Document ID: FAA-2017-0817-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Pratt&Whitney Division Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2017-10-12T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 196 (Thursday, October 12, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47405-47406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21558]

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

  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 196 / Thursday, October 12, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 47405]]

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: Jo-Ann 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:

[[Page 47406]]

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement of air seal...............  0 work-hours x $85 per           $13,800         $13,800     $13,675,800
                                         hour = $0.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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):

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-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.

(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: jo-ann.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