30926 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 101 / Thursday, May 24, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2010–0217; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–NE–23–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & 

Whitney Division Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) 

that applies to all Pratt & Whitney 

Division (Pratt & Whitney) PW4052, 

PW4056, PW4060, PW4062, PW4062A, 

PW4074, PW4077, PW4077D, 

PW4084D, PW4090, PW4090–3, 

PW4152, PW4156A, PW4158, PW4164, 

PW4168, PW4168A, PW4460, and 

PW4462 turbofan engines. The existing 

AD currently requires initial and 

repetitive fluorescent penetrant 

inspections (FPI) for cracks in the blade 

locking and loading slots of the highpressure compressor (HPC) drum rotor 

disk assembly rear drum. Since we 

issued that AD, Pratt & Whitney has 

developed a redesigned HPC drum rotor 

disk assembly for certain affected engine 

models. This proposed AD would also 

require replacement of the 13th, 14th, 

and 15th stage HPC seals as an 

additional action and would add an 

optional terminating action to the 

repetitive inspection requirements by 

allowing replacement of the entire HPC 

drum rotor disk assembly. We are 

proposing this AD to prevent failure of 

the HPC drum rotor disk assembly, 

which could lead to an uncontained 

engine failure, and damage to the 

airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by July 23, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, 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 AD, contact Pratt & Whitney, 400 

Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108; 

phone: 860–565–7700; fax: 860–565– 

1605. You may review copies of the 

referenced service information at the 

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. 

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: 

James Gray, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 

& Propeller Directorate, FAA, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; phone: 781–238–7742; fax: 781– 

238–7199; email: james.e.gray@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2010–0217; Directorate Identifier 

2009–NE–23–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 

On August 26, 2010, we issued AD 

2010–18–13, Amendment 39–16427 (75 

FR 55459, September 13, 2010), for all 

Pratt & Whitney PW4052, PW4056, 

PW4060, PW4062, PW4062A, PW4074, 

PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084D, 

PW4090, PW4090–3, PW4152, 

PW4156A, PW4158, PW4164, PW4168, 

PW4168A, PW4460, and PW4462 

turbofan engines. That AD requires 

initial and repetitive FPI for cracks in 

the blade locking and loading slots of 

the HPC rear drum. That AD resulted 

from reports of cracked locking and 

loading slots in the HPC rear drum. We 

issued that AD to prevent failure of the 

HPC drum rotor disk assembly, which 

could lead to an uncontained engine 

failure, and damage to the airplane. 

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued 

Since we issued AD 2010–18–13 (75 

FR 55459, September 13, 2010), Pratt & 

Whitney has developed a redesigned 

HPC drum rotor disk assembly for 

PW4000–94′′ and PW4000–100′′ engine 

models. The redesign includes new 

13th, 14th, and 15th stage HPC seals 

that lower the temperature in the 

loading and locking slots and decrease 

the likelihood of cracking. Based on the 

risk analysis, it was determined that 

installing the redesigned 13th, 14th, and 

15th stage HPC seals on the original 

design HPC drum rotor disk assembly is 

an additional required action to 

maintain an acceptable level of safety 

and prevent cracking in the loading and 

locking slots while the redesigned HPC 

drum rotor disk assembly is being 

implemented. The option of installing a 

redesigned HPC drum rotor disk 

assembly is considered final corrective 

action to the repetitive inspections 

required by this AD. 

Relevant Service Information 

Prior to publishing AD 2010–18–13 

(75 FR 55459, September 13, 2010), we 

reviewed the technical contents of Pratt 

& Whitney Service Bulletin (SB) No. 

PW4ENG 72–796, dated June 11, 2009, 

SB No. PW4G–100–72–186, Revision 1, 

dated September 2, 2004, and SB No. 

PW4G–112–72–264, Revision 2, dated 

February 23, 2010. Those three SBs 

describe procedures for performing a 

local FPI of the HPC rear drum blade 

locking and loading slots for cracks. 

During the development of this 

proposed AD, we reviewed Pratt & 

Whitney SB No. PW4ENG 72–816, dated 

December 2, 2011, and SB No. PW4G– 

100–72–240, dated November 15, 2011. 

Those two SBs describe procedures for 

replacing the 13th, 14th, and 15th stage 

HPC seals in PW4000–94′′ and PW4000– 

100′′ engine models, with redesigned 

seals. We also reviewed Pratt & Whitney 

SB No. PW4ENG 72–817, dated 

December 7, 2011, and SB No. PW4G– 

100–72–241, dated November 15, 2011. 

Those two SBs describe procedures for 

replacing the HPC drum rotor disk 

assemblies in PW4000–94′′ and 

PW4000–100′′ engine models, with 

redesigned HPC drum rotor disk 

assemblies. 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 101 / Thursday, May 24, 2012 / Proposed Rules 30927 

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 retain all of 

the requirements of AD 2010–18–13 (75 

FR 55459, September 13, 2010). This 

proposed AD would also require 

replacement of the 13th, 14th, and 15th 

stage HPC seals with redesigned seals, 

and would add an optional terminating 

action to the repetitive inspection 

requirements by allowing replacement 

of the HPC drum rotor disk assembly 

with a redesigned HPC drum rotor disk 

assembly. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 911 engines installed on 

airplanes of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it would take about 1 

work-hour per engine to perform an 

inspection using an average labor rate of 

$85 per work-hour. We estimate that 

there are 770 PW4000–94′′ and 

PW4000–100′′ engines that would 

require replacement of 13th, 14th, and 

15th stage HPC seals, at a parts cost of 

$3,000 per engine. No additional labor 

is assumed when the replacement is 

done at piece-part exposure of the HPC 

drum rotor disk assembly. The 

replacement parts cost of the redesigned 

HPC drum rotor disk assembly is 

$630,000. Based on these figures, we 

estimate that the total cost of the 

proposed AD to U.S. operators will be 

$2,387,435. 

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), 

(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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by 

removing airworthiness directive (AD) 

2010–18–13, Amendment 39–16427 (75 

FR 55459, September 13, 2010), and 

adding the following new AD: 

Pratt & Whitney Division: Docket No. FAA– 

2010–0217; Directorate Identifier 2009– 

NE–23–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

AD action by July 23, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD supersedes AD 2010–18–13, 

Amendment 39–16427 (75 FR 55459, 

September 13, 2010). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the following Pratt & 

Whitney Division (Pratt & Whitney) turbofan 

engines: 

(1) PW4000–94′′ engine models PW4052, 

PW4056, PW4060, PW4062, PW4062A, 

PW4152, PW4156A, PW4158, PW4460, and 

PW4462, including those models with any 

dash number suffix, with a high-pressure 

compressor (HPC) drum rotor disk assembly 

listed in Table 1 of this AD. 

(2) PW4000–100′′ engine models PW4164, 

PW4168, and PW4168A, with a HPC drum 

rotor disk assembly listed in Table 1 of this 

AD. 

(3) PW4000–112′′ engine models PW4074, 

PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and 

PW4090–3, with a HPC drum rotor disk 

assembly listed in Table 1 of this AD. 

TABLE 1—AFFECTED HPC DRUM ROTOR DISK ASSEMBLIES

Engine models Affected HPC drum rotor disk assembly part numbers 

PW4000–94′′ ........................................ 50H936; 50H936–002; 53H923–01; 53H923–001; 53H973–01; 53H973–001; 54H803–01; 54H803–001; 

54H803–002; 56H013–01; 56H013–001; 58H236–01. 

PW4000–100′′ ...................................... 53H973–01; 53H973–001; 54H803–01; 54H803–001; 54H803–002; 56H013–01; 56H013–001; 

58H236–01. 

PW4000–112′′ ...................................... 55H722–01; 55H410–01; 57H010–01; 57H210–01; 57H610–01; 57H910–01. 

(d) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by Pratt & Whitney 

developing a redesigned HPC drum rotor disk 

assembly for certain affected engine models. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 

the HPC drum rotor disk assembly, which 

could lead to an uncontained engine failure, 

and damage to the airplane. 

(e) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(f) Local Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection 

(1) Perform a local fluorescent penetrant 

inspection for cracks in the HPC drum rotor 

disk assembly rear drum blade locking and 

loading slots of the specific stages of the HPC 

drum rotor disk assemblies from which any 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
30928 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 101 / Thursday, May 24, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

of the blades are removed as specified in 

Table 2 of this AD. 

TABLE 2—COMPLIANCE TIMES AND SERVICE BULLETINS BY ENGINE MODEL

For engine model Inspect whenever— To inspect, use— 

PW4074, PW4077, PW4077D, 

PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090–3.

Any of the HPC 13thor 14thstage 

blades are removed during a shop 

visit.

Paragraphs 1.A. through 1.B. of the Accomplishment Instructions of PW4G–112–72–264, Revision 2, dated February 23, 2010. 

PW4164, PW4168, and PW4168A .......... Any of the HPC 13th, 14th, or 15th 

stage blades are removed during a 

shop visit.

Paragraphs 1.A. through 1.C of the Accomplishment Instructions of PW4G–100–72–186, Revision 1, dated 

September 2, 2004. 

PW4052, PW4056, PW4060, PW4062, 

PW4062A, PW4152, PW4156A, 

PW4158, PW4460, and PW4462.

Any of the HPC 13th, 14th, or 15th 

stage blades are removed during a 

shop visit.

Paragraphs 1.A. through 1.C. of the Accomplishment Instructions of PW4ENG 72–796, dated June 11, 2009. 

(2) Remove from service any HPC drum 

rotor disk assembly rear drum found with a 

crack in any of the blade loading and locking 

slots. 

(g) Replacement of 13th, 14th, and 15th HPC 

Seals 

At the next piece-part exposure of the HPC 

drum rotor disk assembly after the effective 

date of this AD: 

(1) Replace the 13th, 14th, and 15th stage 

HPC seals of engines listed in paragraph 

(c)(1) of this AD in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Pratt & 

Whitney Service Bulletin (SB) No. PW4ENG 

72–816, dated December 2, 2011. 

(2) Replace the 13th, 14th, and 15th stage 

HPC seals of engines listed in paragraph 

(c)(2) of this AD in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Pratt & 

Whitney SB No. PW4G–100–72–240, dated 

November 15, 2011. 

(h) Optional Terminating Action 

As optional terminating action to the 

repetitive inspection requirements of this 

AD: 

(1) Replace the HPC drum rotor disk 

assembly of engines listed in paragraph (c)(1) 

of this AD with a redesigned HPC drum rotor 

disk assembly in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Pratt & 

Whitney SB No. PW4ENG 72–817, dated 

December 7, 2011. 

(2) Replace the HPC drum rotor disk 

assembly of engines listed in paragraph (c)(2) 

of this AD with a redesigned HPC drum rotor 

disk assembly in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Pratt & 

Whitney SB No. PW4G–100–72–241, dated 

November 15, 2011. 

(i) Definition 

For the purpose of this AD, piece-part 

exposure means that the HPC drum rotor disk 

assembly is removed from the engine and 

completely disassembled. 

(j) 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. AMOCs approved previously in 

accordance with AD 2010–18–13, 

Amendment 39–16427 (75 FR 55459, 

September 13, 2010) are approved as AMOCs 

for the corresponding requirements in 

paragraph (f) of this AD. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact James Gray, Aerospace Engineer, 

Engine & Propeller Directorate, FAA, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; phone: 781–238–7742; fax: 781–238– 

7199; email: james.e.gray@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main 

St., East Hartford, CT 06108; phone: 860– 

565–7700; fax: 860–565–1605. You may 

review copies of the referenced service 

information at the 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. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

May 16, 2012. 

Peter A. White, 

Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–12414 Filed 5–23–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Employee Benefits Security 

Administration 

29 CFR Part 2550 

RIN 1210–AB38 

Target Date Disclosure 

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security 

Administration, Labor. 

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of 

comment period. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor’s 

Employee Benefits Security 

Administration is reopening the period 

for public comment on proposed 

regulatory amendments relating to 

enhanced disclosure concerning target 

date or similar investments, originally 

proposed in a previously published 

document in the Federal Register. 

DATES: Written comments on the 

proposed regulation should be received 

by the Department of Labor no later than 

July 9, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be 

submitted to the addresses specified 

below. All comments will be made 

available to the public. Warning: Do not 

include any personally identifiable 

information (such as name, address, or 

other contact information) or 

confidential business information that 

you do not want publicly disclosed. All 

comments may be posted on the Internet 

and can be retrieved by most Internet 

search engines. Comments may be 

submitted anonymously. Persons 

submitting comments electronically are 

encouraged not to submit paper copies. 

Comments identified by RIN 1210– 

AB38 may be submitted by one of the 

following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Email: e-ORI@dol.gov. 

• Mail or Hand Delivery: Office of 

Regulations and Interpretations, 

Employee Benefits Security 

Administration, Room N–5655, U.S. 

Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 

Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210, 

Attention: RIN 1210–AB38; Target Date 

Disclosure. Comments received by the 

Department of Labor may be posted 

without change to http:// 

www.regulations.gov and http:// 

www.dol.gov/ebsa, and will be made 

available for public inspection at the 

Public Disclosure Room, N–1513, 

Employee Benefits Security 

Administration, 200 Constitution 

Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kristen Zarenko, Office of Regulations 

and Interpretations, Employee Benefits 

Security Administration, (202) 693– 

8500. This is not a toll-free number. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Employee Benefits Security 

Administration of the Department of 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS