Document ID: FAA-2015-0165-0006
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: General Electric Company Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2015-07-20T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 138 (Monday, July 20, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42707-42708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17703]

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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 138 / Monday, July 20, 2015 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 42707]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-0165; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-02-AD; 
Amendment 39-18212; AD 2015-15-03]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
General Electric Company (GE) GEnx turbofan engine models. This AD was 
prompted by reports of GEnx-1B and GEnx-2B engines experiencing power 
loss in ice crystal icing (ICI) conditions. This AD precludes the use 
of full authority digital engine control (FADEC) software, version B175 
or earlier, in GEnx-1B engines, and the use of FADEC software, version 
C065 or earlier, in GEnx-2B engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
engine failure, loss of thrust control, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective August 24, 2015.

ADDRESSES: 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: geae.aoc@ge.com. You 
may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. 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-2015-
0165; 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher McGuire, Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7120; fax: 781-238-7199; email: chris.mcguire@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all General Electric 
Company (GE) GEnx turbofan engine models. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on March 17, 2015 (80 FR 13797). The NPRM was prompted 
by reports of GEnx-1B and GEnx-2B engines experiencing power loss in 
ICI conditions. The NPRM proposed to preclude the use of FADEC 
software, version B175 or earlier, in GEnx-1B engines, and the use of 
FADEC software, version C065 or earlier, in GEnx-2B engines. We are 
issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and 
the FAA's response to each comment.

Request To Delay Issuance of AD

    United Airlines (United) commented that this AD should not be 
issued until after GEnx-1B FADEC software version B185 is released. 
United noted that software version B185 will provide a greater level of 
protection from damage to the engine due to ice crystal icing. United 
indicated that the proposed AD would allow engines to operate with 
FADEC software versions B178 and B180, which do not provide the 
protection of software version B185.
    We do not agree. We find that precluding use of FADEC software 
version B175 or earlier provides an adequate level of safety for 
inadvertent encounters in ICI environments. We did not change this AD.

Request To Withdraw AD and Supersede Another AD

    United requested that we withdraw the proposed rule and, instead 
supersede AD 2013-24-01 (78 FR 70851, November 27, 2013), which 
requires revising the airplane flight manual for Model 747-8 and 747-8F 
series airplanes and Model 787-8 airplanes powered by GEnx engines.
    We do not agree. Our AD addresses the susceptibility of GEnx 
engines when operating inadvertently in ICI conditions. AD 2013-24-01 
(78 FR 70851, November 27, 2013) is setting operational limitations on 
Boeing Model 747-8, 747-8F, and 787-8 airplanes equipped with GEnx 
engines. The ADs have different purposes, and superseding AD 2013-24-01 
is outside the scope of this AD. We did not withdraw this AD.

Support for the NPRM

    The Boeing Company and the General Electric Company expressed 
support for the proposed rule.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 80 engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 hour per 
engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. 
No parts are required. Based on these figures, we estimate the total 
cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be $6,800.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue

[[Page 42708]]

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

    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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA 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 (AD):

2015-15-03 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-18212; Docket No. 
FAA-2015-0165; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-02-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective August 24, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-1B 
model turbofan engines with full authority digital engine control 
(FADEC) software version B175 or earlier, installed, and GEnx-2B 
model turbofan engines with FADEC software version C065 or earlier, 
installed.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of GEnx-1B and GEnx-2B engines 
experiencing power loss in ice crystal icing (ICI) conditions. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent engine failure, loss of thrust 
control, and damage to the airplane.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Thirty days after the effective date of this AD, do not 
operate any GE GEnx-1B engine with FADEC software version B175 or 
earlier, installed in the electronic engine control (EEC).
    (2) Thirty days after the effective date of this AD, do not 
operate any GE GEnx-2B engine with FADEC software version C065 or 
earlier, installed in the EEC.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
to 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.

(g) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Christopher 
McGuire, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7120; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
chris.mcguire@faa.gov.
    (2) GE GEnx-1B Service Bulletin (SB) No. 73-0036 R00, dated 
January 6, 2015, and GE GEnx-2B SB No. 73-0035 R00, dated September 
16, 2014, which are not incorporated by reference in this AD, can be 
obtained from GE using the contact information in paragraph (g)(3) 
of this AD.
    (3) For service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann 
Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: 
geae.aoc@ge.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 781-238-7125.

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on July 13, 2015.
Carlos A. Pestana,
Acting Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-17703 Filed 7-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P