DEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATIONFederalAviationAdministration14CFRPart39[4910-13-P][DocketNo.FAA-2015-3585;DirectorateIdentifier2015-NE-22-AD;Amendment39-18384;AD2015-28-01]RlN2120-AA64AirworthinessDirectives;EngineAllianceTurbofanEnginesAGENCY:FederalAviationAdministration(FAA),DOT.ACTION:Finalrule.SUMMARY:Weareadoptinganewairworthinessdirective(AD)forcertainEngineAlliance(EA)GP7270turbofanengines.ThisADwaspromptedbythemanufacturerinformingusthattheinspectioncriteriaandrepairproceduresinthemaintenancemanualforaftboltholesofthehigh-pressurecompressor(I-IPC)coneshaftontheaffectedenginesisincorrect.ThisADrequiresinspectionoftheI-IPCconeshaftandrepairofaffectedparts,ifneeded.WeareissuingthisADtopreventfailureoftheHPCconeshaft,whichcouldleadtouncontainedenginefailureanddamagetotheairplane.DATES:ThisADiseffective[INSERTDATE35DAYSAFTERDATEOFPUBLICATIONINTHEFEDERALREGISTER].TheDirectoroftheFederalRegisterapprovedtheincorporationbyreferenceofacertainpublicationlistedinthisADasof[INSERTDATE35DAYSAFTERDATEOFPUBLICATIONINTHEFEDERALREGISTER].ADDRESSES:ForserviceinformationidentifiedinthisAD,contactEngineAlliance,400MainSt.,EastHartford,CT06108,MIS169-10,phone:800-565-0140;email:help24@pw.utc.com;Internet:sp.engineallianceportal.com.YoumayviewthisserviceinformationattheFAA,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,1200DistrictAvenue,Burlington,MA.ForinfonnationontheavailabilityofthismaterialattheFAA,call?Sl238-7125.ExaminingtheADDocketYoumayexaminetheADdocketontheIntemetathttp://www.regulations.govbysearchingforandlocatingDocketNo.FAA-2015-3585;orinpersonattheDocketManagementFacilitybetween9a.m.and5p.m.,MondaythroughFriday,exceptFederalholidays.TheADdocketcontainsthisAD,theregulatoryevaluation,anycommentsreceived,andotherinformation.TheaddressfortheDocketOffice(phone:800-647-5527)isDocumentManagementFacility,U.S.DepartmentofTranspmtation,DocketOperations,M-30,WestBuildingGroundFloor,RoomW12-140,1200NewJerseyAvenueSE.,Washington,DC20590.FORFURTHERINFORMATIONCONTACT:KyleGustafson,AerospaceEngineer,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,FAA,1200DistrictAvenue,Burlington,MA01803;phone:781-238-7183;fax:781-238-7199;email:kyle.gustafson@faa.gov.SUPPLEMENTARYINFORMATION:Discussion·weissuedanoticeofproposedrulemaking(NPRM)toamend14CFRpart39byaddinganADthatwouldapplytocertainEAGP7270turbofanengines.TheNPRMpublishedintheFederalRegisteronOctoberI,2015(80FR59081).TheNPRMwaspromptedbythemanufacturerinfonningusthattheinspectioncriteriaandrepairproceduresinthemaintenancemanualforaftboltholesoftheHPCconeshaft,alsoreferredtoasthe"J-IPCforwardstubshaft,"fortheaffectedenginesisincorrect.TheNPR1v1proposedtorequireinspectionoftheHPCconeshaftandrepairofaffectedparts,ifneeded.WeareissuingthisADtopreventfailureoftheHPCconeshaft,whichcouldleadtouncontainedenginefailureanddamagetotheairplane.2CommentsWegavethepublictheopportunitytoparticipateindevelopingthisAD.ThefollowingpresentsthecommentsreceivedontheNPRM(80FR59081,October1,2015)andtheFAA'sresponsetoeachcomment.RequesttoAddEngineModelsEArequestedthatweexpandtheapplicabilitytoincludetheGP7272andGP7277enginemodels.Wedisagree.TherearenoGP7272orGP7277enginesinservicenorhaveanybeendelivered.Newengineswouldbedeliveredwithcorrected serviceinformationandwouldnotbeimpactedbythisAD.WedidnotchangethisAD.RequesttoChangetheUnsafeConditionStatementEArequestedthattheunsafeconditionstatementbechangedfrom'"WeareissuingthisADtopreventfailureoftheHPCconeshaft,whichcouldleadtouncontainedenginefailureanddamagetotheairplane."to"WeareissuingthisADtopreventahazardousenginecondition."ThereasonforthisrequestisthatnoHPCconeshaftfailureshaveoccurredinthefield.Wedisagree.TheunsafeconditionstatementdescribestheconditionwearetTyingtopreventandisthejustificationforthisAD.Itdoesnotdescribewhathasoccurredinthepast.WedidnotchangethisAD.RequesttoChangeVariousParagraphsEArequestedthatwerevisethepartnomenclatureintheApplicability,Compliance,andInstallationProhibitionparagraphsandintheunsafeconditionstatementtoincludeboth"coneshaft"and"forwardstubshaft."Thepartisreferencedasa"coneshaft"inthisADandengineandcomponentmanuals;however,itisreferredtoasa"forwardstubshaft"intheservicebulletins(SBs).3

# We disagree.

The

part nomenclature

listed

in the airworthiness

limitations

section and engine maintenance

manual

is "cone

shaft."

The Discussion

section

of this

AD explains

that

the terms

"cone

shaft"

and "forward stubshaft"

are synonymous.

We consider including

both terms throughout

this

AD unnecessary.

We

did

not change

this AD. 

# Request

to Revise

the Compliance EA requested

that

the Compliance

paragraph

be revised

to include

the word

"pits" when describing

the inspection

criteria. We agree.

We revised paragraph

(e)(!) and(!)(!)

of this

AD from

" ... nicks, dents,

and scratches

...

" to

" ... nicks,

dents,

pits,

and scratches

....

" 

# Request

to Change

the Compliance EA requested

that

we replace

"Do

not reinstall

the HPC

cone

shaft

if the

aft bolt hole

has

a nick,

dent,

or scratch

that

is greater

than 0.002

inch

in depth"

in paragraph (e)(l)

of this

AD with "Comply

v..rith

the Accomplishment

Instructions

in EA

SB No. EAGP7-72-330

if the

aft bolt

hole

has

a nick,

dent,

pit,

or scratch

that

is greater

than

the serviceable

limit." We disagree.

The current

engine manual

has

an approved

repair procedure

for damage

that

is more severe

than

the installation requirements

of this

AD.

It

is not necessary

to restate

what

is already allowed

by

the engine manual.

We

did

not change this

AD. 

# Request

to Change

Service Information EA requested

that

the phrase

"or later"

be used when referring

to SBs. We disagree.

We

are only authorized

to mandate

use ofSBs

that

we have reviewed

and which

are published.

Since

future revisions

of SBs

are

not

yet published, we

are

not authorized

to mandate

their

use.

We

did

not change

this

AD. 4

# Request

to Change

the Installation

Prohibition EA requested

that

we change

the Installation

Prohibition

paragraph

to read: "After the effective

date

of this

AD,

do not install

an HPC

cone

shaft

onto

an engine:

(1) that

has accumulated

more

than 9,000

cycles

since

new

that

has

not complied

with

this

AD

on

an applicable

part,

and

(2)

has

a nick,

dent,

or scratch

in

an HPC

cone

shaft

aft bolt

hole

that is greater

than

the serviceable

limit." We disagree.

The intent

of the Installation

Prohibition

paragraph

is

to mandate

the new serviceable

limit

of 0.002

inch

for damage

to the inner diameter

of the bolt holes

for the entire GP7270

fleet.

Any

parts

with damage

beyond

this limit

may

be repaired

using the approved procedures

listed

in the engine manual, provided

that

you include

shot peening

as required

by 

# paragraph

(!)(2)

of this

AD.

We

did

not change

this

AD. Conclusion

We reviewed

the relevant

data, considered

the comments

received,

and determined

that

air safety

and

the public interest

require adopting

this

AD with

the changes described previously. We

also determined

that these changes

will

not increase

the economic

burden

on any operator

or increase

the scope

of this

AD. Costs

of Compliance We estimate

that

this

AD affects

zero engines installed

on airplanes

of U.S. registry.

The average

labor

rate

is $85

per hour. Based

on these figures,

we estimate

the cost

of this

AD

on U.S. operators

to

be

$0. 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

tl1e scope

of the Agency's authority.



# 5We

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 vvithin

the scope

of that authority because

it addresses

an unsafe condition

that

is likely

to exist

or develop

on products identified

in this mlemaking

action. Regulatory

Findings This

AD

will

not have federalism implications

under Executive

Order

13132.

This AD

will

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 goverrunent. For

the reasons discussed

above,

I certify

that

this

AD: (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

II 034, February

26, I979), (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. Adoption

of the Amendment Accordingly,

under

the authority

delegated

to me

by

the Administrator,

the FAA amends

14 CFR

part

39

as follows:

6PART39-AIRWORTHINESSDIRECTIVES1.Theauthoritycitationforpart39continuestoreadasfollows:Authority:49U.S.C.106(g),40113,44701.§39.13[Amended]2.TheFAAamends§39.13byaddingthefollowingnewairworthinessdirective(AD):2015-28-01EngineAlliance:Amendment39-18384;DocketNo.FAA-2015-3585;DirectorateIdentifier2015-NE-22-AD.(a)EffectiveDateThisADiseffective[INSERTDATE35DAYSAFTERDATEOFPUBLICATIONINTHEFEDERALREGISTER].(b)AffectedADsNone.(c)ApplicabilityThisADappliestoEngineAlliance(EA)GP7270turbofanengineswithahighpressurecompressor(HPC)coneshaft,partnumber382-100-907-0,installed.(d)UnsafeConditionThisADwaspromptedbythemanufacturerinformingusthattheinspectionandrepaircriteriainthemaintenancemanualforaftboltholesoftheI-IPCconeshaftontheaffectedenginesisinconect.WeareissuingthisADtopreventfailureoftheHPCconeshaft,whichcouldleadtoWlcontainedenginefailureanddamagetotheairplane.(e)ComplianceComplywiththisADwithinthecompliancetimesspecified,unlessalreadydone.(1)ForHPCconeshaftswithserialnumberslistedinEAServiceBulletin(SB)No.EAGP7-72-330,datedJuly21,2015,inspecttheinnerdiameteroftheHPCconeshaftaftboltholesfornicks,dents,pits,andscratchesbeforeaccumulating9,000cycles7sincenew(CSN).DonotreinstalltheHPCconeshaftiftheaftboltholehasanynicks,dents,pits,orscratchesthataregreaterthan0.002inchindepth.(2)ForHPCconeshaftswithserialnumberslistedinEASBNo.EAGP7-72-329,datedJuly21,2015,shotpeentheHPCconeshaftaftboltholesbeforeaccumulating9,000CSN.Useparagraph1oftheAccomplishmentInstructionsinEASBNo.EAGP?-72-329todotheshotpeening.(f)InstallationProhibitionAftertheeffectivedateofthisAD,donotinstallanHPCconeshaftonanyenginewiththefollowing:(1)anynicks,dents,pits,orscratchesinanHPCconeshaftaftboltholethatisgreaterthan0.002inchindepth;or(2)anyrepairofanHPCconeshaftaftboltholethatdidnotincludeshotpeening.(g)AlternativeMethodsofCompliance(AMOCs)TheManager,EngineCertificationOffice,mayapproveAMOCsforthisAD.Usetheproceduresfoundin14CFR39.19tomakeyourrequest.Youmayemailyourrequestto:ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov.(h)RelatedInformationFormoreinformationaboutthisAD,contactKyleGustafson,AerospaceEngineer,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,FAA,1200DistrictAvenue,Burlington,MA01803;phone:781-238-7183;fax:781-238-7199;email:kyle.gustafson@faa.gov.(i)MaterialIncorporatedbyReference(1)TheDirectoroftheFederalRegisterapprovedtheincorporationbyreference(IBR)oftheserviceinformationlistedinthisparagraphunder5U.S.C.552(a)and1CFRpart51.(2)YoumustusethisserviceinformationasapplicabletodotheactionsrequiredbythisAD,unlesstheADspecifiesotherwise.8(i)EngineAlliance(EA)ServiceBulletin(SB)No.EAGP?-72-329,datedJuly21,2015.(ii)EASBNo.EAGP?-72-330,datedJuly21,2015.(3)ForEAserviceinformationidentifiedinthisAD,contactEngineAlliance,400MainSt.,EastHartford,CT06108,M/S169-10;phone:800-565-0140;email:help24@pw.utc.corn;Internet:sp.engineallianceportal.com.(4)YoumayviewthisserviceinfonnationatFAA,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,1200DistrictAvenue,Burlington,MA.ForinformationontheavailabilityofthismaterialattheFAA,call781-238-7125.(5)YoumayviewthisserviceinformationattheNationalArchivesandRecordsAdministration(NARA).ForinformationontheavailabilityofthismaterialatNARA,call202-741-6030,orgoto:http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html.IssuedinBurlington,Massachusetts,onJanuary13,2016.GaetanoSciortino,ActingDirectorateManager,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,AircraftCertificationService.9