63542 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 24, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98–ANE–61–AD; Amendment

39–11941; AD–2000–21–09]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt &

Whitney PW2000 Series Turbofan

Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to Pratt & Whitney (PW)

PW2000 series turbofan engines, that

requires revisions to the time limit

sections (TLS) of the manufacturer’s

Engine Manuals to include enhanced

inspection of selected critical lifelimited parts at each piece-part

exposure. This action adds additional

critical life-limited parts for enhanced

inspection. This amendment is

prompted by additional focused

inspection procedures for other critical

life-limited rotating engine parts that

have been developed by the

manufacturer. The actions specified in

the AD are intended to prevent critical

life-limited rotating engine part failure,

which could result in an uncontained

engine failure and damage to the

airplane.

DATES: Effective date January 22, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main Street,

East Hartford, CT 06108. This

information may be examined at the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),

New England Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, 12 New England

Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at

the Office of the Federal Register, 800

North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700,

Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jason Yang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine

Certification Office, FAA, Engine and

Propeller Directorate, 12 New England

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803–

5299; telephone (781) 238–7747, fax

(781) 238–7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to Pratt & Whitney

(PW) PW2000 series turbofan engines

was published in the Federal Register

on October 8, 1999 (64 FR 54799). That

action proposed revisions to the engine

manufacturers time limits section (TLS)

to include enhanced inspection of

selected critical life-limited parts at

each piece-part exposure. That action

proposed to add additional critical lifelimited parts for enhanced inspection.

Comments Received

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. Due

consideration has been given to the

comments received.

Part Numbers in the AD

One comment states that the use of

part numbers (P/N’s) in the AD places

undue burden on operators who must

keep track of the Engine Manual

changes to ensure consistency with

P/N’s, and creates a potential need for

revisions to the AD as additional P/N’s

are introduced into service.

The FAA agrees. The final rule has

been revised to eliminate specific P/N’s

and to use the term ‘‘ALL’’ in the P/N

column.

Extend the Comment Period

One comment states that the proposed

additional inspections have not been

published in the Engine Manual, and

that the comment period should be

extended to allow for publication and

evaluation by the operators.

The FAA does not agree. The FAA

believes that the nature and scope of the

added inspections will not be

significantly different from existing

inspections. In addition, the effective

date of this AD has been extended to 90

days after publication to allow time for

the specific procedures to be published.

The extra time until the AD becomes

effective should also allow the

manufacturer to issue a manual

revision. Operators may submit

comments to the docket file on the

specific procedures, once they are

published, and the FAA will consider

extending the effective date further or

additional rulemaking, as necessary.

The FAA does not believe, however,

that this final rule need be delayed

pending the publication of the

inspection procedures, or the initial

compliance time extended to

accommodate the manufacturer’s

manual revision cycle.

Discussion Section Changed From

Original Proposed Rule

One comment states that the summary

and discussion sections of the proposed

rule did not include the same guidelines

concerning required enhanced

inspections, as the summary and

discussion sections published in the

proposed rule for current AD 99–08–14.

The commenter therefore asks that the

discussion from the notice of proposed

rule making, that preceded the current

AD, be included in this final rule.

The FAA does not agree. The

inspection program established by the

current AD has not been changed. The

proposed rule adds more parts to the list

that must be inspected, but does not

change how air carriers must manage

the inspection program. Future AD’s

may be issued to introduce additional

intervention strategies in order to

further reduce uncontained engine

failures. These strategies may include

AD’s to add new parts to the list of parts

to be inspected. The inspection program

established by the current AD will

remain unchanged unless specifically

changed in a future proposal.

Incorrect Manual Reference

Two comments state that Engine

Manual 75–52–02, Inspection/Check-02

is only a dimensional inspection to the

HPT 1st stage disk. The required

fluorescent-penetrant inspection (FPI)

reference for all HPT 1st stage disks and

HPT 2nd stage hubs should be Engine

Manual 72–52–00, Inspection/Check-02.

The FAA agrees. The final rule has

been revised to reference the correct

Engine Manual task and subtasks for

HPT 1st stage disks and HPT 2nd stage

hubs.

Clarification of FPI Procedures

One comment requests clarification

for FPI procedures for parts repaired by

plasma spray, as to whether the plasma

spray should be removed before

inspection.

Upon investigation, the FAA has

concluded that the manufacturer’s

engine manual has no plasma spray

procedures for HPT disks at the critical

locations to be fluorescent-penetrantinspected. The engine manual does

allow a plasma spray repair for the

buildup of the HPT snap diameter. This

plasma spray coating is not required to

be removed to accomplish the FPI

procedure.

Conclusion

After careful review of the available

data, including the comments noted

above, the FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule with the changes

described previously. The FAA has

determined that these changes will

neither increase the economic burden

on any operator nor increase the scope

of the AD.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 24, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 63543

Economic Analysis

No comments were received on the

economic analysis contained in the

proposed rule. The FAA has determined

that the annual cost of complying with

this AD does not create a significant

economic impact on small entities.

Regulatory Impact

This rule does not have federalism

implications, as defined in Executive

Order 13132, because it 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. Accordingly, the

FAA has not consulted with state

authorities prior to publication of this

rule.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that 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); and (3)

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. A final evaluation has

been prepared for this action and it is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it may be obtained by contacting the

Rules Docket at the location provided

under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends part 39 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by

removing Amendment 39–11120, (64 FR

17949, April 13, 1999), and by adding

the following new airworthiness

directive:

2000–21–09. Pratt & Whitney: Amendment

39–11941. Docket No. 98–ANE–61–AD.

Applicability: Pratt & Whitney (PW)

PW2037, PW2040, PW2037M, PW2240,

PW2337, PW2043, PW2143, and PW2643

series turbofan engines. These engines are

installed on but not limited to Boeing 757

series and Ilyushin IL–96T series airplanes.

Note 1: This airworthiness directive (AD)

applies to each engine identified in the

preceding applicability provision, regardless

of whether it has been modified, altered, or

repaired in the area subject to the

requirements of this AD. For engines that

have been modified, altered, or repaired so

that the performance of the requirements of

this AD is affected, the owner/operator must

request approval for an alternative method of

compliance in accordance with paragraph (c)

of this AD. The request should include an

assessment of the effect of the modification,

alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition

addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe

condition has not been eliminated, the

request should include specific proposed

actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent critical life-limited rotating

engine part failure, which could result in an

uncontained engine failure and damage to

the airplane, accomplish the following:

(a) Within the next 30 days after the

effective date of this AD, revise the

manufacturer’s Time Limits section (TLS) of

the manufacturer’s engine manual, Part

Numbers (P/N’s) 1A6231 and 1B2412, as

appropriate for the PW2037, PW2040,

PW2037M, PW2240, PW2337, PW2043,

PW2643, and PW2143 series turbofan

engines, and for air carriers revise the

approved continuous airworthiness

maintenance program, by adding the

following:

‘‘MANDATORY INSPECTIONS

(1) Perform inspections of the following

parts at each piece-part opportunity in

accordance with the instructions provided in

the PW2000 series Engine Manuals:

Nomenclature Part No. EM Manual

section Inspection Subtask

Hub, LPC Assembly ................................ ALL ......................... 72–31–04 ¥06..

Disk, HPT 1st Stage ................................ ALL ......................... 72–52–02 FPI entire disk per 72–52–00, Inspection/Check-02.72–52–02–230–007

Hub, HPT 2nd Stage ............................... ALL ......................... 72–52–16 FPI entire disk per 72–52–00 Inspection/

Check-02.

75–52–16–230–007

(2) For the purposes of these mandatory

inspections, piece-part opportunity means:

(i) The part is considered completely

disassembled when done in accordance with

the disassembly instructions in the

manufacturer’s engine manual to either the

part detail, or part assembly level, listed in

the table above, and

(ii) The part has accumulated more then

100 cycles in service since the last piece-part

opportunity inspection, provided that the

part was not damaged or related to the cause

for its removal from the engine.’’

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of

this AD, and notwithstanding contrary

provisions in § 43.16 of Federal Aviation

Regulations (14 CFR 43.16), these enhanced

inspections shall be performed only in

accordance with the TLS of the appropriate

PW2000 series engine manuals.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(c) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Engine

Certification Office. Operators shall submit

their requests through an appropriate FAA

Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may

add coments and then send it to the Manager,

Engine Certification Office.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

comliance with this airworthiness directive,

if any, may be obtained from the Engine

Certification Office.

Special Flight Permits

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with §§ 21.197 and 21.199 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197

and 21.199) to operate the aircraft to a

location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance

Program

(e) FAA-certificated air carriers that have

an approved continuous airworthiness

maintenance program in accordance with the

record keeping requirement of § 121.369(c) of

the Federal Aviation Regulations [14 CFR

121.369(c)] of this chapter must maintain

records of the mandatory inspections that

result from revising the Time Limits section

of the Instructions for Continuous

Airworthiness (ICA) and the air carrier’s

continuous airworthiness program.

Alternately, certificated air carriers may

establish an approved system of record

retention that provides a method for

preservation and retrieval of the maintenance

records that include the inspections resulting

from this AD, and include the policy and

procedures for implementing this alternate

method in the air carrier’s maintenance

manual required by § 121.369(c) of the

Federal Aviation Regulations [14 CFR

63544 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 24, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

121.369(c)]; however, the alternate system

must be accepted by the appropriate PMI and

require the maintenance records be

maintained either indefinitely or until the

work is repeated. Records of the piece-part

inspections are not required under

§ 121.380(a)(2)(vi) of the Federal Aviation

Regulations [14 CFR 121.380(a)(2)(vi)]. All

other Operators must maintain the records of

mandatory inspections required by the

applicable regulations governing their

operations.

Note 3: The requirements of this AD have

been met when the engine manual changes

are made and air carriers have modified their

continuous airworthiness maintenance plans

to reflect the requirements in the engine

manuals.

Effective Date

(f) This amendment becomes effective on

January 22, 2001.

David A. Downey,

Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–27166 Filed 10–23–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 00–ACE–28]

Amendment to Class E Airspace;

Pittsburg, KS

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: This action amends the Class

E airspace area at Atkinson Municipal

Airport, Pittsburg, KS. The FAA has

developed Area Navigation (RNAV)

Runway (RWY) 3, RNAV RWY 16,

RNAV RWY 21, RNAV RWY 34, and

Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB)–A

Standard Instrument Approach

Procedures (SIAPs) to serve Atkinson

Municipal Airport, Pittsburg, KS.

Additional controlled airspace

extending upward from 700 feet Above

Ground Level (AGL) is needed to

accommodate these SIAPs and for

Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations

at this airport. The enlarged area will

contain the new RNAV RWY 3, RNAV

RWY 16, RNAV RWY 21, RNAV RWY

34, and NDB–A SIAPs in controlled

airspace.

In addition a minor revision to the

Airport Reference Point (ARP) and NDB

coordinates have been included in this

document.

The intended effect of this rule is to

provide controlled Class E airspace for

aircraft executing the RNAV RWY 3,

RNAV RWY 16, RNAV RWY 21, RNAV

RWY 34, and NDB–A SIAPs, revise the

ARP and NDB coordinates, and to

segregate aircraft using instrument

approach procedures in instrument

conditions from aircraft operating in

visual conditions.

DATES: This direct final rule is effective

on 0901 UTC, March 22, 2001.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules

Docket must be received on or before

December 4, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding

the rule in triplicate to: Manager,

Operations and Airspace Branch, Air

Traffic Division, ACE–530, DOT

Regional Headquarters Building, Federal

Aviation Administration, Docket

Number 00–ACE–28, 901 Locust,

Kansas City, MO 64106.

The official docket may be examined

in the Office of the Regional Counsel for

the Central Region at the same address

between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays. An informal docket may also

be examined during normal business

hours in the Air Traffic Division at the

same address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathy Randolph, Air Traffic Division,

Operations & Airspace Branch, ACE–

520C, DOT Regional Headquarters

Building, Federal Aviation

Administration, 901 Locus, Kansas City,

MO 64106; telephone: (816) 329–2525.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA

has developed RNAV RWY 3, RNAV

RWY 16, RNAV RWY 21, RNAV RWY

34, and NDB–A SIAPs to serve the

Atkinson Municipal Airport, Pittsburg,

KS. The amendment to Class E airspace

at Pittsburg, KS, will provide additional

controlled airspace at and above 700

feet AGL in order to contain the new

SIAPs within controlled airspace, and

thereby facilitate separation of aircraft

operating under Instrument Flight Rules

(IFR). The amendment at Pittsburg

Municipal Airport, KS, will provide

additional controlled airspace for

aircraft operating under IFR and revise

the ARP and NDB coordinates. The area

will be depicted on appropriate

aeronautical charts. Class E airspace

areas extending upward from 700 feet or

more above the surface of the Earth are

published in paragraph 6005 of FAA

Order 7400.9H, dated September 1,

2000, and effective September 16, 2000,

which is incorporated by reference in 14

CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace

designation listed in this document will

be published subsequently in the Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

The FAA anticipates that this

regulation will not result in adverse or

negative comment and, therefore, is

issuing it as a direct final rule. Previous

actions of this nature have not been

controversial and have not resulted in

adverse comments or objections. The

amendment will enhance safety for all

flight operations by designating an area

where VFR pilots may anticipate the

presence of IFR aircraft at lower

altitudes, especially during inclement

weather conditions. A greater degree of

safety is achieved by depicting the area

on aeronautical charts. Unless a written

adverse or negative comment, or a

written notice of intent to submit an

adverse or negative comment is received

within the comment period, the

regulation will become effective on the

date specified above. After the close of

the comment period, the FAA will

publish a document in the Federal

Register indicating that no adverse or

negative comments were received and

confirming the date on which the final

rule will become effective. If the FAA

does receive, within the comment

period, an adverse or negative comment,

or written notice of intent to submit

such a comment, a document

withdrawing the direct final rule will be

published in the Federal Register, and

a notice of proposed rulemaking may be

published with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of

a final rule and was not preceded by a

notice of proposed rulemaking,

comments are invited on this rule.

Interested persons are invited to

comment on this rule by submitting

such written data, views, or arguments

as they may desire. Communications

should identify the Rules Docket

number and be submitted in triplicate to

the address specified under the caption

ADDRESSES. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments will be considered, and

this rule may be amended or withdrawn

in light of the comments received.

Factual information that supports the

commenter’s ideas and suggestions is

extremely helpful in evaluating the

effectiveness of this action and

determining whether additional

rulemaking action would be needed.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy-related

aspects of the rule that might suggest a

need to modify the rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by