DEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATIONFederalAviationAdministration14CFRPart39[4910-13-P][DocketNo.FAA-2015-0165;DirectorateIdentifier2015-NE-02-AD;Amendment39-18212;AD2015-15-03]RIN2120-AA64AirworthinessDirectives;GeneralElectricCompanyTurbofanEnginesAGENCY:FederalAviationAdministration(FAA),DOT.ACTION:Finalrule.SUMMARY:Weareadoptinganewairworthinessdirective(AD)forallGeneralElectricCompany(GE)GEnxturbofanenginemodels.ThisADwaspromptedbyreportsofGEnx-1BandGEnx-2Benginesexperiencingpowerlossinicecrystalicing(ICI)conditions.ThisADprecludestheuseoffullauthoritydigitalenginecontrol(FADEC)software,versionB175orearlier,inGEnx-1Bengines,andtheuseofFADECsoftware,versionC065orearlier,inGEnx-2Bengines.WeareissuingthisADtopreventenginefailure,lossofthrustcontrol,anddamagetotheairplane.DATES:ThisADiseffective[INSERTDATE35DAYSAFTERDATEOFPUBLICATIONINTHEFEDERALREGISTER].ADDRESSES:ForserviceinformationidentifiedinthisAD,contactGeneralElectricCompany,GEAviation,Room285,1NeumannWay,Cincinnati,OH45215;phone:513-552-3272;email:geae.aoc@ge.com.YoumayviewthisserviceinformationattheFAA,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,12NewEnglandExecutivePark,Burlington,MA01803.ForinformationontheavailabilityofthismaterialattheFAA,call781-238-7125.ExaminingtheADDocketYoumayexaminetheADdocketontheInternetathttp://www.regulations.govbysearchingforandlocatingDocketNo.FAA-2015-0165;orinpersonattheDocketManagementFacilitybetween9a.m.and5p.m.,MondaythroughFriday,exceptFederalholidays.TheADdocketcontainsthisAD,theregulatoryevaluation,anycommentsreceived,andotherinformation.TheaddressfortheDocketOffice(phone:800:-647-5527)isDocumentManagementFacility,U.S.DepartmentofTransportation,DocketOperations,M-30,WestBuildingGroundFloor,RoomW12-140,1200NewJerseyAvenueSE.,Washington,DC20590.FORFURTHERINFORMATIONCONTACT:ChristopherMcGuire,AerospaceEngineer,EngineCertificationOffice,FAA,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,12NewEnglandExecutivePark,Burlington,MA01803;phone:781-238-7120;fax:781-238-7199;email:chris.mcguire@faa.gov.SUPPLEMENTARYINFORMATION:DiscussionWeissuedanoticeofproposedrulemaking(NPRM)toamend14CFRpart39byaddinganADthatwouldapplytoallGeneralElectricCompany(GE)GEnxturbofanenginemodels.TheNPRMpublishedintheFederalRegisteronMarch17,2015(80FR13797).TheNPRMwaspromptedbyreportsofGEnx-1BandGEnx-2BenginesexperiencingpowerlossinICIconditions.TheNPRMproposedtoprecludetheuseofFADECsoftware,versionB175orearlier,inGEnx-1Bengines,andtheuseofFADECsoftware,versionC065orearlier,inGEnx-2Bengines.WeareissuingthisADtocorrecttheunsafeconditionontheseproducts.CommentsWegavethepublictheopportunitytoparticipateindevelopingthisAD.ThefollowingpresentsthecommentsreceivedontheNPRMandtheFAA'sresponsetoeachcomment.2RequesttoDelayIssuanceofADUnitedAirlines(United)commentedthatthisADshouldnotbeissueduntilafterGEnx-1BFADECsoftwareversionB185isreleased.UnitednotedthatsoftwareversionB185willprovideagreaterlevelofprotectionfromdamagetotheengineduetoicecrystal icing.UnitedindicatedthattheproposedADwouldallowenginestooperatewithFADECsoftwareversionsB178andB180,whichdonotprovidetheprotectionofsoftwareversionB185.Wedonotagree.WefmdthatuseofFADECsoftwareversionB175orearlierprovidesanadequatelevelofsafetyforinadvertentencountersinICIenvironments.WedidnotchangethisAD.RequesttoWithdrawADandSupersedeAnotherADUnitedrequestedthatwewithdrawtheproposedruleand,insteadsupersedeAD2013-24-01(78FR70851,November27,2013),whichrequiresrevisingtheairplaneflightmanualforModel747-8and747-8FseriesairplanesandModel787-8airplanespoweredbyGEnxengines.Wedonotagree.OurADaddressesthesusceptibilityofGEnxengineswhenoperatinginadvertentlyinICIconditions.AD2013-24-01(78FR70851,November27,2013)issettingoperationallimitationsonBoeingModel747-8,747-8F,and787-8airplanesequippedwithGEnxengines.TheADshavedifferentpurposes,andsupersedingAD2013-24-01isoutsidethescopeofthisAD.WedidnotwithdrawthisAD.SupportfortheNPRMTheBoeingCompanyandtheGeneralElectricCompanyexpressedsupportfortheproposedrule.3Conclusion

We reviewed

the relevant

data

, considered

the comments received

, and determined

that

air

sa fety and the public interest require adopting

this AD

as proposed. Costs

of Compliance We estimate

that this AD affects

80 engines installed

on airplanes

of U.S. registry. We also estimate

that

it will take about

1 hour
per engine

to comply

with this AD. The average
labor rate

is $85 per hour.

No parts

are required.
Based

on these figures,

we estimate

the total cost

of the AD

to U.S. operators

to be $6,800. 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: Aviat

i on Programs, describes

in more detail

the scope

of the Agency's authority.

We are

i ss uing 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 Admin

i strator finds necessary

for safety

in air commerce.

This regulation

is within

the sco pe ofthat authority because

it addresses

an unsafe condition

that

i s likely

to exist

or dev

e lop on products identified

in thi

s rul em aking action. Regulatory Findings This AD will not have federalism implications

under Executive

Order 13132.
This AD will not have

a su

b stan tial 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

that this AD: 4(1)

Is not

a "significant regulatory action" under Executive

Order 12866, (2)

I s not

a "significan

t rule" under DOT Regulatory

P olicies

and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February

26, 1979), (3) Will not affect intrastate

aviat

i on

in Alaska

to the extent

that

it justifies making

a regulatory distinction,

and ( 4

) Will

no

t have

a significant economic impact, positive

o
r negative,

on

a substantial number

of small entities under

the

cr iteri

a of the Regulatory

F le xibi lity 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: PART

39

- AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 1. The authority

cita

ti on 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

t h e fo

ll owing
new airworthiness
directive (AD): 2015-15-03 General

E lectric Company: Amendment 39-18212; Docket No. FAA-2015-0165;
Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-02-AD. (a) Effective

Date This AD

is effective [INSERT DATE

35 DAYS AFTER DATE

OF PUBLICATIO

N IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. (b) Affected

ADs None.

5(1)Isnota"significantregulatoryaction"underExecutiveOrder12866,(2)Isnota"significantrule"underDOTRegulatoryPoliciesandProcedures(44FR11034,February26,1979),(3)WillnotaffectintrastateaviationinAlaskatotheextent thatitjustifiesmakingaregulatorydistinction,and(4)Willnothaveasignificanteconomicimpact,positiveornegative,onasubstantialnumberofsmallentitiesunderthecriteriaoftheRegulatoryFlexibilityAct.ListofSubjectsin14CFRPart39Airtransportation,Aircraft,Aviationsafety,Incorporationbyreference,Safety.AdoptionoftheAmendmentAccordingly,undertheauthoritydelegatedtomebytheAdministrator,theFAAamends14CFRpart39asfollows:PART39-AIRWORTHINESSDIRECTIVES1.Theauthoritycitationforpart39continuestoreadasfollows:Authority:49U.S.C.106(g),40113,44701.§39.13[Amended)2.TheFAAamends§39.13byaddingthefollowingnewairworthinessdirective(AD):****-**-**GeneralElectricCompany:Amendment39-**;DocketNo.FAA-2015-0165;DirectorateIdentifier2015-NE-02-AD.(a)EffectiveDateThisADiseffective[INSERTDATE35DAYSAFTERDATEOFPUBLICATIONINTHEFEDERALREGISTER].(b)AffectedADsNone.5(c) Applicability This AD applies

to all General Electr

i c Company

(GE) GEnx
-lB model turbofan engines

with full authority digital engine control

(F ADEC) software version

B 175

or earlier, installed,

and GEnx-2B
model turbofan engines

with

F ADEC software version C065

or ear

li er

, installed. (d) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted

by reports ofGEnx-1B

and GEnx-2B engines experiencing

power

loss

in ice crystal icing (ICI) conditions.

We are issuing

this AD

to prevent engine failure,

loss

of thrust control,

and damage

to the airplane. (e) Compliance Comply

with this AD within

the compliance

times specified,
unless already done. (1) Thirty
days after
the effective

date

of this AD,

do not operate

any GE GEnx1 B engine
with

F ADEC software version

B 175

or earlier, installed

in the electronic engine control (EEC). (2) Thirty
days after
the effective

date

of this AD,

do not operate

any GE GEnx2B engine
with

F ADEC software version C065

or earlier, installed

in the EEC. (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 Executiv

e Park

, Burlington

, MA 01803

; phone: 781-2

3 8-

7 120

; fax

: 781-238- 7199

; email

: c hri

s. mcguire

@f aa.go

v.

6(2) GE GEnx-1B Service Bulletin

(SB) No. 73-0036

ROO, dated January

6, 2015, and GE GEnx-2B

SB No. 73-0035

ROO, dated September

16, 2014, which

are not incorporated

by reference

in this AD, can

be obtained

from

GE using

the contact information

in paragraph

(g)(3)

of this 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;

ema

il: geae.aoc @ge.co

m. ( 4) You may

v

i ew this service information

at the FAA, Engine

& Propeller Directorate

, 12 New

E ngland Executive

Park, Burlington

, MA. For information

on the availability

of this material

at the FAA,

call 781-238-7125. (h) Material Incorporated

by Reference None. Issued

in Burlington, Massachusetts,

on July

13

, 2015. **~~_..IC.-7--** Carlos

A. Pestana

, Acting Directorate Manager, Engine

& Propeller Directorate

, Aircraft Certification
Service.

7