Document ID: FAA-2022-1401-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: General Electric Company Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2022-11-04T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 213 (Friday, November 4, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66625-66627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23460]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1401; Project Identifier AD-2022-01017-E]
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: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80E1A2, CF6-80E1A3, CF6-
80E1A4, and CF6-80E1A4/B model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was 
prompted by a manufacturer investigation that revealed that certain 
compressor discharge pressure seals (CDP seals) and forward outer seals 
were manufactured from powder metal material suspected to contain iron 
inclusion. This proposed AD would require the replacement of the 
affected CDP seals and forward outer seals. 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 December 
19, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR

[[Page 66626]]

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-1401; 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, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexei Marqueen, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7178; email: [email protected].

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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-1401; Project Identifier 
AD-2022-01017-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Alexei Marqueen, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. Any commentary that the FAA 
receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in 
the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA was notified by the manufacturer of the detection of iron 
inclusion in a turbine disk manufactured from the same powder metal 
material used to manufacture certain CDP seals and forward outer seals 
for GE CF6-80E1A2, CF6-80E1A3, CF6-80E1A4, and CF6-80E1A4/B model 
turbofan engines. Further investigation by the manufacturer determined 
that the iron inclusion is attributed to deficiencies in the 
manufacturing process. The investigation by the manufacturer also 
determined that certain CF6-80E1A2, CF6-80E1A3, CF6-80E1A4, and CF6-
80E1A4/B CDP seals and forward outer seals made from billets 
manufactured using the same process may have reduced material 
properties and a lower fatigue life capability due to iron inclusion, 
which may cause premature fracture and uncontained failure. As a result 
of its investigation, the manufacturer published service information 
that specifies procedures for the removal and replacement of certain 
CDP seals and forward outer seals installed on CF6-80E1A2, CF6-80E1A3, 
CF6-80E1A4, and CF6-80E1A4/B model turbofan engines. This condition, if 
not addressed, could result in uncontained debris release, damage to 
the engine, and damage to the aircraft.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed GE CF6-80E1 Service Bulletin (SB) 72-0597 R00, 
dated August 5, 2022. This service information specifies procedures for 
removing the CDP seal and forward outer seal from service.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require the removal of certain CDP seals and 
forward outer seals from service and replacement with parts eligible 
for installation.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 0 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 CDP seal..................  8 work-hours x $85     $154,768 (prorated)..        $155,448              $0
                                     per hour = $680.
Replace forward outer seal........  8 work-hours x $85     1,289,792 (prorated).       1,290,472               0
                                     per hour = $680.
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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

[[Page 66627]]

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 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:
    General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA-2022-1401; Project 
Identifier AD-2022-01017-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by December 19, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to General Electric Company CF6-80E1A2, CF6-
80E1A3, CF6-80E1A4, CF6-80E1A4/B model turbofan engines with an 
installed:
    (1) Compressor discharge pressure seal (CDP seal) with part 
number (P/N) 1669M73P02 and serial number (S/N) TMT1C0E1 or 
TMT1C0E2; or
    (2) Forward outer seal with P/N 1778M70P03 and S/N NCU65340.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section; 7250, Turbine Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that 
revealed that certain CDP seals and forward outer seals were 
manufactured from powder metal material suspected to contain iron 
inclusion. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent fracture and 
uncontained failure of certain CDP seals and forward outer seals. 
The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained 
debris release, damage to the engine, and damage to the aircraft.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) At the next piece-part exposure after the effective date of 
this AD or before the affected CDP seal exceeds 6,400 cycles since 
new (CSN), whichever occurs first, remove the affected CDP seal from 
service and replace with a part eligible for installation.
    (2) At the next piece-part exposure after the effective date of 
this AD or before the affected forward outer seal exceeds 5,400 CSN, 
whichever occurs first, remove the affected forward outer seal from 
service and replace with a part eligible for installation.

(h) Definitions

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, a ``part eligible for 
installation'' is a CDP seal that does not have P/N 1669M73P02 and 
S/N TMT1C0E1 or S/N TMT1C0E2, and a forward outer seal that does not 
have P/N 1778M70P03 and S/N NCU65340.
    (2) For the purpose of this AD, ``piece-part exposure'' is when 
the affected part is removed from the engine.

(i) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install a CDP seal 
with P/N 1669M73P02 and S/N TMT1C0E1 or S/N TMT1C0E2, or a forward 
outer seal with P/N 1778M70P03 and S/N NCU65340, onto any engine.

(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) of this AD and email 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

    For more information about this AD, contact Alexei Marqueen, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7178; email: 
[email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on October 24, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-23460 Filed 11-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P