Document ID: FAA-2009-0331-0004
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Honeywell International Inc. TFE731 Series Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2010-03-17T04:00Z

[Federal Register: March 17, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 51)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 12663-12665]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17mr10-4]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0331; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-40-AD; 
Amendment 39-16235; AD 2010-06-11]
RIN 2120-AA64

 
Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. TFE731 
Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Honeywell International Inc. TFE731 series turbofan engines with 
certain second stage low-pressure compressor rotor (LPCR) discs and/or 
certain third stage LPCR discs installed. This AD requires removing 
from service certain second stage LPCR discs and/or certain third stage 
LPCR discs. This AD results from a report of cracks found during a 
fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) of the disc bore. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent an uncontained failure of a second stage LPCR disc 
and/or a third stage LPCR disc due to cracks in the bore, which could 
result in damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 21, 2010. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of April 21, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from Honeywell Engines and Systems Technical Publications and 
Distribution, M/S 2101-201, P.O. Box 52170, Phoenix, AZ 85072-2170, 
telephone: Global Customer Care toll free (800) 601-3099; International 
callers (602) 365-3099.
    The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; e-mail: 
joseph.costa@faa.gov; telephone: (562) 627-5246; fax: (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and a supplemental NPRM, to 
amend 14 CFR part 39 to add an AD, for Honeywell International Inc. 
TFE731 series turbofan engines with certain second stage LPCR discs 
and/or certain third stage LPCR discs installed. That NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2009 (74 FR 16807) and 
proposed to remove from service certain second stage LPCR discs

[[Page 12664]]

and certain third stage LPCR discs. That supplemental NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on December 11, 2009 (74 FR 65697). 
The supplemental NPRM proposed to remove from service certain second 
stage LPCR discs and/or certain third stage LPCR discs. It also revised 
the proposed AD to correct a P/N error, to clarify the applicability, 
and to clarify the instructions in the compliance section.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in 
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We responded to the comments received on the NPRM, in the 
supplemental NPRM. We received no comments on the supplemental NPRM or 
on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 27 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 4 
work-hours per engine to perform the actions during scheduled 
maintenance and 140 work-hours per engine for the actions during 
unscheduled maintenance. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. 
Required parts will cost about $31,000 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be 
$900,000.

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.

Regulatory Findings

    We have 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration 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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2010-06-11 Honeywell International Inc. (Formerly AlliedSignal Inc., 
formerly Garrett Turbine Engine Company): Amendment 39-16235. Docket 
No. FAA-2009-0331; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-40-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 
21, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-2, 
TFE731-2A, TFE731-2C, TFE731-3, TFE731-3A, TFE731-3AR, TFE731-3B, 
TFE731-3BR, TFE731-3C, TFE731-3CR, TFE731-3D, TFE731-3DR, TFE731-3R, 
TFE731-4, TFE731-4R, TFE731-5, TFE731-5AR, TFE731-5BR, and TFE731-5R 
series turbofan engines with certain second stage low-pressure 
compressor rotor (LPCR) discs, part number (P/N) 3072396-1 or 
3075190-1, and/or certain third stage LPCR discs, P/N 3072397-1 or 
3075192-1, installed. These engines are installed on, but not 
limited to, the airplanes listed in Table 1 of this AD.

             Table 1--Installed on Airplanes by Manufacturer
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Manufacturer                            Model
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dassault-Aviation or Dassault Aviation.  Falcon 10 (Falcon 100) and
                                          Mystere-Falcon 20, 50, 900 and
                                          MF900 series.
Cessna Aircraft Company................  Model 650, Citation III, VI,
                                          and VII.
Gulfstream Aerospace LP................  1125 Westwind Astra.
Israel Aircraft Industries.............  1124 and 1124A (Westwind).
Learjet Inc............................  31, 31A, 35, 35A, 36, 36A, 55,
                                          55B, 55C, and M31.
Lockheed Martin Corporation (formerly    1329-23A, 1329-23D, 1329-23E,
 Lockheed-Georgia).                       and 1329-25.

[[Page 12665]]

Raytheon Corporate Jets (formerly        DH.125 Series 1A, 3A, and 3A/
 British Aerospace and Hawker             RA, HS.125 Series F3B and F3B/
 Beechcraft Corporation).                 RA, BH.125 and DH.125 Series
                                          400A, HS.125 Series 403B,
                                          F400B, and F403B, HS.125
                                          Series 600A, BH.125 Series
                                          600A, HS.125 Series F600B,
                                          700A, and 700B, BAe.125 Series
                                          800 and 1000, and Hawker 800
                                          and 850XP series.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of cracks found during a 
fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) of the disc bore. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent an uncontained failure of a second stage 
LPCR disc and/or a third stage LPCR disc due to cracks in the bore, 
which could result in damage to the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the 
actions have already been done.

Removing LPCR Discs From Service

    (f) For engines with any of the serial number (S/N) LPCR discs 
listed in Table 5 of Honeywell International Inc. Alert Service 
Bulletins (ASBs) TFE731-72-A3748, dated August 21, 2008, and/or 
Table 5 of TFE731-72-A3749, dated August 21, 2008, remove those LPCR 
discs from service within 100 cycles-in-service (CIS) after the 
effective date of this AD.
    (g) For engines with any of the S/N LPCR discs listed in Table 6 
of Honeywell International Inc. ASBs TFE731-72-A3748, dated August 
21, 2008, and/or Table 6 of TFE731-72-A3749, dated August 21, 2008, 
do the earlier of the following:
    (1) Remove the LPCR disc from service within 2,000 CIS after the 
effective date of this AD, or
    (2) Remove the LPCR disc from service the next time the 
intermediate case is removed from the low-pressure compressor case.

Installation Prohibition

    (h) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any of 
the S/Ns of LPCR discs listed in Table 5 of Honeywell International 
Inc. ASBs TFE731-72-A3748, dated August 21, 2008, and the discs 
listed in Table 5 of TFE731-72-A3749, dated August 21, 2008, into 
any engine. Also, do not install any of the S/Ns of LPCR discs 
listed in Table 6 of Honeywell International Inc. ASBs TFE731-72-
A3748, dated August 21, 2008, and the discs listed in Table 6 of 
TFE731-72-A3749, dated August 21, 2008, into any engine.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (i) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, has 
the authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for this 
AD if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (j) Contact Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; e-mail: 
joseph.costa@faa.gov; telephone: (562) 627-5246; fax: (562) 627-
5210, for more information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use the service information specified in the 
following Table 2 to identify the affected discs requiring removal. 
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of the documents listed in the following Table 2 in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Honeywell 
Engines and Systems Technical Publications and Distribution, M/S 
2101-201, P.O. Box 52170, Phoenix, AZ 85072-2170, telephone: Global 
Customer Care toll free (800) 601-3099; International callers (602) 
365-3099, for a copy of this service information. You may review 
copies at the FAA, New England Region, 12 New England Executive 
Park, Burlington, MA; or at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://
www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

                                       Table 2--Incorporation by Reference
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   Honeywell International Inc.
    Alert Service Bulletin No.             Page                Revision                      Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TFE731-72-A3748; Total Pages: 18.  All.................  Original...........  August 21, 2008.
TFE731-72-A3749; Total Pages: 14.  All.................  Original...........  August 21, 2008.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 5, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-5507 Filed 3-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P