[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 19, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2864-2865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1193]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-ANE-47-AD; Amendment 39-11511; AD 2000-01-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney JT9D Series Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY:  Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:  Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), applicable to certain Pratt & Whitney JT9D series turbofan 
engines, that currently requires revisions to the Airworthiness 
Limitations Section (ALS) of the manufacturer's Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to include required enhanced inspection 
of selected critical life-limited parts at each piece-part exposure. 
This action adds additional critical life-limited parts for enhanced 
inspection. This amendment is prompted by additional focused inspection 
procedures for other critical life-limited rotating engine parts that 
have been developed by the manufacturer. The actions specified by this 
AD are intended to prevent critical life-limited rotating engine part 
failure, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage 
to the airplane.

DATES:  Effective February 23, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  The information referenced in this AD may be examined at 
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office 
of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Wego Wang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-
7134, fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) by superseding (AD) 99-08-12, 
Amendment 39-11118 (64 FR 17954, April 13, 1999), that is applicable to 
Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D series turbofan engine was published in the 
Federal Register on August 16, 1999 (64 FR 44446). That action proposed 
to require revisions to the Time Limits section in the Engine Manual 
(EM) for certain Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D series turbofan engines to 
include required enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited 
parts at each piece-part exposure.
    Since the issuance of that AD, additional focused inspection 
procedures for other critical life-limited rotating engine parts have 
been developed by PW.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the two comments received.
    Both commenters suggest having the same format for the two tables 
in the AD. One also suggests using the term ``all'' rather than 
individual part numbers to simplify recordkeeping tasks for the 
operators. The FAA concurs with their suggestions, and has combined the 
two tables into one and substituted the word ``all'' rather than using 
specific part numbers. .
    No comments were received on the economic analysis contained in the 
proposed rules. Based on that analysis, the FAA has determined that the 
annual per engine cost of $60 does not create a significant economic 
impact on small entities.
    After careful review of the available data, including the comments 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the changes described 
previously. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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); and (3) 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
``ADDRESSES.''

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Amendment 39-11118 (63 FR 
40220, April 13, 1999), and by adding a new airworthiness directive, to 
read as follows:

AD 2000-01-13 Pratt & Whitney: Amendment 39-11511 Docket No. 98-ANE-
47-AD. Supersedes AD 99-08-12, Amendment 39-11118.

Applicability:

    Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-7, -7A, -7H, -7AH, -7F, -7J, -20, -
20J, -59A, -70A, -7Q, -7Q3, -7R4D, -7R4D1, -7R4E, -7R4E1, -7R4E4, -
7R4G2, and -7R4H1 series turbofan engines, installed on but not 
limited to Boeing 747 and 767 series, McDonnell Douglas DC-10 
series, and Airbus Industrie A300 and A310 airplanes.


    Note 1: This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to each engine 
identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of 
whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area 
subject to the requirements of this AD. For engines that have been 
modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the 
requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request 
approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with 
paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment 
of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the 
unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition 
has not been eliminated, the request should include specific 
proposed actions to address it.


    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously. 
For all the fan hubs and HPT disks listed in the following tables, the 
focused inspections should shall be conducted per the applicable 
documents.
    To prevent critical life-limited rotating engine part failure, 
which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the 
airplane, accomplish the following:

[[Page 2865]]

    (a) Within the next 35 days after the effective date of this AD, 
revise the Engine Time Limits Section (TLS) of the Engine Manual (EM), 
JT9D Part Numbers 646028, 754459, 770407, 770408, 777210, 785058, 
785059, 789328, as indicated below, and for air carrier operations 
revise as appropriate the approved continuous airworthiness maintenance 
program, by adding the following: ``MANDATORY INSPECTIONS''
    (1) Perform inspections of the following parts at each piece-part 
opportunity in accordance with the instructions provided in the 
applicable manual provisions:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Part                                   FPI per
          Engine mode           --------------------   Engine Manual Part       Manual          Inspection
                                    Nomenclature             Number            Section
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7/7A/7AH/7F, 7H/7J/20/20J......  All Fan Hubs......  646028 (or the             72-31-04  02
                                                      equivalent customized
                                                      versions, 770407 and
                                                      770408).
7/7A/7AH/7F, 7H/7J/20J.........  All HPT 1st Disks.  646028 (or the             72-51-02  01
                                                      equivalent customized
                                                      versions, 770407 and
                                                      770408).
7/7A/7AH/7F, 7H/7J/20J.........  All HPT 2nd Disks.  646028 (or the             72-51-02  03
                                                      equivalent customized
                                                      versions, 770407 and
                                                      770408).
59A/70A........................  All fan hubs......  754459................     72-31-00  Heavy maintenance
                                                                                           check
59A/70A........................  All HPT 1st disks.  754459................     72-51-02  Heavy maintenance
                                                                                           check
59A/70A........................  All HPT 2nd disks.  754459................     72-51-02  Heavy maintenance
                                                                                           check
7Q/7Q3.........................  All fan hubs......  777210................     72-31-00  03
7Q/7Q3.........................  All HPT 1st disks.  777210................     72-31-06  01
7Q/7Q3.........................  All HPT 2nd disks.  777210................     72-31-07  01
7R4............................  All fan hubs......  785058, 785059 and         72-31-02  03
                                                      789328.
7R4............................  All HPT 1st disks.  785058, 785059 and         72-51-01  01
                                                      789328.
7R4............................  All HPT 2nd disks.  785058, 785059 and         72-51-01  01
                                                      789328.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) For the purposes of these mandatory inspections, piece-part 
opportunity means:
    (i) The part is considered completely disassembled when done in 
accordance with the disassembly instructions in the manufacturer's 
engine manual; and
    (ii) The part has accumulated more than 100 cycles in service since 
the last piece-part opportunity inspection, provided that the part was 
not damaged or related to the cause for its removal from the engine.''
    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this AD, and 
notwithstanding contrary provisions in section 43.16 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.16), these mandatory inspections shall 
be performed only in accordance with the ALS of the manufacturer's ICA.
    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used 
if approved by the Engine Certification Office (ECO). Operators shall 
submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance 
Inspector (PMI), who may add comments and then send it to the ECO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive, 
if any, may be obtained from the ECO.

    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the 
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (e) FAA-certificated air carriers that have an approved continuous 
airworthiness maintenance program in accordance with the record keeping 
requirement of Sec. 121.369(c) of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 121.369(c)) must maintain records of the mandatory inspections that 
result from revising the Time Limits Section of the Instructions for 
Continuous Airworthiness (ICA) and the air carrier's continuous 
airworthiness program. Alternately, certificated air carriers may 
establish an approved system of record retention that provides a method 
for preservation and retrieval of the maintenance records that include 
the inspections resulting from this AD, and include the policy and 
procedures for implementing this alternate method in the air carrier's 
maintenance manual required by Sec. 121.369(c) of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR 121.369(c)); however, the alternate system must be 
accepted by the appropriate PMI and require the maintenance records be 
maintained either indefinitely or until the work is repeated. Records 
of the piece-part inspections are not required under 
Sec. 121.380(a)(2)(vi) of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
121.380(a)(2)(vi)). All other Operators must maintain the records of 
mandatory inspections required by the applicable regulations governing 
their operations.

    Note 3: The requirements of this AD have been met when the 
engine manual changes are made and air carriers have modified their 
continuous airworthiness maintenance plans to reflect the 
requirements in the Engine Manuals.

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on February 23, 2000.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 6, 2000.
Mark C. Fulmer,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-1193 Filed 1-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P