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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 116 (Wednesday, June 17, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34560-34562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14695]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-1658; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-18-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

[[Page 34561]]

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-1B turbofan engine models. This 
proposed AD was prompted by reports of GEnx-1B engine oil loss. This 
proposed AD would require removal and replacement of the non-conforming 
ball valve in the oil filler cap. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
loss of engine oil, which could lead to failure of one or more engines, 
loss of thrust control, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 17, 2015.

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 proposed AD, contact 
General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, 
Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: geae.aoc@ge.com. You 
may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
1658; 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: Christopher McGuire, Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7120; fax: 781-238-7199; email: chris.mcguire@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2015-1658; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-18-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

    We propose to adopt a new AD for all GE GEnx-1B turbofan engine 
models. This proposed AD was prompted by multiple reports of engine oil 
loss and resultant flight plan diversions. The root cause of the engine 
oil loss is a non-conforming ball valve in the secondary seal of the 
oil filler cap. The non-conforming ball valve may prevent correct 
sealing and lead to oil leakage. This proposed AD would require removal 
and replacement of the non-conforming ball valve in the oil filler cap. 
This condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of engine oil, 
which could lead to failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust 
control, and damage to the airplane.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed GE GEnx-1B Service Bulletin (SB) No. 79-0022, Revision 
1, dated May 13, 2015. The SB describes procedures for removing and 
replacing the ball valve in the oil filler cap.

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 require removal and replacement of the non-
conforming ball valve in the oil filler cap.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 86 engines installed 
on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 
1 hour per engine to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor 
rate is $85 per hour. We estimate that replacement parts would cost $11 
per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the 
proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $8,256.

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 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 this 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 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 number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

[[Page 34562]]

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

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA-2015-1658; Directorate 
Identifier 2015-NE-18-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 17, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-1B 
model turbofan engines with oil filler cap, part number (P/N) 
2349M62G01, installed, that does not contain any of the following 
markings after the P/N on the oil filler cap: ``P/M BALL PP'', or 
``RW'', or ``79-0022''.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of GEnx-1B engine oil loss. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent loss of engine oil, which could lead 
to failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and 
damage to the airplane.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Within 360 cycles in service after the effective date of 
this AD, remove the ball valve, P/N 2349M68P01, from affected oil 
filler cap and replace with a part eligible for installation.
    (2) Reserved.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
to 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

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Christopher 
McGuire, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7120; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
chris.mcguire@faa.gov.
    (2) GE GEnx-1B SB No. 79-0022, Revision 1, dated May 13, 2015 
can be obtained from GE using the contact information in paragraph 
(g)(3) of this proposed AD.
    (3) For service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann 
Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: 
geae.aoc@ge.com.
    (4) You may view this 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 June 4, 2015.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-14695 Filed 6-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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