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. 

# Proposed Rules Federal Register 

### 68137

Vol. 79, No. 220

Friday, November 14, 2014

**FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION**

**11 CFR Part 110**

**[Notice 2014–13]**

**Rulemaking Petition: Candidate**

**Debates**

**AGENCY :**  Federal Election Commission.

**ACTION :**  Rulemaking petition: Notice of availability.

**SUMMARY :**  On September 11, 2014, the
Federal Election Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking from Level the Playing Field. The petition asks the Commission to amend its regulation on
candidate debates to revise the criteria governing the inclusion of candidates in presidential and vice presidential
candidate debates. The Commission seeks comments on this petition.

**DATES :**  Statements in support of or in opposition to the petition must be submitted on or before December 15,

2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  All comments must be in writing. Comments may be submitted electronically via the Commission’s
Web site at http://www.fec.gov/fosers. Commenters are encouraged to submit comments electronically to ensure timely receipt and consideration. Alternatively, comments may be submitted in paper form. Paper
comments must be sent to the Federal Election Commission, Attn.: Robert M. Knop, Assistant General Counsel, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463.
Each comment must include the full name and postal service address of the commenter, and of each commenter if filed jointly, or it will not be considered. The Commission will post comments on
its Web site at the conclusion of the comment period.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Mr. Robert M. Knop, Assistant General Counsel, or Ms. Jessica Selinkoff, Attorney, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, (202) 694–1650 or (800) 424–9530.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  On September 11, 2014, the Federal Election Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking from Level the Playing Field regarding the Commission’s regulation at 11 CFR 110.13(c). That regulation governs the criteria that debate staging organizations (which the petitioner refers to as ‘‘sponsors’’) use
for inclusion in candidate debates. The regulation requires staging organizations to ‘‘use pre-established objective criteria to determine which candidates may participate in a debate’’ and further specifies that, for general election debates, staging organizations ‘‘shall not use nomination by a particular political party as the sole objective criterion to
determine whether to include a
candidate in a debate.’’ 11 CFR 110.13(c). The petition asks the Commission to amend 11 CFR 110.13(c) in two respects: (1) To preclude sponsors of general election presidential and vice presidential debates from requiring that a candidate meet a polling
threshold in order to be included in the debate; and (2) to require sponsors of general election presidential and vice presidential debates to have a set of objective, unbiased criteria for debate participation that do not require candidates to satisfy a polling threshold.
The Commission seeks comments on the petition.

Copies of the Petition for Rulemaking are available for public inspection on
the Commission’s Web site at http:// www.fec.gov/fosers/ and in the Commission’s Public Records Office, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Interested persons may also obtain a copy of the petition by dialing the Commission’s Faxline service at (202) 501–3413 and following its instructions, at any time of the day and week. Request document

#275.

Consideration of the merits of the petition will be deferred until the close of the comment period. If the Commission decides that the petition has merit, it may begin a rulemaking proceeding. Any subsequent action taken by the Commission will be
announced in the Federal Register

.

On behalf of the Commission.

Lee E. Goodman,

Chairman, Federal Election Commission.

[FR Doc. 2014–26935 Filed 11–13–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6715–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION** 

**Federal Aviation Administration**

**14 CFR Part 33**

**[Docket No. FAA–2014–0637; Notice No. 33– 14–02–SC]** 

**Special Conditions: CFM International, LEAP–1A and –1C Engine Models;**  **Incorporation of Woven Composite**

**Fan Blades**

**AGENCY :**  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

**ACTION :**  Notice of proposed special
conditions.

**SUMMARY :**  This action proposes special
conditions for the CFM International (CFM), LEAP–1A and –1C engine models. These engines will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the engine fan blades—new woven composite fan blades. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing
airworthiness standards.

**DATES :**  Send your comments on or before December 29, 2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  Send comments identified by docket number [FAA–2014–0637] using any of the following methods:

• Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.

• Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M–30, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12–140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC

20590–0001.

• Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in Room W12–140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m., and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

• Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202–493–2251.

Privacy: Docket Operations will post all comments it receives, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information the


### 68138 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 220 / Friday, November 14, 2014 / Proposed Rules

commenter provides. Using the search function of the docket Web site, anyone
can find and read the electronic form of all comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement can be
found in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477–19478),
as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.

Docket: You may read background
documents or comments received at http://www.regulations.gov at any time.
Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12–140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m., and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  For technical questions concerning these proposed special conditions, contact Alan Strom, ANE–111, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts, 01803–5213; telephone (781) 238–7143; facsimile (781) 238– 7199; email alan.strom@faa.gov. For legal questions concerning this proposed rule, contact Vincent Bennett, ANE–7, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts, 01803– 5299; telephone (781) 238–7044; facsimile (781) 238–7055; email vincent.bennett@faa.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Comments Invited

We invite interested people to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. The agency also invites comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposed special conditions, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should submit only one time.

We will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we will consider comments filed late if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. We may change these special
conditions based on the comments we

receive.

Background

On June 27, 2012, the FAA received the type certificate application for
CFM’s LEAP–1A and –1C turbofan engine models. The LEAP engine models are high-bypass-ratio engines that incorporate a novel and unusual design feature—new woven composite fan blades. The woven composite fan blades will have significant differences in material property characteristics when compared to conventionallydesigned fan blades using noncomposite metallic materials.

Special conditions are required to
ensure that the LEAP–1A and –1C woven composite design fan blades
account for the differences in material properties and failure modes relative to conventional single-load path metallic blades. In addition, different containment requirements may be applied provided CFM shows that the blade design below the inner annulus flow path line provides multiple load paths and/or crack arresting features that prevent delamination or crack propagation to blade failure during the
life of the blade.

These special conditions are necessary because the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the new woven composite design fan
blades.

Type Certification Basis

Under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17,
CFM must show that the LEAP–1A and –1C engine models meet the applicable provisions of the applicable regulations in effect on the date of application, except as detailed in paragraphs 21.101(b) and (c). The FAA has determined the following certification basis for the LEAP–1A and –1C engine
models:

1. 14 CFR part 33, ‘‘Airworthiness Standards: Aircraft Engines,’’ dated February 1, 1965, with Amendments 33–1 through 33–32, dated September

20, 2012.

If the FAA finds that the regulations in effect on the date of the application for the change do not provide adequate or appropriate safety standards for the LEAP–1A and –1C engine models because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of § 21.16. Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which they are issued. Should the type certificate
for that model be amended later to include any other model that incorporates the same or similar novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions would also apply to the other model under § 21.101.

In addition to complying with the applicable product airworthiness regulations and the requirements of these special conditions, the LEAP–1A and –1C engine models must also comply with the fuel venting and exhaust emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34.

The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in accordance with § 11.38, and they become part of the type-certification basis under § 21.17(a)(2).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

The LEAP–1A and –1C engine models will incorporate the following novel or unusual design feature:

The LEAP–1A and –1C engine models will incorporate woven composite fan blades. The woven composite fan blades will have significant differences in material property characteristics when compared to conventionally designed fan blades using non-composite metallic materials. Composite material design provides the capability to incorporate multiple load paths and/or crack arresting features that prevent delamination or crack propagation to blade failure during the life of the blade.

The woven composite fan blades are a novel and unusual design feature that requires additional airworthiness standards for type certification of the LEAP–1A and –1C engine models.

Discussion

The woven composite fan blades are a novel and unusual design feature that requires additional airworthiness standards for type certification of the LEAP–1A and –1C engine models. The current requirements of § 33.94 are based on single-load path metallic fan blade characteristics and service history, and are not appropriate for the unusual design features of the woven composite
fan blade found on the CFM LEAP series turbofan engines.

The properties of a composite blade are highly dependent of the composite ply configuration, matrix material, and manufacturing methods. The CFM LEAP engine incorporates 3–D woven resin transfer molding (RTM) technology in the design and manufacture of the
blade.

It is expected that CFM will conduct the required material testing per § 33.15


### 68139 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 220 / Friday, November 14, 2014 / Proposed Rules

to determine material characteristics that include the effects of defects, manufacturing variations, contamination, environmental effect, and service damage on the material capability and blade life.

Composite material design provides the capability to incorporate multiple load paths and/or crack arresting features that prevent delamination or crack propagation to blade failure during the life of the blade. The probability of failure that an appropriately designed composite fan
blade will fail below the inner annulus flow path line may be highly improbable. The airworthiness regulations of 14 CFR part 33 do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for an aircraft engine incorporating these novel or unusual design features i.e., woven composite fan blades, including release of the fan blade under § 33.94(a)(1) at the inner annulus flow path line (only the airfoil)
instead of the outermost retention
feature.

Instead of blade failure at the outermost retention groove currently required by § 33.94(a)(1), the FAA has
determined that a more realistic bladeout test can be achieved with a fan blade failure at the inner annulus flow path line i.e., releasing only the airfoil.

Additionally, the FAA considers any change to the design, manufacturing, materials, or service management to the blade below the inner annulus flow path to be a change that could affect the blade integrity. Therefore, the FAA has
determined that the blade be marked with a part and serial number, and that additional integrity requirements be applied to the blade below the inner annulus flow path line.

These requirements maintain a level of safety equivalent to the level intended by the applicable
airworthiness standards in effect on the date of application.

Applicability

As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the LEAP– 1A and –1C engine models. Should CFM apply at a later date for a change to the type certificate to include another model incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions would apply to that model as
well.

Conclusion

This action affects only the woven composite fan blade feature on the LEAP–1A and –1C engine models. It is not a rule of general applicability and applies only to CFM, who requested FAA approval of this engine feature. List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 33
Aircraft, Engines, Aviation Safety, Reporting, and Recordkeeping.

The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

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

44702, 44704.
The Proposed Special Conditions

Accordingly, the FAA proposes the following special conditions as part of the type certification basis for CFM, LEAP–1A and –1C engine models.

1. Part 33, Requirements

In addition to the airworthiness standards in 14 CFR part 33, effective February 1, 1965, with Amendments 33–1 through 33–32 applicable to the CFM, LEAP–1A and –1C engine models:

(a) Conduct an engine fan blade
containment test with the fan blade failing at the inner annulus flow path
line instead of at the outermost retention groove.

(b) Substantiate by test and analysis, or other methods acceptable to the FAA,
that a fan disk and fan blade retention system with minimum material properties can withstand, without failure, a centrifugal load equal to two
times the maximum load the retention system could experience within approved engine operating limitations. The fan blade retention system includes the portion of the fan blade from the inner annulus flow path line inward to the blade dovetail, the blade retention components, and the fan disk and fan
blade attachment features.

(c) Using a procedure approved by the FAA, establish an operating limitation that specifies the maximum allowable number of start-stop stress cycles for the fan blade retention system. The life
evaluation must include the combined effects of high-cycle and low-cycle fatigue. If the operating limitation is less than 100,000 cycles, that limitation must be specified in Chapter 5 of the Engine Manual Airworthiness Limitation Section. The procedure used
to establish the maximum allowable number of start-stop stress cycles for the fan blade retention system will incorporate the integrity requirements in paragraphs (c)(1), (2), and (3) of these special conditions for the fan blade retention system.

(1) An engineering plan, which
establishes and maintains that the combinations of loads, material properties, environmental influences, and operating conditions, including the effects of parts influencing these parameters, are well known or predictable through validated analysis, test, or service experience. (2) A manufacturing plan that identifies the specific manufacturing constraints necessary to consistently produce the fan blade retention system with the attributes required by the engineering plan.

(3) A service management plan that defines in-service processes for maintenance and repair of the fan blade retention system, which will maintain attributes consistent with those required by the engineering plan.

(d) Substantiate by test and analysis, or other methods acceptable to the FAA, that the blade design below the inner annulus flow path line provides multiple load paths and/or crack arresting features that prevent delamination or crack propagation to blade failure during the life of the blade.

(e) Substantiate that during the service life of the engine, the total probability of an individual blade retention system failure resulting from all possible causes, as defined in § 33.75, will be extremely improbable with a cumulative calculated probability

of failure of less than 10

¥ 9 per engine flight hour.

(f) Substantiate by test or analysis that not only will the engine continue to meet the requirements of § 33.75 following a lightning strike on the composite fan blade structure, but that the lightning strike will not cause damage to the fan blades that would prevent continued safe operation of the affected engine.

(g) Account for the effects of inservice deterioration, manufacturing variations, minimum material properties, and environmental effects during the tests and analyses required by paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) of these special conditions.

(h) Propose fleet leader monitoring and field sampling programs that will monitor the effects of engine fan blade usage and fan blade retention system integrity.

(i) Mark each fan blade legibly and permanently with a part number and a

serial number.

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 6, 2014.
Kimberly K. Smith,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 2014–27019 Filed 11–13–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4910–13–P**