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 Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-0030; Project Identifier AD-2023-01066-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
 AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
 ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
 SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for CFM International (CFM) Model LEAP-1A23, LEAP-1A24, LEAP-1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-1A29, LEAP-1A29CJ, LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2, and LEAP-1A35A engines. This proposed AD was prompted by detection of melt-related freckles in the billet, which may reduce the life of certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor interstage seals. This proposed AD would require removing the affected HPT rotor interstage seals from service and replacing with a part eligible for installation. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
 DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 26, 2024.
 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 
                        *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. *AD Docket:*
                         You may examine the AD docket at 
                        *regulations.gov*
                         under Docket No. FAA-2024-0030; 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, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. *Material Incorporated by Reference:* For service information identified in this NPRM, contact CFM International, S.A., GE Aviation Fleet Support, 1 Neumann Way, M/D Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: (877) 432-3272; email:*aviation.fleetsupport@ge.com.*
                    You may view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mehdi Lamnyi, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7743; email: 
                        *mehdi.lamnyi@faa.gov.*


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments Invited The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under 
                    **ADDRESSES**
                    . Include “Docket No. FAA-2024-0030; Project Identifier AD-2023-01066-E” at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments. Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
                    *regulations.gov*, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM. Confidential Business Information CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as “PROPIN.” The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Mehdi Lamnyi, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking. Background The FAA was notified by the manufacturer of the detection of melt-related freckles in the billet, which may reduce the life of certain HPT rotor interstage seals. Through the manufacturer's investigation, it was determined that these affected parts may have subsurface anomalies that developed during the manufacturing process, resulting in a lower life capability. This condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the HPT rotor interstage seal, release of uncontained debris, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane. FAA's Determination The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design. Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51 The FAA reviewed CFM Service Bulletin LEAP-1A-72-00-0492-01A-930A-D, Issue 001-00, dated April 6, 2023, which provides the serial numbers of the affected HPT rotor interstage seals and specifies procedures for replacement of the HPT rotor 
                    ( print page 1848)
                    interstage seal. This service information is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in 
                    **ADDRESSES**
                    . Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service information already described. Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 1 engine installed on an airplane of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD: Estimated Costs
Action
Labor cost
Parts cost
Cost per
                             product
Cost on U.S.
                             operatorsRemove HPT rotor interstage seal
225 work-hours × $85 per hour = $19,125
$168,000
$187,125
$187,125
 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. The FAA is 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 The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and (3) Would 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
 2.The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: **CFM International, S.A.:**
                         Docket No. FAA-2024-0030; Project Identifier AD-2023-01066-E. (a) Comments Due Date The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by February 26, 2024. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to CFM International, S.A. (CFM) Model LEAP-1A23, LEAP-1A24, LEAP-1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-1A29, LEAP-1A29CJ, LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2, and LEAP-1A35A engines. (d) Subject Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine Section. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by detection of melt-related freckles in the billet, which may reduce the life of certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor interstage seals. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPT rotor interstage seal. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in release of uncontained debris, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Required Actions For engines with an affected HPT rotor interstage seal installed, before exceeding the applicable threshold specified in Table 1 of paragraph 3.E., Compliance, of CFM Service Bulletin (SB) LEAP-1A-72-00-0492-01A-930A-D, Issue 001-00, dated April 6, 2023 (CFM SB LEAP-1A-72-00-0492-01A-930A-D, Issue 001-00), or at the next HPT rotor module exposure, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD, remove the affected HPT rotor interstage seal from service and replace it with a part eligible for installation. (h) Definitions (1) For the purpose of this AD, an “affected HPT rotor interstage seal” is any HPT rotor interstage seal having part number 2466M68P02 and a serial number listed in Table 1 of paragraph 3.E., Compliance, of CFM SB LEAP-1A-72-00-0492-01A-930A-D, Issue 001-00. (2) For the purpose of this AD, a “part eligible for installation” is any HPT rotor interstage seal having a serial number that is not listed in Table 1 of paragraph 3.E., Compliance, of CFM SB LEAP-1A-72-00-0492-01A-930A-D, Issue 001-00. (3) For the purpose of this AD, an “HPT rotor module exposure” is an engine shop visit during which the HPT rotor assembly is fully removed from the engine core. (i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety 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 AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD and email to 
                        *ANE-AD-AMOC@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) Additional Information For more information about this AD, contact Mehdi Lamnyi, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des 
                        ( print page 1849)
                        Moines, WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7743; email: 
                        *mehdi.lamnyi@faa.gov*. (k) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (i) CFM International, S.A. (CFM) Service Bulletin LEAP-1A-72-00-0492-01A-930A-D, Issue 001-00, dated April 6, 2023. (ii) [Reserved] (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact CFM International, S.A., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; phone: (877) 432-3272; email: 
                        *fleetsupport@ge.com.* (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit 
                        *www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locationsoremailfr.inspection@nara.gov.* Issued on January 5, 2024. Victor Wicklund, Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.


[FR Doc. 2024-00377 Filed 1-10-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P