Document ID: FAA-2016-9167-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: General Electric Company Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2016-12-07T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 88145-88147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28667]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9167; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-20-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) GE90 turbofan engines. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report of an engine and airplane fire. 
This proposed AD would require replacing affected fuel/oil lube/servo 
coolers (``main heat exchangers'') with a part eligible for 
installation. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of a main 
heat exchanger, which could result in an engine fire.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 23, 
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 General 
Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 
45215, phone: 513-552-3272; email: aviation.fleetsupport@ge.com. You 
may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 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-2016-
9167; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m.

[[Page 88146]]

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this proposed AD, 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: John Frost, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7756; fax: 781-238-7199; email: john.frost@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this NPRM. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-FAA-2016-9167; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-20-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 propose to adopt an AD for certain GE GE90-76B, GE90-85B, GE90-
90B, GE90-94B, GE90-110B1, and GE90-115B turbofan engines with a main 
heat exchanger, part number (P/N) 1838M88P11 or 1838M88P13.
    This proposed AD is prompted by a report of an airplane fire caused 
by a failed main heat exchanger. The incident investigation determined 
the cause to be an internal main heat exchanger tube separation, which 
resulted in leakage of fuel into the oil system, causing oil sump 
flooding that overwhelmed the scavenge and venting system. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of a main heat 
exchanger, which could cause an engine fire. To correct this unsafe 
condition, we propose to require replacing the main heat exchanger with 
a part not affected by this proposed AD or with a part that is repaired 
in accordance with the manufacturer's service information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed GE Service Bulletin (SB) GE90-100 SB 79-0034, Revision 
03, dated August 5, 2016, and SB GE90 SB 79-0058, Revision 02, dated 
August 5, 2016. This service information describes procedures to 
replace and repair a main heat exchanger. These documents are distinct 
since they apply to different engine models.
    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 the affected main heat 
exchangers with a part eligible for installation.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 185 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 main heat exchanger.......  5 work-hours x $85 per             $7,000           $7,425       $1,373,625
                                     hour = $425.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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):

[[Page 88147]]

General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA-2016-9167; Directorate 
Identifier 2016-NE-20-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by January 23, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) GE90-76B, GE90-
85B, GE90-90B, GE90-94B, GE90-110B1, and GE90-115B turbofan engines 
with a fuel/oil lube/servo cooler (``main heat exchanger'') part 
number (P/N) 1838M88P11 or 1838M88P13, with a serial number listed 
in paragraph 1.A of GE Service Bulletin (SB) GE90-100 SB 79-0034, 
Revision 03, dated August 05, 2016; or SB GE90 SB 79-0058, Revision 
02, dated August 05, 2016.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7921, Engine Oil 
Cooler.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by an engine and airplane fire. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of a main heat exchanger, which 
could result in an engine fire.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, replace 
the main heat exchanger with a part eligible for installation.

(h) Definition

    For purposes of this AD, a part eligible for installation is a 
main heat exchanger with a P/N and serial number not listed in 
paragraph (c) of this AD or a main heat exchanger repaired in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 3.C.(2) 
through 3.C.(7), of GE SB GE90-100 SB 79-0034, dated December 3, 
2014; Revision 01, dated August 14, 2015; Revision 02, dated 
November 6, 2015; or Revision 03, dated August 5, 2016; or GE SB 
GE90 SB 79-0058, dated August 18, 2015; Revision 01, dated December 
10, 2015; or Revision 02, dated August 05, 2016.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve 
AMOCs for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make 
your request. 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact John Frost, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7756; fax: 781-238-
7199; email: john.frost@faa.gov.
    (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: 
aviation.fleetsupport@ge.com.
    (3) You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 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 November 16, 2016.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-28667 Filed 12-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P