Document ID: FAA-2018-0633-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: General Electric Company Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2018-08-03T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 150 (Friday, August 3, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38086-38088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16515]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0633; Product Identifier 2018-NE-22-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-2B67, -2B67B, and -2B67/P 
turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by low-cycle fatigue 
(LCF) cracking of the fuel manifold leading to an engine fire. This 
proposed AD would require removal from service of certain fuel 
manifolds at the next engine shop visit and their replacement with 
parts eligible for installation. We are proposing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 17, 
2018.

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 General 
Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 
45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: [email protected]. 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-2018-
0633; 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: Herman Mak, Aerospace Engineer, ECO 
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Ave., Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-
7147; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

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-2018-0633; 
Product Identifier 2018-NE-22-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://

[[Page 38087]]

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 received information concerning a fire in the under-cowl 
compartment of a GE GEnx-2B turbofan engine. Insufficient bushing 
clearance in the fuel manifold bracket resulted in additional fuel 
manifold loads, premature manifold cracking, fuel leakage, and fuel 
ignition. Twelve fuel manifolds were found to have LCF cracks. Three of 
these twelve cracked fuel manifolds resulted in a fire. This condition, 
if not addressed, could result in failure of the fuel manifold, engine 
fire, and damage to the airplane.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed GE GEnx-2B Service Bulletin (SB) 73-0038 R02, dated 
November 19, 2015. The SB describes procedures for removing and 
replacing the fuel manifold system with parts eligible for 
installation.

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 removal from service of certain fuel 
manifolds at the next engine shop visit and their replacement with 
parts eligible for installation.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects two engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate 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 fuel manifolds................  220 work-hours x $85 per        $119,485        $138,185        $276,370
                                         hour = $18,700.
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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.
    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):

General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA-2018-0633; Product 
Identifier 2018-NE-22-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 17, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-2B67, -
2B67B, and -2B67/P turbofan engines with top main fuel manifolds, 
part numbers (P/Ns) 2419M11G01, 2561M11G01, or 2546M11G01, or lower 
fuel manifolds, P/Ns 2419M12G01, 2561M12G01, or 2546M12G01, 
installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7310, Engine Fuel 
Distribution.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by low-cycle fatigue cracking of the fuel 
manifold leading to an engine fire. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent the failure of the fuel manifold. The unsafe condition, if 
not addressed, could result in failure of the fuel manifold, engine 
fire, and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    At the next engine shop visit, remove the applicable fuel 
manifolds from service and replace with parts eligible for 
installation.

[[Page 38088]]

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install top main 
fuel manifolds, P/Ns 2419M11G01, 2561M11G01, or 2546M11G01, or lower 
fuel manifolds, P/Ns 2419M12G01, 2561M12G01, or 2546M12G01.

(i) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, an ``engine shop visit'' is the 
induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the 
separation of pairs of major mating engine case flanges, except for 
the following situations, which do not constitute an engine shop 
visit:
    (1) Separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of 
transportation of the engine without subsequent maintenance.
    (2) Separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of 
replacing the fan or propulsor without subsequent maintenance.

(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. Information may be 
emailed to: [email protected].
    (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 Herman Mak, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Ave., Burlington, 
MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7147; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, 
Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: [email protected]. 
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 July 27, 2018.
Karen M. Grant,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-16515 Filed 8-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P