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contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

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Rules and Regulations Federal Register

42707 

Vol. 80, No. 138 

Monday, July 20, 2015 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–0165; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–NE–02–AD; Amendment 39– 

18212; AD 2015–15–03] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; General 

Electric Company Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

General Electric Company (GE) GEnx 

turbofan engine models. This AD was 

prompted by reports of GEnx-1B and 

GEnx-2B engines experiencing power 

loss in ice crystal icing (ICI) conditions. 

This AD precludes the use of full 

authority digital engine control (FADEC) 

software, version B175 or earlier, in 

GEnx-1B engines, and the use of FADEC 

software, version C065 or earlier, in 

GEnx-2B engines. We are issuing this 

AD to prevent engine failure, loss of 

thrust control, and damage to the 

airplane. 

DATES: This AD is effective August 24, 

2015. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact General 

Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 

285, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 

45215; phone: 513–552–3272; email: 

geae.aoc@ge.com. You may view this 

service information at the FAA, Engine 

& Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 781–238– 

7125. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

0165; or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

Document Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Christopher McGuire, Aerospace 

Engineer, Engine Certification Office, 

FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 

New England Executive Park, 

Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781– 

238–7120; fax: 781–238–7199; email: 

chris.mcguire@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to all General Electric Company 

(GE) GEnx turbofan engine models. The 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on March 17, 2015 (80 FR 

13797). The NPRM was prompted by 

reports of GEnx-1B and GEnx-2B 

engines experiencing power loss in ICI 

conditions. The NPRM proposed to 

preclude the use of FADEC software, 

version B175 or earlier, in GEnx-1B 

engines, and the use of FADEC software, 

version C065 or earlier, in GEnx-2B 

engines. We are issuing this AD to 

correct the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the NPRM and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. 

Request To Delay Issuance of AD 

United Airlines (United) commented 

that this AD should not be issued until 

after GEnx-1B FADEC software version 

B185 is released. United noted that 

software version B185 will provide a 

greater level of protection from damage 

to the engine due to ice crystal icing. 

United indicated that the proposed AD 

would allow engines to operate with 

FADEC software versions B178 and 

B180, which do not provide the 

protection of software version B185. 

We do not agree. We find that 

precluding use of FADEC software 

version B175 or earlier provides an 

adequate level of safety for inadvertent 

encounters in ICI environments. We did 

not change this AD. 

Request To Withdraw AD and 

Supersede Another AD 

United requested that we withdraw 

the proposed rule and, instead 

supersede AD 2013–24–01 (78 FR 

70851, November 27, 2013), which 

requires revising the airplane flight 

manual for Model 747–8 and 747–8F 

series airplanes and Model 787–8 

airplanes powered by GEnx engines. 

We do not agree. Our AD addresses 

the susceptibility of GEnx engines when 

operating inadvertently in ICI 

conditions. AD 2013–24–01 (78 FR 

70851, November 27, 2013) is setting 

operational limitations on Boeing Model 

747–8, 747–8F, and 787–8 airplanes 

equipped with GEnx engines. The ADs 

have different purposes, and 

superseding AD 2013–24–01 is outside 

the scope of this AD. We did not 

withdraw this AD. 

Support for the NPRM 

The Boeing Company and the General 

Electric Company expressed support for 

the proposed rule. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety 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 

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42708 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 138 / Monday, July 20, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

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. 

We are 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 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD will 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 that this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska to the extent that it justifies 

making a regulatory distinction, and 

(4) 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. 

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 citation 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 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

2015–15–03 General Electric Company: 

Amendment 39–18212; Docket No. 

FAA–2015–0165; Directorate Identifier 

2015–NE–02–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective August 24, 2015. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all General Electric 

Company (GE) GEnx–1B model turbofan 

engines with full authority digital engine 

control (FADEC) software version B175 or 

earlier, installed, and GEnx–2B model 

turbofan engines with FADEC software 

version C065 or earlier, installed. 

(d) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

GEnx–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 GEnx–1B 

engine with FADEC software version B175 or 

earlier, installed in the electronic engine 

control (EEC). 

(2) Thirty days after the effective date of 

this AD, do not operate any GE GEnx–2B 

engine with FADEC 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 Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; phone: 781–238–7120; fax: 781–238– 

7199; email: chris.mcguire@faa.gov. 

(2) GE GEnx–1B Service Bulletin (SB) No. 

73–0036 R00, dated January 6, 2015, and GE 

GEnx–2B SB No. 73–0035 R00, 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; email: 

geae.aoc@ge.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

12 New England 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. 

Carlos A. Pestana, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Engine & 

Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–17703 Filed 7–17–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–2219; Airspace 

Docket No. 15–AWA–5] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Amendment of Class B Airspace; New 

Orleans, LA 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule, technical 

amendment. 

SUMMARY: This action amends Class B 

airspace at the Louis Armstrong New 

Orleans International Airport, New 

Orleans, LA, by removing reference to 

the Instrument Landing System (ILS) 

Runway 10 Outer Compass Locator 

(LOM) from the text header information 

and surface area (Area A) description 

and replacing it in the Area A 

description with the geographic 

latitude/longitude coordinates of the 

LOM. This change is necessary due to 

the planned decommissioning of the 

LOM navigation aid. The Louis 

Armstrong New Orleans International 

Airport and New Orleans Naval Air 

Station Joint Reserve Base (Alvin 

Callender Field) airport names and 

airport reference point (ARP) geographic 

coordinates are also updated. The St. 

Charles and Lakefront airports, used in 

the Class B description, are added in the 

legal description text header 

information, as well as, the Harvey VHF 

Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air 

Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid. 

Lastly, general editing of the legal 

description is accomplished to improve 

clarity. These changes are editorial only 

to match existing FAA aeronautical 

database information and do not alter 

the current charted boundaries or 

altitudes or the ATC procedures for the 

New Orleans Class B airspace area. 

DATES: Effective Date: 0901 UTC, 

November 12, 2015. The Director of the 

Federal Register approves this 

incorporation by reference action under 

1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual 

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