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

69258

Vol. 65, No. 222

Thursday, November 16, 2000

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NE–24–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt &

Whitney Canada (P&WC) Model PW305

and PW305A Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to Pratt

& Whitney Canada (P&WC) Model

PW305 and PW305A turbofan engines.

This proposal would require removing

stage 4 low pressure turbine (LPT) disks

from service before exceeding new,

lower cyclic life limits. This proposal is

prompted by the results of a spin pit test

analysis which indicate that the stage 4

LPT disk does not have full published

life. The actions specified by the

proposed AD are intended to prevent

LPT disk failure resulting from

premature cracking of the LPT disks,

which could result in an uncontained

engine failure and damage to the

airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received by

December 18, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),

New England Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 2000–NE–24–AD, 12 New

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA

01803–5299. Comments may also be

sent via the Internet using the following

address: ‘‘9-ane-adcomment@faa.gov’’.

Comments sent via the Internet must

contain the docket number in the

subject line. Comments may be

inspected at this location between 8:00

a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through

Friday, except Federal holidays.

This information may be examined at

the FAA, New England Region, Office of

the Regional Counsel, 12 New England

Executive Park, Burlington, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

James Rosa, Aerospace Engineer, Engine

Certification Office, FAA, Engine and

Propeller Directorate, 12 New England

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803–

5299; telephone: (781) 238–7152; fax

(781) 238–7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications

should identify the Rules Docket

number and be submitted to the address

specified above. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments, specified above, will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this action may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this action

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 2000–NE–24–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRM’s

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, New England Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 2000–NE–24–AD, 12 New

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA

01803–5299.

Discussion

Transport Canada, which is the

airworthiness authority for Canada,

recently notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on P&WC model

PW305 and PW305A turbofan engines.

P&WC ran a spin test and found earlier

than expected indications of crack

initiation. As a result of this test,

Transport Canada advises that there is a

possibility of premature failure of the

stage 4 LPT disks, part numbers (P/N’s)

30A1457 and 30A1499. This condition,

if not corrected, could cause a failure of

the stage 4 LPT disk, that could result

in an uncontained engine failure and

damage to the airplane. To prevent a

premature failure of the stage 4 LPT

disk, this proposal would decrease the

current life limit of these disks from

5,000 to 4,000 cycles-in-service (CIS).

Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement

This engine model is manufactured in

Canada and is type certificated for

operation in the United States under the

provisions of § 21.29 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29)

and the applicable bilateral

airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to

this bilateral airworthiness agreement,

Transport Canada has kept the FAA

informed of the situation described

above. The FAA has examined the

findings of Transport Canada, reviewed

all available information, and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States. To prevent premature failure of

the stage 4 LPT disk used in the model

PW305 and PW305A engines, Transport

Canada issued airworthiness directive

(AD) CF–99–28 in order to ensure the

airworthiness of these P&WC engines in

Canada.

Proposed Actions

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other products of this same

type design, the proposed AD would

require removing certain stage 4 LPT

disk P/N’s 30A1457 and 30A1499 from

service, before exceeding new lower

cyclic life limit of 4000 CIS, and

replacing them with serviceable parts.

The new life limits are based on spin

test analysis results that indicate that

the LPT disks do not have full

published lives.

Economic Analysis

There are currently 358 engines in the

domestic fleet containing the affected

stage 4 LPT disks, P/N’s 30A1457 and

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 222 / Thursday, November 16, 2000 / Proposed Rules 69259

30A1499, and a total of 484 engines in

the worldwide fleet. The total cost to the

domestic fleet to remove and replace

these disks at the new life limit of 4000

CIS, rather than the former life limit of

5000 CIS, is estimated to be $6,331,015.

Regulatory Impact

This proposed 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 proposed 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) if

promulgated, 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 copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action 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.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend 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

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

Pratt & Whitney Canada: Docket No. 2000–

NE–24–AD.

Applicability: Pratt & Whitney Canada

(P&WC) Model PW305 and PW305A turbofan

engines, with stage 4 low pressure turbine

(LPT) disks, part numbers (P/N’s) 30A1457

and 30A1499. These engines are installed on

but not limited to British Aerospace BAe. 125

1000A, BAe. 125 1000B, Hawker 1000 and

Learjet 60 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 premature LPT disk failure due

to cracking of the LPT disks, which could

result in an uncontained engine failure and

damage to the airplane, accomplish the

following:

New Stage 4 LPT Life Limit

(a) Remove stage 4 LPT disks, P/N’s

30A1457 and 30A1499, prior to exceeding

the new life limit of 4000 cycles-in-service

(CIS).

(b) Except for the provisions of paragraph

(c) of this AD, no parts, identified by P/N in

paragraph (a) of this AD, that exceed the new

life limit of 4000 CIS, may be installed.

Alternative Method 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 (ECO). Operators shall

submit their request through an appropriate

FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who

may add comments and then send it to the

Manager, ECO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this airworthiness directive,

if any, may be obtained from the ECO.

Ferry Flights

(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 airplane to a

location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

Issued in Burlington, MA, on November 9,

2000.

David A. Downey,

Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–29379 Filed 11–15–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

30 CFR Part 203

RIN 1010–AC71

Relief or Reduction in Royalty Rates—

Deep Water Royalty Relief for OCS Oil

and Gas Leases Issued After 2000

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service

(MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: This proposed rule revises

regulations on royalty relief for oil and

gas producers on the Outer Continental

Shelf (OCS). It provides for suspension

or reduction of royalty on a case-by-case

basis for certain additional categories of

OCS leases. Also, it identifies

circumstances when we may consider

special royalty relief outside our

established end-of-life and deep water

royalty relief (DWRR) programs.

DATES: We will consider all comments

we receive by December 18, 2000. We

will begin reviewing comments then

and may not fully consider comments

we receive after December 18, 2000.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment,

you may mail or hand-carry comments

to the Department of the Interior,

Minerals Management Service; Mail

Stop 4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon,

Virginia 20170–4817; Attention: Rules

Processing Team (RPT). The RPT’s email address is:

rules.comments@MMS.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Marshall Rose, Economics Division, at

(703) 787–1536.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OCS

Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337 et seq.) is the

basis for our regulations on suspending

or lowering royalties on OCS leases.

This rule describes how certain new

deep water leases may qualify for

royalty suspensions and what

circumstances might cause us to grant

royalty relief outside normal

procedures.

Background

The regulations at 30 CFR part 203

implement the Secretary of the Interior’s

(Secretary) authority to grant royalty

relief to OCS leases. Section 302 of the

Outer Continental Shelf Deep Water

Royalty Relief Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–

58) (the Act), gave us the authority to

promote development and production of

marginal resources in certain areas by

suspending royalties. Existing

regulations describe our programs in

three discretionary relief situations—

leases nearing the end of their life, new