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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 292-294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-33167]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24145; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-06-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company CF6-45 and 
CF6-50 Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

[[Page 293]]

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) that applies to General Electric Company (GE) CF6-45 and CF6-50 
series turbofan engines. The existing AD requires replacing certain 
forward and aft centerbodies of the long fixed core exhaust nozzle 
(LFCEN) assembly. Since we issued that AD, we became aware that other 
forward and aft centerbodies are also affected. This proposed AD would 
add certain new centerbodies requiring replacement. This proposed AD is 
prompted by the discovery of more part numbers (P/Ns) of centerbodies 
requiring replacement. We are proposing this AD to prevent the forward 
and aft centerbody of the LFCEN assembly from separating from the 
engine, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 18, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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 General 
Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 
45215, telephone 513-552-3272; fax 513-552-3329; e-mail: 
geae.aoc@ge.com. 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: Tomasz Rakowski, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate; 
phone: 781-238-7735; fax: 781-238-7199; e-mail: 
tomasz.rakowski@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-2006-
24145; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-06-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 February 12, 2009, we issued AD 2009-04-17, Amendment 39-15823 
(74 FR 8735, February 26, 2009), for GE CF6-45 and CF6-50 series 
turbofan engines. That AD requires replacing LFCEN assembly forward 
centerbodies P/N 1313M55G01 or G02, P/N 9076M28G09 or G10, and aft 
centerbodies P/N 1313M56G01 or 9076M46G05 with modified centerbodies. 
That AD resulted from reports of separation of centerbodies from the 
engine due to high imbalance engine conditions caused by events 
including bird strikes. Separation of the centerbodies from the engine 
would cause engine damage and airplane damage. We issued that AD to 
prevent the forward and aft centerbody of the LFCEN assembly from 
separating from the engine, damage to the engine, and damage to the 
airplane.

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2009-04-17, we identified seven additional 
centerbody P/Ns that should have been included in the AD. These 
centerbodies are of the same design and construction as those 
identified in the original AD and therefore, are subject to the same 
unsafe condition. We added forward centerbodies P/N 9076M28G05, G06, 
G08, P/N 9076M82G01, G03, and aft centerbodies P/N 9076M46G02, G04 to 
the applicability of this proposed AD to remove them from service.

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 add forward centerbody P/Ns 9076M28G05, G06, 
and G08, P/Ns 9076M82G01, G03, and aft centerbody P/Ns 9076M46G02, G04, 
to those P/Ns in AD 2009-04-17 to be removed from service.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 383 GE CF6-45 and 
CF6-50 series turbofan engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it would take about 44 work hours per engine to 
perform the actions required by this AD, and that the average labor 
rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $11,000 per 
engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of this AD 
to U.S. operators to be $5,645,420.

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.

[[Page 294]]

    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, 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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing airworthiness directive 
(AD) 2009-04-17, Amendment 39-15823 (74 FR 8735; February 26, 2009), 
and adding the following new AD:

General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA-2006-24145; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-NE-06-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by February 
18, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2009-04-17, Amendment 39-15823.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the following engines with a long fixed 
core exhaust nozzle (LFCEN) assembly forward centerbody, part number 
(P/N) 1313M55G01 or G02, P/N 9076M28G05, G06, G08, G09, or G10, P/N 
9076M82G01 or G03, and aft centerbody P/N 1313M56G01, or P/N 
9076M46G02, G04, or G05, installed in:
    (1) General Electric Company (GE) CF6-45A, CF6-45A2, CF6-50A, 
CF6-50C, CF6-50CA, CF6-50C1, CF6-50C2, CF6-50C2B, CF6-50C2D, CF6-
50E, CF6-50E1, CF6-50E2, and CF6-50E2B turbofan engines; including 
engines marked on the engine data plate as CF6-50C2-F and CF6-50C2-
R.
    (2) These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Airbus 
A300 series, Boeing 747 series, McDonnell Douglas DC-10 series, and 
DC-10-30F (KDC-10) airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by the discovery of more P/Ns of 
centerbodies affected, requiring replacement. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent the forward and aft centerbody of the LFCEN assembly from 
separating from the engine, damage to the engine, and damage to the 
airplane.

Compliance

    (e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace forward centerbody, P/N 1313M55G01 and G02, P/N 9076M28G05, 
G06, G08, G09, and G10, P/N 9076M82G01 and G03, and aft centerbody 
P/N 1313M56G01, P/N 9076M46G02, G04, and G05 with a forward and aft 
centerbody that has been modified using the Accomplishment 
Instructions, Section 3, of GE Service Bulletin (SB) No. CF6-50 S/B 
78-0244, Revision 1, dated March 13, 2008, CF6-50 S/B 78-0244, dated 
July 30, 2007, or CF6-50 S/B 78-0242, dated September 26, 2005.

Centerbody Installation Prohibition

    (2) After 18 months from the effective date of this AD, do not 
install any engine with forward centerbody, P/N 1313M55G01 or G02, 
P/N 9076M28G05, G06, G08, G09, or G10, P/N 9076M82G01 or G03, or aft 
centerbody P/N 1313M56G01, P/N 9076M46G02, G04, or G05 on any 
airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19.

Related Information

    (g) For more information about this AD, contact Tomasz Rakowski, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate; phone: 781-238-7735; fax: 781-238-7199; e-
mail: tomasz.rakowski@faa.gov.
    (h) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
General Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, 
Cincinnati, OH 45215, telephone 513-552-3272; fax 513-552-3329; e-
mail: geae.aoc@ge.com. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
781-238-7125.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 28, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-33167 Filed 1-3-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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