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

47405 

Vol. 82, No. 196 

Thursday, October 12, 2017 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0817; Product 

Identifier 2017–NE–30–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & 

Whitney Division Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt 

& Whitney Division (PW) PW4052, 

PW4056, PW4060, PW4062, PW4062A, 

PW4152, PW4156A, PW4158, PW4460, 

and PW4462 turbofan engine models, 

including engines identified with 

suffixes –1C, –1E, –3, –3A, or –3B. This 

proposed AD was prompted by the 

discovery of multiple cracked 4th stage 

low-pressure turbine (LPT) air seals in 

the fleet. This proposed AD requires 

removal from service of certain air seals. 

We are proposing this AD to correct the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 27, 

2017. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact Pratt & Whitney 

Division, 400 Main St., East Hartford, 

CT 06118; phone: 800–565–0140; fax: 

860–565–5442. You may view this 

service information at the FAA, Engine 

and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 

District Avenue, Burlington, MA. 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–2017– 

0817; 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 NPRM, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Office (phone: 800–647– 

5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: JoAnn Theriault, Aerospace Engineer, 

ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 

781–238–7105; fax: 781–238–7199; 

email: jo-ann.theriault@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2017–0817; Product Identifier 2017– 

NE–30–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this NPRM. We will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this NPRM 

because of those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this NPRM. 

Discussion 

We were notified of the discovery of 

multiple cracked 4th stage LPT air seals, 

part number (P/N) 50N346. This 

proposed AD requires removal from 

service of certain air seals. Replacement 

of the air seal also requires replacement 

of the 4th stage LPT vane cluster 

honeycomb. This condition, if not 

corrected, could result in failure of the 

air seal, uncontained air seal release, 

damage to the engine, and damage to the 

airplane. 

Related Service Information 

We reviewed PW Alert Service 

Bulletin (SB) No. PW4ENG A72–830, 

Revision 1, dated May 2, 2017. This PW 

Alert SB provides instructions for 

replacement of the 4th stage LPT air 

seal. We also reviewed Cleaning 

Inspection Repair (CIR) Manual, P/N 

51A357, Task 72–53–24, Repair-02. This 

CIR Manual provides guidance for 4th 

stage LPT vane cluster honeycomb 

replacement repair. This service 

information is reasonably available 

because the interested parties have 

access to it through their normal course 

of business or by the means identified 

in the ADDRESSES section. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

replacing 4th stage LPT air seals, P/N 

50N346. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 991 engines installed on 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS
47406 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 196 / Thursday, October 12, 2017 / Proposed Rules 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Replacement of air seal .................................. 0 work-hours × $85 per hour = $0 ................. $13,800 $13,800 $13,675,800 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

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. 

This AD is issued in accordance with 

authority delegated by the Executive 

Director, Aircraft Certification Service, 

as authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. 

In accordance with that order, issuance 

of ADs is normally a function of the 

Compliance and Airworthiness 

Division, but during this transition 

period, the Executive Director has 

delegated the authority to issue ADs 

applicable to engines, propellers, and 

associated appliances to the Manager, 

Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 

Policy and Innovation Division. 

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 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), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, 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. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA 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 adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Pratt & Whitney Division: Docket No. FAA– 

2017–0817 Product Identifier 2017–NE– 

30–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by November 

27, 2017. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Pratt & Whitney 

Division (PW) PW4052, PW4056, PW4060, 

PW4062, PW4062A, PW4152, PW4156A, 

PW4158, PW4460, and PW4462 turbofan 

engine models, including engines identified 

with suffixes –1C, –1E, –3, –3A, or –3B, with 

4th stage low-pressure turbine (LPT) air seal, 

part number (P/N) 50N346, installed. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 7240, Turbine Engine Combustion 

Section. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by the discovery of 

multiple cracked air seals. We are issuing 

this AD to prevent failure of the 4th stage 

LPT air seal, uncontained air seal release, 

damage to the engine, and damage to the 

airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(1) At the next disassembly of the LPT 

module, remove 4th stage air seal, P/N 

50N346, from service and replace with a part 

eligible for installation. 

(2) Reserved. 

(g) Installation Prohibition 

After the effective date of this AD, do not 

install any 4th stage LPT air seal, P/N 

50N346, into any LPT module. 

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, 

Compliance and Airworthiness Division, has 

the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, 

if requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 

send your request to your principal inspector 

or local Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the certification office, 

send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. You 

may email your request to: ANE-ADAMOC@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(i) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Jo-Ann Theriault, Aerospace 

Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781– 

238–7105; fax: 781–238–7199; email: joann.theriault@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Pratt & Whitney Division, 

400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06118; 

phone: 800–565–0140; fax: 860–565–5442. 

You may view this referenced service 

information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller 

Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 

Burlington, MA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

781–238–7125. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

September 29, 2017. 

Robert J. Ganley, 

Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 

Branch, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–21558 Filed 10–11–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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