Document ID: FAA-2019-0352-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: GE Honda Aero Engines Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2019-05-21T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 21, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22986-22987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10525]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 98 / Tuesday, May 21, 2019 / Proposed 
Rules  

[[Page 22986]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0352; Product Identifier 2019-NE-09-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GE Honda Aero Engines Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all GE Honda Aero Engines (GHAE) HF120 turbofan engines with a 
certain fuel pump metering unit (FPMU) assembly. This proposed AD was 
prompted by damage found on the permanent magnetic alternator (PMA) 
drive gear within the FPMU assembly. This proposed AD would require 
removal of a certain FPMU assembly and its replacement with a part 
eligible for installation. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 5, 
2019.

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 GE Honda 
Aero Engines, LLC, 9050 Centre Pointe Drive, Suite 200, West Chester, 
exception occurred on : 2019-10525.htm
exception occurred on : 2019-10525.htm
OH 45069; phone 513-552-7820; email: aero.com">[email protected]aero.com; internet: 
www.gehonda.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.

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-2019-
0352; 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 NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Richardson-Bach, Aerospace 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7747; fax: 781-238-7199; email: michael.richardson-bach@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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-2019-0352; 
Product Identifier 2019-NE-09-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because of those comments.
    The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. 
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Discussion

    The FAA was notified of an incident on a flight test engine that 
resulted in the loss of over speed protection warning. GHAE's 
subsequent investigation found damage on the PMA drive gear teeth 
within the FPMU assembly, which was likely due to dynamic loads on the 
drive gear that exceeded the material capability. This condition, if 
not addressed, could result in failure of one or more engines, loss of 
thrust control, and loss of the airplane.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed GHAE HF120 Service Bulletin (SB) 73-0016 R01, 
dated November 8, 2018. The SB describes procedures for replacement of 
the FPMU assembly.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is proposing this AD because it 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 removal of a certain FPMU assembly 
and its replacement with a part eligible for installation.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 161 engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace the FPMU......................  6.5 work-hours x $85 per         $50,000      $50,552.50   $8,138,952.50
                                         hour = $552.50.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 22987]]

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.
    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

    The FAA 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) 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 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

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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

GE Honda Aero Engines: Docket No. FAA-2019-0352; Product Identifier 
2019-NE-09-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by July 5, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all GE Honda Aero Engines (GHAE) HF120 
turbofan engines with fuel pump metering unit (FPMU) assembly, part 
number (P/N) 24100-Q0A-F000, installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7314, Engine Fuel 
Pump.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by damage found on the permanent magnetic 
alternator (PMA) drive gear within the FPMU assembly. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the FPMU assembly. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of one or more 
engines, loss of thrust control, and loss of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within 20 engine hours after the effective date of this AD, or 
before accumulating 600 engine hours time since new, whichever 
occurs later, remove the affected FPMU assembly and replace it with 
a part eligible for installation.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install on any 
engine a FPMU assembly, P/N 24100-Q0A-F000.

(i) Definition

    For the purposes of this AD, a ``part eligible for 
installation'' is:
    (1) A FPMU assembly, P/N 24100-Q0A-G000 or P/N 24100-Q0A-F100; 
or
    (2) a FPMU assembly, P/N 24100-Q0A-F000, that is rebuilt and 
marked as P/N 24100-Q0A-G000 or P/N 24100-Q0A-F100.

(j) 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 paragraph (k)(1) of this AD. 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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Michael 
Richardson-Bach, Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7747; fax: 781-238-
7199; email: michael.richardson-bach@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact GE 
Honda Aero Engines, LLC, 9050 Centre Pointe Drive, Suite 200, West 
exception occurred on : 2019-10525.htm
exception occurred on : 2019-10525.htm
Chester, OH 45069; phone 513-552-7820; email: aero.com">[email protected]aero.com; 
internet: www.gehonda.com. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 15, 2019.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-10525 Filed 5-20-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P