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

27475

Vol. 66, No. 96

Thursday, May 17, 2001

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001–NE–19–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; General

Electric Company CF6–50 and CF6–

80C2 Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) proposes to adopt

a new airworthiness directive (AD) that

is applicable to General Electric

Company CF6–50 and CF6–80C2

turbofan engines. This proposal would

require replacement of certain existing

CF6–50 and CF6–80C2 shrouds with

new design shrouds. This proposal is

prompted by 37 low pressure turbine

(LPT) uncontained events on the CF6–

50 and 24 on the CF6–80C2 engine

models since 1993, and the

development and certification of newly

designed shrouds that will improve LPT

containment capability. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent uncontained engine

failure and possible airplane damage.

DATES: Comments must be received by

July 16, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), New England

Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001–NE–

19–AD, 12 New England Executive Park,

Burlington, MA 01803–5299. Comments

may also be sent via the Internet using

the following address: ‘‘9-aneadcomment@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 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday

through Friday, except Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

General Electric Company via Lockheed

Martin Technology Services, 10525

Chester Road, Suite C, Cincinnati, Ohio

45215, telephone: (513) 672–8400; fax:

(513) 672–8422. 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:

Karen Curtis, Aerospace Engineer,

Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine

and Propeller Directorate, 12 New

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA

01803–5299; telephone: (781) 238–7192,

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 in triplicate 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 2001–NE–19–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. 2001–NE–19–AD, 12 New

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA

01803–5299.

Discussion

Since 1993, the General Electric CF6

turbofan engine has experienced a

number of low pressure turbine (LPT)

failures in which debris from the engine

has escaped from the engine case and

nacelle. The engine shroud is part of the

containment system intended to prevent

such debris from an LPT failure from

threatening the aircraft. For the CF6–50

engine model, there have been 16 such

events where the debris escaped the

engine case, 12 where the debris

escaped both the case and nacelle, and

nine where the debris escaped the case

and nacelle and impacted the aircraft.

The CF6–80C2 has experienced 16

events where the debris escaped the

engine case, six where the debris

escaped the case and nacelle, and two

where the debris impacted the aircraft.

Many different upstream failures have

led to the secondary breakup and

separation of LPT blades, and resulted

in low energy LPT case penetrations.

High pressure turbine (HPT) blade

failures, HPT nozzle failures, and fan

mid shaft separations due to high

pressure compressor airduct failures

have been the leading causes for

uncontained LPT failures for these

engine models. In addition, multiple

shroud repairs can lead to reduced

shroud backsheet thickness and result

in reduced containment system

capability.

The manufacturer has developed, and

the FAA has certified, newly designed

shrouds that will improve LPT

contaiment capability and enhance

engine safety. Although the

manufacturer and the FAA have also

designed and certified design

improvements to address the known

upstream failure modes, not all such

failure modes can be anticipated and

therefore improved LPT containment

capability is necessary to protect the

airplane from debris from an LPT

failure, and enhance safety for these

engine models.

This proposal would require

replacement of certain existing CF6–50

and CF6–80C2 shrouds with new design

shrouds.

Manufacturer’s Service Information

The FAA has reviewed and approved

the technical contents of GE Aircraft

27476 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 96 / Thursday, May 17, 2001 / Proposed Rules

Engines Service Bulletin (GEAE SB)

CF6–80C2 S/B 72–1006, dated April 11,

2001 and GEAE SB CF60–50 S/B 72–

1170, dated May 7, 1999, that specify

part numbers and procedures for the

removal and replacement of the

shrouds.

FAA’s Determination of an Unsafe

Condition and Proposed Actions

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other General Electric

Company CF6–50 and CF6–80C2

turbofan engines of the same type

design, the proposed AD would require

replacement of certain existing CF6–50

and CF6–80C2 shrouds with new design

shrouds at the next shroud piece part

exposure, but no later than December

31, 2006. The actions would be required

to be accomplished in accordance with

the service bulletins described

previously.

Economic Impact

There are approximately 5,055 GE

CF6–50 and CF6–80C2 turbofan engines

of the affected design in the worldwide

fleet. The FAA estimates that 1,106

engines installed on airplanes of U.S.

registry would be affected by this

proposed AD. Because this proposal

calls for the replacement of shrouds at

piece part exposure, the FAA does not

expect that additional labor costs will be

accrued beyond that normally required

to remove the existing shroud. New

shrouds will cost approximately

$63,250 for the CF6–50 engines, and

$87,020 for the CF6–80C2 engines.

Based on these figures, the total cost to

retrofit all installed US registered

engines is estimated to be $85,096,038

over a five year period, or $17,019,207

annually.

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:

General Electric Company: Docket No. 2001–

NE–19–AD.

Applicability: This airworthiness directive

(AD) is applicable to General Electric

Company (GE) CF6–50 and CF6–80C2

turbofan engines These engines are installed

on, but not limited to DC–10–15, DC–10–30,

MD11, 747, 767, A300 and A310 airplanes.

Note 1: This 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: Compliance with this AD is

required as indicated, unless already done.

To prevent uncontained engine failure and

possible airplane damage, do the following:

(a) Remove existing Stage 2, 3 and 4 low

pressure turbine (LPT) CF6–80C2 shrouds

and replace with new design part numbers

(P/N’s) 2083M12G01, 2083M13G01, and

2083M14G01, respectively, in accordance

with GE Aircraft Engines Service Bulletin

(GEAE SB) CF6–80C2 S/B 72–1006, dated

April 11, 2001, at the next shroud piece part

exposure, but no later than December 31,

2006.

(b) Remove existing Stage 1, 2, 3 and 4 LPT

CF6–50 shrouds and replace with new design

P/N’s 1822M35G01, 1822M36G01,

1822M36G02, and 1822M37G01,

respectively, in accordance with GEAE SB

CF6–50 S/B 72–1170, dated May 7, 1999, at

the next shroud piece part exposure, but no

later than December 31, 2006.

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 (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.

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance §§ 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, Massachusetts, on

May 11, 2001.

Francis A. Favara,

Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–12425 Filed 5–16–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING

COMMISSION

17 CFR Parts 3 and 170

RIN Number: 3038–AB84

Notice Registration as a Futures

Commission Merchant or Introducing

Broker for Certain Securities Brokers

or Dealers

AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading

Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rules.

SUMMARY: In accordance with certain

provisions of the Commodity Futures

Modernization Act of 2000 (‘‘CFMA’’),

the Commodity Futures Trading

Commission (‘‘Commission’’) is

proposing to amend Rule 3.10, which

specifies the information that various

applicants for registration must file. The

amendment would provide for notice

registration as a futures commission

merchant (‘‘FCM’’) or introducing

broker (‘‘IB’’), as applicable, in the case

of a broker or dealer (‘‘BD’’) registered

with the Securities and Exchange

Commission (‘‘SEC’’) that, among other

things, limits its involvement with

commodity futures contracts to security

futures products. In accordance with