E9-21629. Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company (GE) CJ610 Series Turbojet Engines and CF700 Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GE CJ610 series turbojet engines and CF700 turbofan engines with AFT Technologies combustion liners, part number (P/N) AFT-5016T30G02. This proposed AD would require removing from service, AFT Technologies combustion liners, P/N AFT-5016T30G02. This proposed AD results from a report of an AFT Technologies combustion liner that released a large section of the inner combustion liner and reports of six combustion liners with premature cracks. We are proposing this AD to prevent premature cracks in the combustion liner, which could release pieces of the inner combustion liner. A release of pieces of the inner combustion liner could cause an uncontained failure of the engine turbine and damage to the airplane.

DATES:

We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by November 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Use one of the following addresses to comment on this proposed AD.

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
• Fax: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Norman Perenson, Aerospace Engineer, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; e-mail: [e-mail]; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send us any written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “Docket No. FAA-2009-0502; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-02-AD” in the subject line of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD in light 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 with FAA personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of the Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, including, if provided, the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).

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 proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone [phone]) is the same as the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

Discussion

We have received a report of a large section of a combustion liner breaking free that caused damage to the turbine and excessive engine vibration. Also, we have received six reports of premature combustion liner cracking, determined by borescope inspection and precautionary removal of the combustion liners by the repair facility. Excessive cracking of the combustion liner could result in liberation of combustion liner pieces and damage to the turbine. The PMA holder has not been able to determine the cause of the premature combustion liner failure. Without a prohibition against installing a new or serviceable AFT Technologies combustion liner in the field and at AFT, there will be nothing to prevent a large piece of the combustion liner from releasing and damaging the turbine. This condition, if not corrected, could result in an uncontained failure of the engine turbine and damage to the airplane.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products of this same type design. We are proposing this AD, which would require replacing combustion liners, P/N AFT-5016T30G02:

• Before they accumulate 200 hours-since-new (HSN) or 300 cycles-since-new (CSN), or
• Within 15 hours-in-service or 10 cycles-in-service if the combustion liner has already exceeded 200 HSN or 300 CSN.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 13 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 96 work-hours per engine to perform the proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $7,000 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $190,840.

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 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 that the proposed AD:

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. 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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this proposed AD. 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
• Safety

The Proposed Amendment

Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

General Electric Company (GE): Docket No. FAA-2009-0502; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-02-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by November 9, 2009.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to GE CJ610 series turbojet and CF700 series turbofan engines with AFT Technologies combustion liner, part number (P/N) AFT-5016T30G02, installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Learjet Inc. model 24 series and model 25 series airplanes, Dassault Aviation Fan Jet Falcon series airplanes, and Sabreliner Corporation NA-265-70 and NA-265-80 series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD results from a report of an AFT Technologies combustion liner that released a large section of the inner combustion liner and reports of six combustion liners with premature cracks. We are proposing this AD to prevent premature cracks in the combustion liner, which could release pieces of the inner combustion liner. A release of pieces of the inner combustion liner could cause an uncontained failure of the engine turbine and 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.

Replacement of AFT Technologies Combustion Liner P/N AFT-5016T30G02

(f) For engines that have an AFT Technologies combustion liner, P/N AFT-5016T30G02, with fewer than 200 hours-since-new (HSN) or 300 cycles-since-new (CSN), remove the AFT Technologies combustion liner, P/N AFT-5016T30G02, before exceeding 200 HSN or 300 CSN, whichever occurs first.

(g) For engines that have an AFT Technologies combustion liner, P/N AFT-5016T30G02, with 200 HSN or more or 300 CSN or more, remove the AFT Technologies combustion liner, P/N AFT-5016T30G02, within 15 hours-in-service or 10 cycles-in-service, after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.

(h) After the effective date of this AD, don't install any AFT Technologies combustion liner, P/N AFT-5016T30G02, in any engine.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(i) The Manager, New York 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 Norman Perenson, Aerospace Engineer, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; e-mail: [e-mail]; telephone [phone]; fax [phone], for more information about this AD.

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 2, 2009.

Peter A. White,

Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.