,2015. 

(d) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of the installation ofnon-confom1ing 

honeycomb cartridges in the HPC adjacent to the HPC rotor stage 2 to 5 spool and stage 

7 to 9 spool. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPC rotor stage 2 to 5 

spools and stage 7 to 9 spools, which could lead to uncontained engine failure and 

damage to the airplane. 

(e) Compliance 

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

Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD or before accumulating 2,100 engine 

cycles since the last disassembly of the compressor module of the engine, whichever 

occurs later: 

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eligible for installation. 

(ii) Remove from service the honeycomb cartridges on the HPC stage 5 vanes and 

replace with parts eligible for installation. 

(2) For engines with an HPC rotor stage 7 to 9 spool, PIN 2031M90G04, 

2031M90G05, or 2031M90G07 installed with an SIN listed in EA SB No. EAGP7-72-

328, dated July 21, 2015, do the following: 

(i) Remove from service the HPC rotor stage 7 to 9 spool and replace with a part 

eligible for installation. 

(ii) Remove from service the honeycomb cartridges on the HPC stage 6, stage 7, 

and stage 8 vanes and replace with parts eligible for installation. 

(I) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) 

The Manager, Engine Certification Office, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Use 

the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your request. You may email your request 

to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(g) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, contact Kyle Gustafson, Aerospace 

Engineer, Engine & Propeller Directorate, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 

0 1803; phone: 781-238-7183; fax: 781-238-7199; email: kyle.gustafson@faa.gov. 

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part5l. 

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(ii) Reserved. (3) For Engine Alliance service information identified in this AD, contact Engine 

Alliance, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108, MIS 169-10, phone: 800-565-0140; 

email: help24@pw.utc.com; website: www.engineallianceportal.com. 

( 4) You may view this service information at 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. 

(5) You may view this service information at the National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, 

call202-741-6030, or go to: http://vvww.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 26, 2016 

Colleen M. D' Alessandro, 

Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

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