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

28850

Vol. 66, No. 102

Friday, May 25, 2001

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99–NE–46]

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce

Corporation (Formerly Allison Engine

Company) AE 3007 Series Turbofan

Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) proposes to

supersede an existing airworthiness

directive (AD), applicable to certain

Rolls-Royce Corporation (formerly

Allison Engine Company) AE 3007

series turbofan engines. That AD

currently requires removal of certain

compressor cone shafts from service

before exceeding new cyclic life limits

and replacement with serviceable parts.

This proposal would require increasing

the cyclic life limit for certain serial

numbers of new compressor cone shafts,

part number (P/N) 23070729, that are

used on AE3007A1/3 and AE3007A1P

engines. This proposal is prompted by

recent approved changes in engineering

and manufacturing processes for new

compressor cone shafts P/N 23070729.

The actions specified by the proposed

AD are intended to prevent low-cycle

fatigue (LCF) failure of cone shafts,

which could result in an uncontained

engine failure and damage to the

airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received by

July 24, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), New England

Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 99–NE–46–

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.dot.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. 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:

Michael Downs, Aerospace Engineer,

Chicago Aircraft Certification Office,

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 2300

East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL

60018; telephone: (847) 294–7870, fax:

(847) 294–7834

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 99–NE–46–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. 99–NE–46–AD, 12 New

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA

01803–5299.

Discussion

On April 27, 2000, the FAA issued

AD 2000–09–05, Amendment 39–11714

(65 FR 26121, May 5, 2000), to require

removal of certain compressor cone

shafts from service before exceeding

new cyclic life limits, and replacement

with serviceable parts. That action was

prompted by additional testing and lowcycle fatigue (LCF) life analysis that

substantiated lower cyclic lives than

originally determined. That condition, if

not corrected, could result in LCF

failure of compressor cone shafts,

uncontained engine failure, and damage

to the airplane. Since the issuance of

that AD, the manufacturer has made

changes to the engineering and

manufacturing processes for new cone

shafts, P/N 23070729, that increase the

cyclic life limit, based on approved FAA

and Rolls-Royce methodology for

establishing cycle life.

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 Rolls-Royce

Corporation AE 3007 series turbofan

engines of this same type design, the

proposed AD would revise AD 2000–

09–05 to require increasing the cyclic

life limit for certain serial numbers of

new compressor cone shafts, part

number (P/N) 23070729, that are used

on AE3007A1/3 and AE3007A1P

engines.

Economic Impact

There are approximately 598 engines

of the affected design in the worldwide

fleet. The FAA estimates that 364

engines installed on aircraft of U.S.

registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 150 work hours per

engine to accomplish the proposed

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Required parts

would cost approximately $3,921 per

engine. Based on these figures, the total

cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $4,703,244.

Regulatory Impact

This proposed rule does not have

federalism implications, as defined in

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 102 / Friday, May 25, 2001 / Proposed Rules 28851

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

removing Amendment 39–11714 (65 FR

26121, May 5, 2000), and by adding a

new airworthiness directive (AD), to

read as follows:

Rolls-Royce Corporation (formerly Allison

Engine Company): Docket No. 99–NE–

46–AD. Supersedes AD 2000–09–05,

Amendment 39–11714.

Applicability

This AD is applicable to Rolls-Royce

Corporation (formerly Allison Engine

Company) models AE 3007A, AE 3007A1, AE

3007A1/1, AE 3007A1/2, AE 3007A1/3, AE

3007A1P, and AE 3007C turbofan engines,

with compressor cone shafts, part numbers

(P/Ns) 23050728 and 23070729, installed.

These engines are installed on but not

limited to EMBRAER EMB–135 and EMB–

145 series and Cessna 750 series 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 (h) 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 low-cycle fatigue failure of cone

shafts, which could result in an uncontained

engine failure and damage to the airplane,

accomplish the following:

Removal From Service

(a) For Rolls-Royce Corporation model AE

3007A engines, remove cone shafts from

service prior to accumulating 9,500 cyclessince-new (CSN) and replace with

serviceable parts.

(b) For Rolls-Royce Corporation model AE

3007C engines, remove cone shafts from

service prior to accumulating 14,500 CSN

and replace with serviceable parts.

(c) For Roll-Royce Corporation models AE

3007A1, AE 3007A1/1, and AE 3007A1/2

engines, remove cone shafts from service

prior to accumulating 7,500 CSN and replace

with serviceable parts.

(d) For Rolls-Royce Corporation model AE

3007A1/3 engines:

(1) With compressor cone shafts P/N

23070729, serial number (SN) MM78599,

MM78615, MM78632, MM78650, MM78651,

MM78652, MM78653, MM78654, MM78655,

MM78656, MM78657, MM78658, MM78659,

MM78660, MM78661, MM78662, MM78663,

MM78665 or higher, remove cone shafts from

service prior to accumulating 9,300 CSN and

replace with serviceable parts.

(2) With compressor cone shafts P/N

23050728, or P/N 23070729 having other

than the S/N’s listed in paragraph (d)(1) of

this AD, remove cone shafts from service

prior to accumulating 3,500 CSN and replace

with serviceable parts.

(e) For Rolls-Royce Corporation AE

3007A1P engines:

(1) With compressor cone shafts P/N

23070729, SN MM78599, MM78615,

MM78632, MM78650, MM78651, MM78652,

MM78653, MM78654, MM78655, MM78656,

MM78657, MM78658, MM78659, MM78660,

MM78661, MM78662, MM78663, MM78665

or higher, remove cone shafts from service

prior to accumulating 7,300 CSN and replace

with serviceable parts.

(2) With compressor cone shafts P/N

23050728, or P/N 23070729 having other

than the SN’s listed in paragraph (e)(1) of this

AD, remove cone shafts from service prior to

accumulating 2,400 CSN and replace with

serviceable parts.

New Life Limits

(f) Paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this

AD establish new, lower life limits for cone

shafts, P/Ns 23050728 and 23070729.

(g) Except for the provisions of paragraph

(h) of this AD, no cone shafts, P/Ns 23050728

and 23070729, may remain in service

exceeding the life limits established in

paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this AD.

Alternative Method of Compliance

(h) 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, Chicago

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO). Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, Chicago ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this airworthiness directive,

if any, may be obtained from the Chicago

ACO.

Special Flight Permits

(i) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 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.

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on

May 18, 2001.

Diane S. Romanosky,

Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–13183 Filed 5–24–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[CGD07–01–017]

RIN 2115–AE84

Regulated Navigation Areas and

Limited Access Areas; Miami River and

Tamiami Canal, Miami-Dade County,

FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rule making.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to

amend the Regulated Navigation Area

for the Miami River and Tamiami Canal

to improve navigational safety on the

River, prevent marine casualties and

ensure the river’s continued ability to

serve as a main artery for flood control.

This proposed rule would prohibit

vessels greater than 200 gross tons from

laying up in an inoperable status on the

Miami River or Tamiami Canal during

hurricane season from June 1 until

November 30 annually.