Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 112 / Monday, June 11, 2018 / Proposed Rules 26887 

(h) No Alternative Actions or Intervals 

After the maintenance or inspection 

program has been revised as required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative 

actions (e.g., inspections) or intervals, may be 

used unless the actions or intervals are 

approved as an alternative method of 

compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the 

procedures specified in paragraph (i)(1) of 

this AD. 

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 

has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 

AD, if requested using the procedures found 

in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 

39.19, send your request to your principal 

inspector or local Flight Standards District 

Office, as appropriate. If sending information 

directly to the International Section, send it 

to the attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (j)(2) of this AD. Information may 

be emailed to: 9-ANM-116-AMOCREQUESTS@faa.gov. Before using any 

approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 

principal inspector, or lacking a principal 

inspector, the manager of the local flight 

standards district office/certificate holding 

district office. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain corrective 

actions from a manufacturer, the action must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, International Section, 

Transport Standards Branch, FAA; or the 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or 

Airbus’s EASA Design Organization 

Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, 

the approval must include the DOAauthorized signature. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA AD 

2018–0004, dated January 9, 2018, for related 

information. This MCAI may be found in the 

AD docket on the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating Docket No. FAA–2018–0508. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace 

Engineer, International Section, Transport 

Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and 

fax 206–231–3218. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness 

Office—EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 

5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email 

continued-airworthiness.a350@airbus.com; 

internet http://www.airbus.com. You may 

view this service information at the FAA, 

Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 206–231–3195. 

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on May 

31, 2018. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–12233 Filed 6–8–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0404; Product 

Identifier 2018–NE–15–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; International 

Aero Engines (IAE) Turbofan engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

International Aero Engines (IAE) 

PW1133G–JM, PW1133GA–JM, 

PW1130G–JM, PW1127G–JM, 

PW1127GA–JM, PW1127G1–JM, 

PW1124G–JM, PW1124G1–JM, and 

PW1122G–JM turbofan engines. This 

proposed AD was prompted by reports 

of in-flight engine shutdowns and 

aborted take-offs as the result of certain 

parts affecting the durability of the rear 

high-pressure compressor (HPC) rotor 

hub knife edge seal. This proposed AD 

would require replacing the diffuser 

case air seal assembly, the high-pressure 

turbine (HPT) 2nd-stage vane assembly, 

and the HPT 2nd-stage borescope stator 

vane assembly with parts eligible for 

installation. We are proposing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by July 26, 2018. 

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 NPRM, contact International Aero 

Engines, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, 

CT 06118; phone: 800–565–0140; email: 

help24@pw.utc.com; internet: http://

fleetcare.pw.utc.com. You may view this 

service information at the FAA, Engine 

and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 

District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 781–238– 

7759. 

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–2018– 

0404; or in person at Docket Operations 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The AD docket contains this NPRM, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for Docket Operations 

(phone: 800–647–5527) is listed above. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kevin M. Clark, Aerospace Engineer, 

ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 

781–238–7088; fax: 781–238–7199; 

email: kevin.m.clark@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– 

2018–0404; Product Identifier 2018– 

NE–15–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 

In-flight engine shutdowns and 

aborted take-offs have occurred on 

certain IAE turbofan engines as the 

result of a failed knife edge seal on 

engine serial numbers (ESNs) P770450 

through P770614. In response to these 

events, the European Aviation Safety 

Agency published AD 2018–0041R1, 

dated March 23, 2018 (corrected on 

April 4, 2018). Additionally, the FAA 

published AD 2018–04–01 (83 FR 6791, 


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26888 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 112 / Monday, June 11, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

February 15, 2018), for all Airbus Model 

A320–271N, A321–271N, and A321– 

272N airplanes. Both ADs describe 

procedures to de-pair affected airplanes 

and to discontinue extended operations 

(ETOPS) for airplanes with at least one 

affected engine. 

An analysis by the manufacturer of 

these engine failures has shown that 

production modifications to the diffuser 

case air seal assembly and the 2nd-stage 

HPT vane assemblies, beginning with 

ESN P770450, negatively affected the 

durability of the rear HPC rotor hub 

knife edge seal. The modifications 

caused the knife edge seal on the rear 

HPC rotor hub to experience high-cycle 

fatigue and failure. This condition, if 

not addressed, could result in failure of 

one or more engines, loss of thrust 

control, and loss of the airplane. 

Related Service Information 

We reviewed Pratt & Whitney Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) PW1000G–C–72– 

00–0099–00A–930A–D, Issue No. 002, 

dated March 15, 2018. The ASB 

describes procedures for removing 

production modifications to the diffuser 

case air seal assembly, HPT 2nd-stage 

vane assembly, and the HPT 2nd-stage 

borescope stator vane assembly, 

beginning with ESN P770450, which 

resulted in an unanticipated increase in 

stress at the rear HPC rotor hub knife 

edge seal. 

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 

removing from service and replacing the 

diffuser case air seal assembly, P/N 

30G4993–01; the HPT 2nd-stage vane 

assembly, P/N 30G7572; and the HPT 

2nd-stage borescope stator vane 

assembly, P/N 30G7672, with parts 

eligible for installation. 

Interim Action 

We consider this proposed AD 

interim action. The manufacturer is 

currently developing a modification that 

will address the unsafe condition 

identified in this AD. Once this 

modification is developed, approved, 

and available, we might consider 

additional rulemaking. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 16 engines installed on airplanes 

of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Removing modifications .................................. 0 work-hours × $85 per hour = $0 ................. $44,000 $44,000 $704,000 

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. 

This AD is issued in accordance with 

authority delegated by the Executive 

Director, Aircraft Certification Service, 

as authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. 

In accordance with that order, issuance 

of ADs is normally a function of the 

Compliance and Airworthiness 

Division, but during this transition 

period, the Executive Director has 

delegated the authority to issue ADs 

applicable to engines, propellers, and 

associated appliances to the Manager, 

Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 

Policy and Innovation Division. 

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, 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 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

International Aero Engines: Docket No. 

FAA–2018–0404; Product Identifier 

2018–NE–15–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by July 26, 

2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to International Aero 

Engines (IAE) PW1133G–JM, PW1133GA–JM, 

PW1130G–JM, PW1127G–JM, PW1127GA– 

JM, PW1127G1–JM, PW1124G–JM, 

PW1124G1–JM, and PW1122G–JM turbofan 

engines with engine serial numbers (ESNs) 

P770450 through P770614. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 112 / Monday, June 11, 2018 / Proposed Rules 26889 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 7230, Turbine Engine Compressor 

Section. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of inflight engine shutdowns and aborted take-offs 

that were the result of a failed knife edge seal 

on ESNs P770450 through P770614. We are 

issuing this AD to prevent failure of the rear 

high-pressure compressor rotor hub knife 

edge seal. The unsafe condition, if not 

addressed, could result in failure of one or 

more engines, loss of thrust control, and loss 

of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

At the next engine shop visit after the 

effective date of this AD, do the following: 

(1) Remove from service the diffuser case 

air seal assembly, part number (P/N) 

30G4993–01, and replace with a part eligible 

for installation. 

(2) Remove from service the high-pressure 

turbine (HPT) 2nd-stage vane assembly, P/N 

30G7572, and replace with a part eligible for 

installation. 

(3) Remove from service HPT 2nd-stage 

borescope stator vane assembly, P/N 

30G7672, and replace with a part eligible for 

installation. 

(h) Definition 

For the purpose of this AD, an ‘‘engine 

shop visit’’ is the induction of an engine into 

the shop for maintenance involving the 

separation of pairs of major mating engine 

flanges (lettered flanges). The separation of 

engine flanges solely for the purpose of 

transportation of the engine without 

subsequent engine maintenance does not 

constitute an engine shop visit. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has 

the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, 

if requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 

send your request to your principal inspector 

or local Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the certification office, 

send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. You 

may email your request to: ANE-ADAMOC@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Kevin M. Clark, Aerospace Engineer, 

ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 

Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781–238– 

7088; fax: 781–238–7199; email: 

kevin.m.clark@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact International Aero Engines, 

400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06118; 

phone: 800–565–0140; email: help24@

pw.utc.com; internet: http://

fleetcare.pw.utc.com. You may view this 

referenced service information at the FAA, 

Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 

District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 781–238–7759. 

Issued in Burlington, MA, on June 6, 2018. 

Robert J. Ganley, 

Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 

Branch, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–12452 Filed 6–8–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–1031; Airspace 

Docket No. 17–ANM–21] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Proposed Establishment of Class E 

Airspace and Amendment of Class E 

Airspace; Ephrata, WA 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

establish Class E airspace extending 

upward from 700 feet above the surface, 

and modify Class E surface area airspace 

at Ephrata Municipal Airport, Ephrata, 

WA. This action also proposes to update 

the geographic coordinates of the airport 

in the associated Class E airspace areas 

to match the FAA’s aeronautical 

database. These changes are necessary 

to accommodate airspace redesign for 

the safety and management of 

instrument flight rules (IFR) operations 

within the National Airspace System. 

Also, an editorial change would be 

made to the Class E surface airspace 

legal description replacing ‘‘Airport/ 

Facility Directory’’ with the term ‘‘Chart 

Supplement’’. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before July 26, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this 

proposal to the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 1– 

800–647–5527, or (202) 366–9826. You 

must identify FAA Docket No. FAA– 

2017–1031; Airspace Docket No. 17– 

ANM–21, at the beginning of your 

comments. You may also submit 

comments through the internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov. 

FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace 

Designations and Reporting Points, and 

subsequent amendments can be viewed 

online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/ 

publications/. For further information, 

you can contact the Airspace Policy 

Group, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence 

Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; 

telephone: (202) 267–8783. The Order is 

also available for inspection at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of FAA 

Order 7400.11B at NARA, call (202) 

741–6030, or go to https://

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locations.html. 

FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace 

Designations and Reporting Points, is 

published yearly and effective on 

September 15. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Richard Farnsworth, Federal Aviation 

Administration, Operations Support 

Group, Western Service Center, 2200 S 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198–6547; 

telephone (206) 213–2244. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

The FAA’s authority to issue rules 

regarding aviation safety is found in 

Title 49 of the United States Code. 

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. This rulemaking is 

promulgated under the authority 

described in Subtitle VII, Part A, 

Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that 

section, the FAA is charged with 

prescribing regulations to assign the use 

of airspace necessary to ensure the 

safety of aircraft and the efficient use of 

airspace. This regulation is within the 

scope of that authority as it would 

establish and amend Class E airspace at 

Ephrata Municipal Airport, Ephrata, 

WA, to support standard instrument 

approach procedures for IFR operations 

at the airport. 

Comments Invited 

Interested parties are invited to 

participate in this proposed rulemaking 

by submitting such written data, views, 

or arguments, as they may desire. 

Comments that provide the factual basis 

supporting the views and suggestions 

presented are particularly helpful in 

developing reasoned regulatory 

decisions on the proposal. Comments 

are specifically invited on the overall 

regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 


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