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

66300 

Vol. 70, No. 211 

Wednesday, November 2, 2005 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. 98–ANE–47–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & 

Whitney JT9D Series Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede an existing airworthiness 

directive (AD) for Pratt & Whitney (PW) 

JT9D series turbofan engines. That AD 

currently requires revisions to the 

Airworthiness Limitations Section 

(ALS) of the manufacturer’s Instructions 

for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to 

include required enhanced inspection of 

selected critical life-limited parts at 

each piece-part opportunity. This 

proposed AD would modify the JT9D 

series engines ALS sections of the 

manufacturer’s manuals and an air 

carrier’s approved continuous 

airworthiness maintenance program to 

incorporate additional inspection 

requirements. The mandatory 

inspections are needed to identify those 

critical rotating parts with conditions, 

which if allowed to continue in service, 

could result in uncontained failures. We 

are proposing this AD to prevent critical 

life-limited rotating engine part failure, 

which could result in an uncontained 

engine failure and damage to the 

airplane. 

DATES: We must receive any comments 

on this proposed AD by January 3, 2006. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

proposed AD: 

• By mail: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), New England 

Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Attention: Rules Docket No. 98–ANE– 

47–AD, 12 New England Executive Park, 

Burlington, MA 01803–5299. 

• By fax: (781) 238–7055. 

• By e-mail: 9-aneadcomment@faa.gov. 

You may examine the AD docket at 

the FAA, New England Region, Office of 

the Regional Counsel, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kevin Donovan, Aerospace Engineer, 

Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine 

and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803–5299; telephone (781) 238–7743, 

fax (781) 238–7199. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments 

regarding this proposal. Send your 

comments to an address listed under 

ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘AD Docket No. 98– 

ANE–47–AD’’ in the subject line of your 

comments. If you want us to 

acknowledge receipt of your mailed 

comments, send us a self-addressed, 

stamped postcard with the docket 

number written on it; we will datestamp your postcard and mail it back to 

you. We specifically invite comments 

on the overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

the proposed AD. If a person contacts us 

verbally, and that contact relates to a 

substantive part of this proposed AD, 

we will summarize the contact and 

place the summary in the docket. We 

will consider all comments received by 

the closing date and may amend the 

proposed AD in light of those 

comments. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD Docket 

(including any comments and service 

information), by appointment, between 

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

Friday, except Federal holidays. See 

ADDRESSES for the location. 

Discussion 

On April 12, 2002, we issued AD 

2002–08–11, Amendment 39–12719 (67 

FR 19663, April 23, 2002), to require 

revisions to the JT9D series engines ALS 

of the manufacturer’s Instructions for 

Continued Airworthiness to include 

required enhanced inspection of 

selected critical life-limited parts at 

each piece-part opportunity. 

New Inspection Procedures 

Since we issued AD 2002–08–11, PW 

has added mandatory eddy current 

inspections (ECIs) for web cooling holes 

in high pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 

disks, installed in engine models JT9D– 

7R4, –7R4D1, –7R4E, –7R4E1 engines, 

and for HPT stage 2 disks installed in 

JT9D–7, –7A, –7H, –7AH, –7F, –7J, –20, 

and –20J engines. The mandatory 

inspections are needed to identify those 

critical rotating parts with conditions, 

which if allowed to continue in service, 

could result in uncontained failures. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of the Proposed AD 

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 

supersede AD 2002–08–11 to require: 

• Adding ECIs for web cooling holes 

in HPT stage 1 disks installed in engine 

models JT9D–7R4, –7R4D1, –7R4E, 

–7R4E1 engines; and 

• Adding ECIs for web cooling holes 

in HPT stage 2 disks installed in JT9D– 

7, –7A, –7H, –7AH, –7F, –7J, –20, and 

–20J engines; and 

• Clarification of the inspections 

listed in the Inspection column of the 

Mandatory Inspections Table in this AD. 

The proposed AD would incorporate 

the additional inspection requirements 

into the Airworthiness Limitations 

Section of the manufacturer’s manuals 

and an air carrier’s approved continuous 

airworthiness maintenance program. 

Costs of Compliance 

About 1,978 PW JT9D series turbofan 

engines of the affected design are in the 

worldwide fleet. We estimate that 837 of 

these engines are installed on U.S.- 

registered airplanes and would be 

affected by this proposed AD. We also 

estimate that about one work hour per 

engine is needed to perform the 

proposed actions, and that the average 

labor rate is $65 per work hour. Since 

this is an added inspection requirement 

that will be part of the normal 

maintenance cycle, no additional parts 

costs are involved. Based on these 

figures, we estimate the total cost of the 

proposed AD to U.S. operators to be 

$54,405. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 211 / Wednesday, November 2, 2005 / Proposed Rules 66301 

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 

We determined that this proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD 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. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify that the 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. Would not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

We prepared a summary of the costs 

to comply with this proposal and placed 

it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy 

of this summary by sending a request to 

us at the address listed under 

ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘AD Docket No. 98–

ANE–47–AD’’ in your request. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the Federal Aviation Administration 

proposes to amend 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 

removing Amendment 39–12719 (67 FR 

19663, April 23, 2002), and by adding 

a new airworthiness directive to read as 

follows: 

Pratt & Whitney: Docket No. 98–ANE–47–

AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) The Federal Aviation Administration 

(FAA) must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) action by 

January 3, 2006. 

Affected ADs 

(b) This AD supersedes AD 2002–08–11, 

Amendment 39–12719. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney 

(PW) JT9D–3A, –7, –7A, –7H, –7AH, –7F, 

–7J, –20J, –59A, –70A, –7Q, –7Q3, –7R4D, 

–7R4D1, –7R4E, –7R4E1, –7R4E4, –7R4G2, 

and –7R4H1 series turbofan engines, 

installed on but not limited to Boeing 747 

and 767 series, McDonnell Douglas DC–10 

series, and Airbus Industrie A300 and A310 

airplanes. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD results from the need to 

require enhanced inspection of selected 

critical life-limited parts of JT9D series 

turbofan engines. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent failure of critical life-limited rotating 

engine parts, which could result in an 

uncontained engine failure and damage to 

the airplane. 

Compliance 

(e) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified unless the 

actions have already been done. 

(f) Within the next 180 days after the 

effective date of this AD, revise the 

manufacturer’s Instructions for Continued 

Airworthiness Airworthiness Limitations 

Section (ALS), and for air carrier operations 

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 applicable manual provisions: 

Engine model Engine manual part 

number (P/N) Part nomenclature 

Inspect per 

manual 

section 

Inspection/check 

7/7A/7AH/7F, 7H/7J/20/ 

20J.

* 646028 (or the equivalent customized 

versions, 770407 and 

770408).

All Fan Hubs ....................................................... 72–31–04 Inspection-02. 

All HPC Stage 5—15 Disks and Rear Compressor Drive Turbine Shafts.72–35–00 Inspection-03. 

All HPT Stage 1—2 Disks and Hubs ................. 72–51–00 Inspection-03. 

All HPT Stage 2 Disk Web Cooling Holes ......... 71–51–02 Inspection-05. 

All LPT Stage 3—6 Disks and Hubs .................. 72–52–00 Inspection-03. 

59A/70A ......................... 754459 ......................... All Fan Hubs ....................................................... 72–31–00 Check-00. 

All HPC Stage 5—15 Disks and Rear Compressor Drive Turbine Shafts.72–35–00 Check-00. 

All HPT Stage 1—2 Disks and Hubs ................. 72–51–00 Check-03. 

All HPT Stage 1 Disk Web Cooling Holes ......... 72–51–02 Check-03. 

All LPT Stage 3—6 Disks and Hubs .................. 72–52–00 Check-03. 

7Q/7Q3 .......................... 777210 ......................... All Fan Hubs ....................................................... 72–31–00 Inspection-03. 

All HPC Stage 5—15 Disks and Rear Compressor Drive Turbine Shafts.72–35–00 Inspection-03. 

All HPT Stage 1—2 Disks and Hubs ................. 72–51–00 Inspection-03. 

All HPT Stage 1 Disk Web Cooling Holes ......... 72–51–06 Inspection-03. 

All LPT Stage 3—6 Disks and Hubs .................. 72–52–00 Inspection-03. 

7R4 ................................ 785058, 785059, and 

789328.

All Fan Hubs ....................................................... 72–31–00 Inspection/Check-03. 

All HPC Stage 5—15 Disks and Rear Compressor Drive Turbine Shafts.72–35–00 Inspection/Check 03. 

66302 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 211 / Wednesday, November 2, 2005 / Proposed Rules 

Engine model Engine manual part 

number (P/N) Part nomenclature 

Inspect per 

manual 

section 

Inspection/check 

All HPT Stage 1—2 Disks and Hubs ................. 72–51–00 Inspection/Check-03. 

All LPT Stage 3—6 Disks and Hubs .................. 72–52–00 Inspection/Check-03. 

7R4D/D1/E/E1 ............... 785058 and 785059 ..... All HPT Stage 1 Disk Web Cooling Holes ......... 72–51–06 Inspection/Check-02. 

* P/N 770407 and 770408 are customized versions of P/N 646028 engine manual. 

(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; and 

(ii) The part has accumulated more than 

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.’’

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(g) You must perform these mandatory 

inspections using the ALS of the Instructions 

for Continued Airworthiness and the 

applicable Engine Manual unless you receive 

approval to use an alternative method of 

compliance under paragraph (h) of this AD. 

Section 43.16 of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations (14 CFR 43.16) may not be used 

to approve alternative methods of 

compliance or adjustments to the times in 

which these inspections must be performed. 

(h) The Manager, Engine Certification 

Office, has the authority to approve 

alternative methods of compliance for this 

AD if requested using the procedures found 

in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Maintaining Records of the Mandatory 

Inspections 

(i) You have met the requirements of this 

AD when you change the manufacturer’s 

Instructions for Continued Airworthiness 

ALS specified in paragraph (f) of this AD, 

and, for air carriers operating under part 121 

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 

part 121), when you modify your continuous 

airworthiness maintenance plan to reflect 

those changes. You do not need to record 

each piece-part inspection as compliance to 

this AD but you must maintain records of 

those inspections according to the 

regulations governing your operation. For air 

carriers operating under part 121, you may 

use either the system established to comply 

with section 121.369 or an alternative 

accepted by your principal maintenance 

inspector if that alternative: 

(1) Includes a method for preserving and 

retrieving the records of the inspections 

resulting from this AD; and 

(2) Meets the requirements of section 

121.369(c); and 

(3) Maintains the records either 

indefinitely or until the work is repeated. 

(j) These record keeping requirements 

apply only to the records used to document 

the mandatory inspections required as a 

result of revising the ALS of the Instructions 

for Continued Airworthiness as specified in 

paragraph (f) of this AD, and do not alter or 

amend the record keeping requirements for 

any other AD or regulatory requirement. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

October 27, 2005. 

Peter A. White, 

Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–21804 Filed 11–1–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. 92–ANE–34–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell 

International Inc., (Formerly 

AlliedSignal, Inc. and Textron 

Lycoming) ALF502L Series and 

ALF502R Series Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede an existing airworthiness 

directive (AD), AD 95–04–11, for 

Honeywell International Inc., (formerly 

AlliedSignal, Inc. and Textron 

Lycoming) ALF502L series and 

ALF502R series turbofan engines. That 

AD currently establishes stress rupture 

retirement life limits for certain third 

stage turbine discs used in conjunction 

with certain third stage turbine nozzles. 

This proposed AD would bring 

requirements forward and unchanged, 

from the previous AD for ALF502R 

series turbofan engines. Also, this 

proposed AD would establish new 

reduced stress rupture retirement life 

limits for certain part numbers (P/Ns) of 

third stage turbine disc and shaft 

assemblies installed in ALF502L series 

turbofan engines. This proposed AD 

would also require removing those same 

parts from service using a drawdown 

schedule. This proposed AD results 

from a report of failure of a third stage 

turbine disc and shaft assembly, leading 

to turbine blade release and separation 

of the exhaust nozzle. We are proposing 

this AD to prevent total loss of engine 

power, in-flight engine shutdown, 

release of turbine blades, separation of 

the exhaust nozzle, and possible damage 

to the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive any comments 

on this proposed AD by January 3, 2006. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to comment on this proposed 

AD: 

• By mail: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), New England 

Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Attention: Rules Docket No. 92–ANE–

34–AD, 12 New England Executive Park, 

Burlington, MA 01803–5299. 

• By fax: (781) 238–7055. 

• By e-mail: 9-aneadcomment@faa.gov. 

Contact Honeywell Engines, Systems 

& Services, Customer Support Center, 

M/S 26–06/2102–323, P.O. Box 29003, 

Phoenix, AZ 85038–9003; telephone 

(800) 601–3099, for the service 

information identified in this proposed 

AD. 

You may examine the AD docket at 

the FAA, New England Region, Office of 

the Regional Counsel, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Robert Baitoo, Aerospace Engineer, Los 

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 

90712–4137; telephone: (562) 627–5245, 

fax: (562) 627–5210. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments 

regarding this proposal. Send your 

comments to an address listed under 

ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘AD Docket No. 92–

ANE–34–AD’’ in the subject line of your 

comments. If you want us to 

acknowledge receipt of your mailed 

comments, send us a self-addressed, 

stamped postcard with the docket 

number written on it; we will datestamp your postcard and mail it back to 

you. We specifically invite comments 

on the overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

the proposed AD. If a person contacts us 

verbally, and that contact relates to a 

substantive part of this proposed AD, 

we will summarize the contact and 

place the summary in the docket. We 

will consider all comments received by