[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 157 (Monday, August 16, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44446-44448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21178]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-ANE-47-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney JT9D Series Turbofan
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the supersedure of an existing
airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Pratt & Whitney
JT9D series turbofan engines, that currently requires revisions to the
Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the manufacturer's
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to include required
enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts at each
piece-part exposure. This action would add additional critical life-
limited parts for enhanced inspection. This proposal is prompted by
additional focused inspection procedures for other critical life-
limited rotating engine parts that have been developed by the
manufacturer. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to
prevent critical life-limited rotating engine part failure, which could
result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 15, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-ANE-47-AD, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299. Comments may also be sent
via the Internet using the following address: ``adcomment@faa.gov''. Comments sent via the Internet must contain the
docket number in the subject line. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wego Wang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-
7134, fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 98-ANE-47-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-ANE-47-AD, 12 New England Executive
Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299.
Discussion
On April 13, 1999, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued
airworthiness directive (AD) 99-08-12, Amendment 39-11118 (64 FR 17954,
April 13, 1999), to require revisions to the Time Limits section in the
Engine Manual (EM) for certain Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D series
turbofan engines to include required enhanced inspection of selected
critical life-limited parts at each piece-part exposure.
Since the issuance of that AD, additional focused inspection
procedures for other critical life-limited rotating engine parts have
been developed by PW.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the
proposed AD would supersede AD 99-508-512 to require the additional
critical life-limited rotating engine parts to be subject to focused
inspection at each piece-part opportunity.
The FAA estimates that 1,372 engines installed on airplanes of US
registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take
approximately 1 work hour per engine to accomplish the proposed
actions. The average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these
figures the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $82,320.
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects
[[Page 44447]]
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. Therefore, in accordance with
Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this proposal would not
have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a
Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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);
and (3) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Amendment 39-11118 (63 FR
40220, April 13, 1999), and by adding a new airworthiness directive, to
read as follows:
Pratt & Whitney: Docket No. 98-ANE-47-AD. Supersedes AD 99-08-12,
Amendment 39-11118.
Applicability: Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-7, -7A, -7H, -7AH, -7F,
-7J, -20, -20J, -59A, -70A, -7Q, -7Q3, -7R4D, -7R4D1, -7R4E, -7R4E1,
-7R4E4, -7R4G2, and -7R4H1 series turbofan engines, installed on but
not limited to Boeing 747 and 767 series, McDonnell Douglas DC-10
series, and Airbus Industrie A300 and A310 airplanes.
Note 1: This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to each engine
identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of
whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area
subject to the requirements of this AD. For engines that have been
modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the
requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request
approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with
paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment
of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the
unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition
has not been eliminated, the request should include specific
proposed actions to address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent critical life-limited rotating engine part failure,
which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to
the airplane, accomplish the following:
(a) Within the next 30 days after the effective date of this AD,
revise the manufacturer's Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of
the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA), and for air
carrier operations revise the approved continuous airworthiness
maintenance program, by adding the following:
``Mandatory Inspections''
(1) Perform inspections of the following parts at each piecepart
opportunity in accordance with the instructions provided in the
applicable manual provisions:
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Engine model (manual P/N) Part description Part No. FPI per inspection
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7/7A/7AH/7F, 7H/7J/20/20J Fan Hub (Assy. P/N 648501 72-31-04, Inspection -02.
(646028*). 648621 and 665321).
7/7A/7AH/7F, 7H/7J/20/20J Fan Hub (Assy. P/N 666101 72-31-04, Inspection -02.
(646028*). 665321, 719127, and
778621).
7/7A/7AH/7F, 7H/7J/20/20J Fan Hub (Assy. P/N 690501 72-31-04, Inspection -02.
(646028*). 678541,726641, and
778631).
7/7A/7AH/7F, 7H/7J/20/20J Fan Hub (Assy. P/N 734901 72-31-04, Inspection -02.
(646028*). 726941).
59A/70A (754459).................. Fan Hub (Assy. P/N 745401 72-31-00, Heavy Maintenance Check.
732721, and 804221).
7Q/7Q3 (777210)................... Fan Hub (Assy. P/N 745401 72-31-00, Inspection -03.
732721, and 804221).
7R4's (785059, 785058, 789328).... Fan Hub (Assy. P/N 5001701-01 72-31-00, Inspection -03.
5001331-01).
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*P/N 770407 and 770408 are customized versions of P/N 646028 engine manual.
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Engine model Part description FPI per Inspection FPI per SPOP
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59A/70A (754459)................ All HPT, 1st disks. 72-51-02, HMC-01... 72-51-00, HMC-03.
All HPT, 2nd Disks. 72-51-02, HCM-02... 72-51-00 HMC-03.
7Q/7Q3 (777210)................. All HPT, 1st Disks. 72-51-06, Insp-01.. 72-51-00, Insp-03.
All HPT, 2nd Disks. 72-51-07, Insp-01.. 72-51-00, Insp-03.
7/7A/7AH/7F 7H/7J/20/20J All HPT, 1st Disks. 72-51-02, Insp-01.. 72-51-00, Insp-03.
(646028*). All HPT, 2nd Disks. 72-51-02, Insp-03.. 72-51-00, Insp-03.
7R4's (785058, 785059, and All HPT, 1st Disks. 72-51-06, Insp/Chk- 72-51-00, Insp/Chk-03.
789328). All HPT, 2nd Disks. 01. 72-51-00, Insp/Chk-03.
72-51-07, Insp/Chk-
01.
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*P/N 770407 and 770408 are customized versions of P/N 646028 engine manual.
(2) For the purposes of these mandatory inspections, piece-part
opportunity means:
(i) The part is considered completely disassembled when
accomplished in accordance with the disassembly instructions in the
manufacturer's engine manual to either part number listed in the
table above; and
(ii) The part has accumulated more than 100 cycles in service
since the last piece-part opportunity inspection, provided that the
part was not damaged or related to the cause for its removal from
the engine.''
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this AD, and
notwithstanding contrary provisions in section 43.16 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.16), these mandatory inspections
shall be performed only in accordance with the ALS of the
manufacturer's ICA.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Engine Certification Office (ECO). Operators
shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal
Maintenance Inspector (PMI), who may add comments and then send it
to the ECO.
[[Page 44448]]
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive,
if any, may be obtained from the ECO.
(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(e) FAA-certificated air carriers that have an approved
continuous airworthiness maintenance program in accordance with the
record keeping requirement of Sec. 121.369 (c) of the Federal
Aviation Regulations [14 CFR 121.369 (c)] of this chapter must
maintain records of the mandatory inspections that result from
revising the Time Limits section of the Instructions for Continuous
Airworthiness (ICA) and the air carrier's continuous airworthiness
program. Alternately, certificated air carriers may establish an
approved system of record retention that provides a method for
preservation and retrieval of the maintenance records that include
the inspections resulting from this AD, and include the policy and
procedures for implementing this alternate method in the air
carrier's maintenance manual required by Sec. 121.369 (c) of the
Federal Aviation Regulations [14 CFR 121.369 (c)]; however, the
alternate system must be accepted by the appropriate PMI and require
the maintenance records be maintained either indefinitely or until
the work is repeated. Records of the piece-part inspections are not
required under Sec. 121.380 (a)(2)(vi) of the Federal Aviation
Regulations [14 CFR 121.380 (a)(2)(vi)]. All other Operators must
maintain the records of mandatory inspections required by the
applicable regulations governing their operations.
Note 3: The requirements of this AD have been met when the
engine manual changes are made and air carriers have modified their
continuous airworthiness maintenance plans to reflect the
requirements in the Engine Manuals.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 9, 1999.
David A. Downey,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 99-21178 Filed 8-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
