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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11140-11141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04059]

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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 40 / Monday, March 2, 2015 / Proposed 
Rules

[[Page 11140]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-1127; Directorate Identifier 2014-NE-16-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT8D-217C and JT8D-219 turbofan engines. This 
proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the low-pressure 
turbine (LPT) shaft. This proposed AD establishes a new lower life 
limit for these parts and would require removing affected LPT shafts 
from service using a drawdown plan. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
failure of the LPT shaft, which could lead to an uncontained engine 
failure and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 1, 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 
Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108; phone: 860-565-
8770; fax: 860-565-4503. 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.

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-2014-
1127; 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: Jo-Ann Theriault, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7105; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: jo-ann.theriault@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this NPRM. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2014-1127; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-NE-16-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM 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 NPRM.

Discussion

    We received reports of two LPT shafts with in-shop findings of 
fatigue cracks on the No. 4.5 bearing thread undercut adjacent to oil 
feed holes. The cracks were discovered during routine fluorescent 
penetrant inspections. Both shafts had oil feed hole enlargement rework 
accomplished. The root cause is increased stress on the fillet of the 
thread undercut region in front of the oil feed holes caused by oil 
feed hole rework. The increased stress reduces the low cycle fatigue 
life of the shaft. This condition, if not corrected, could result in 
failure of the LPT shaft, which could lead to an uncontained engine 
failure and damage to the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed PW Service Bulletin (SB) No. JT8D 6504, dated November 
5, 2014. The SB contains additional information regarding removal of 
the LPT shaft. This service information is reasonably available; see 
ADDRESSES for ways to access this service information.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this NPRM 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 NPRM would require removing affected LPT shafts from service.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 744 engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. The average labor rate is $85 
per hour. We estimate the pro-rated replacement cost would be $28,230. 
We also estimate that shaft replacement would be accomplished during an 
engine shop visit at no additional labor cost. Based on these figures, 
we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be 
$21,003,120.

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

[[Page 11141]]

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.

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):

Pratt & Whitney: Docket No. FAA-2014-1127; Directorate Identifier 
2014-NE-16-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by May 1, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT8D-217C and JT8D-
219 turbofan engines with low-pressure turbine (LPT) shaft part 
numbers 783319, 783319-001, 783319-003, 783319-004, 783320, 783320-
001, 783320-003, 783320-004, 820514-001, 820514-003, 820514-004, or 
820514-005, installed.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the LPT shaft. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LPT shaft, 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.
    For engines with an LPT shaft part number listed in paragraph 
(c) of this AD:
    (1) If the LPT shaft has 15,000 or fewer cycles since new (CSN) 
on the effective date of this AD, remove it from service before it 
accumulates 20,000 CSN.
    (2) If the LPT shaft has more than 15,000 CSN on the effective 
date of this AD, remove it from service before it accumulates 5,000 
additional cycles in service, or at the next piece-part exposure 
after accumulating 20,000 CSN, whichever occurs first.
    (3) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any LPT 
shaft listed in paragraph (c) of this AD that is at piece-part 
exposure and exceeds the new life limit of 20,000 CSN, into any 
engine.

(f) Definitions

    For the purpose of this AD, piece-part exposure is when the LPT 
shaft is completely disassembled from the engine.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 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.

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Jo-Ann 
Theriault, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7105; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
jo-ann.theriault@faa.gov.
    (2) PW Service Bulletin No. JT8D 6504, dated November 5, 2014, 
which is not incorporated by reference in this proposed AD, can be 
obtained from PW using the contact information in paragraph (h)(3) 
of this proposed AD.
    (3) For service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108; 
phone: 860-565-8770; fax: 860-565-4503.
    (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 February 20, 2015.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-04059 Filed 2-27-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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