Document ID: FAA-2020-1116-0004
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Pratt and Whitney Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2021-04-22T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 76 (Thursday, April 22, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21181-21185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08327]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1116; Project Identifier AD-2020-00784-E; 
Amendment 39-21524; AD 2021-09-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-04-15 
for all Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-3A, JT9D-7, JT9D-7A, JT9D-7AH, JT9D-
7F, JT9D-7H, JT9D-7J, JT9D-7Q, JT9D-7Q3, JT9D-7R4D, JT9D-7R4D1, JT9D-
7R4E, JT9D-7R4E1, JT9D-7R4E4, JT9D-7R4G2, JT9D-7R4H1, JT9D-20, JT9D-
20J, JT9D-59A, and JT9D-70A (JT9D) model turbofan engines. AD 2012-04-
15 required 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. AD 2012-04-15 also required 
additional revisions to the ALS of the manufacturer's ICA for JT9D 
model turbofan engines. This AD requires revising the required 
inspections of selected critical life-limited parts specified in the 
ALS of the manufacturer's ICA and, for air carriers, to the existing 
continuous airworthiness air carrier maintenance program (CAMP). The 
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 27, 2021.

ADDRESSES: 

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1116; or in person at 
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, any 
comments received, and other information. The address for Docket 
Operations is 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: Nicholas Paine, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7742; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: 
nicholas.j.paine@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2012-04-15, Amendment 39-16971 (77 FR 
15939, March 19, 2012), (AD 2012-04-15). AD 2012-04-15 applied to all 
PW JT9D model turbofan engines. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on December 15, 2020 (85 FR 81162). The NPRM was prompted by 
the need to require enhanced inspection of selected critical life-
limited parts of PW JT9D model turbofan engines. Since the FAA issued 
AD 2012-04-15, PW identified errors in the list of mandatory 
inspections to add to the ALS. During review of the AD, PW found that 
AD 2012-04-15 did not include eddy current inspections of the fan hubs. 
Additionally, PW identified duplicate inspections of the HPT Stage 2 
disk tie rod and web cooling holes. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 
require revising the required inspections of selected critical life-
limited parts specified in the ALS of the manufacturer's ICA and, for 
air carriers, to the existing CAMP. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from two commenters. The commenters were 
Atlas Air Inc. (Atlas Air) and Boeing Commercial Airplanes (Boeing). 
The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's 
response to each comment.

Request To Add Missing Figure Label

    Atlas Air requested that the FAA add the figure label to paragraph 
(g), Required Actions, of this AD.

[[Page 21182]]

    The FAA agrees and notes that a formatting issue resulted in the 
missing figure label from Figure 1 to paragraph (g) in the NPRM. The 
FAA expects this formatting issue will be corrected with the 
publication of this final rule.

Addition of Engine Models to Figure

    The FAA determined the need to update Figure 1 to paragraph (g) of 
this AD to specifically reference PW JT9D-7R4G2, and JT9D-7R4H1 model 
turbofan engines. AD 2012-04-15 included these engines under ``7R4 
ALL,'' however, the FAA inadvertently left these engines out of Figure 
1 when identifying the individual engine models in the proposed rule. 
This revision does not change the number of affected engines that the 
FAA estimated in the NPRM and imposes no additional burden on operators 
of U.S. airplanes.

Support for the AD

    Boeing expressed support for the AD as written.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments 
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting the AD as 
proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes and any 
other changes described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed in 
the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any 
operator.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 27 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. Based on updated information since the 
publication of AD 2012-04-15, the FAA reduced the estimated number of 
engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry from 438 in AD 2012-04-
15 to 27 in this final rule.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update ALS............................  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85          $2,295
                                         hour = $85.
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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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA has determined that 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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 Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2012-04-15, Amendment 39-16971 (77 
FR 15939, March 19, 2012); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

2021-09-10 Pratt & Whitney: Amendment 39-21524; Docket No. FAA-2020-
1116; Project Identifier AD-2020-00784-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 27, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2012-04-15, Amendment 39-16971 (77 FR 15939, 
March 19, 2012).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-3A, JT9D-7, 
JT9D-7A, JT9D-7AH, JT9D-7F, JT9D-7H, JT9D-7J, JT9D-7Q, JT9D-7Q3, 
JT9D-7R4D, JT9D-7R4D1, JT9D-7R4E, JT9D-7R4E1, JT9D-7R4E4, JT9D-
7R4G2, JT9D-7R4H1, JT9D-20, JT9D-20J, JT9D-59A, and JT9D-70A (JT9D) 
model turbofan engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the need to require enhanced inspection 
of selected critical life-limited parts of PW JT9D model turbofan 
engines. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the failure of 
critical life-limited rotating engine parts. The unsafe condition, 
if not addressed, could result in uncontained part release, damage 
to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, add Figure 1 
to paragraph (g) of this AD to the Airworthiness Limitations Section 
(ALS) of the manufacturer's Instructions for Continued Airworthiness 
(ICA) and, for air carrier operations, to the existing continuous 
airworthiness air carrier maintenance program.
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(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, 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 Related Information. You may email your request to: 
ANE-AD-AMOC@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.

[[Page 21185]]

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Nicholas Paine, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7742; fax: (781) 238-7199; 
email: nicholas.j.paine@faa.gov.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on April 16, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-08327 Filed 4-21-21; 8:45 am]
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