E9-30221. Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney JT8D-209, -217, -217C, and -219 Turbofan Engines  

  • Start Preamble Start Printed Page 67831

    AGENCY:

    Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

    ACTION:

    Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

    SUMMARY:

    The FAA proposes to revise an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Pratt & Whitney JT8D-209, -217, -217C, and -219 turbofan engines with front compressor front hub (fan hub), part number (P/N) 5000501-01 installed. That AD currently requires cleaning the front compressor front hubs (fan hubs), initial and repetitive eddy current (ECI) and fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPI) of tierod and counterweight holes for cracks, removal of bushings, cleaning and ECI and FPI of bushed holes for cracks and, if necessary, replacement with serviceable parts. In addition, that AD currently requires reporting the findings of cracked fan hubs and monthly reports of the number of inspections completed. This proposed AD would require the same actions, except for the monthly reporting of the number of completed inspections. This proposed AD results from the FAA determining that it has collected a sufficient amount of data since issuing AD 97-17-04 and that therefore, it no longer needs the monthly reporting of the number of completed inspections. We are proposing this AD revision to prevent fan hub failure due to tierod, counterweight, or bushed hole cracking, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

    DATES:

    We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by February 19, 2010.

    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: (202) 493-2251.
    Start Further Info

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Kevin Dickert, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: alan.strom@faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7117; fax (781) 238-7199.

    Contact Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108; telephone (860) 565-8770; fax (860) 565-4503, for the service information referenced in this proposed AD.

    End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “Docket No. FAA-2009-0883; Directorate Identifier 97-ANE-08” 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 (800) 647-5527) is the same as the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

    Discussion

    The FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 by revising AD 97-17-04, Amendment 39-10106 (62 FR 45152, August 26, 1997). That AD requires cleaning of front compressor front hubs (fan hubs), initial and repetitive ECI and FPI of tierod and counterweight holes for cracks, removal of bushings, the cleaning and ECI and FPI of bushed holes for cracks, and, if necessary, replacement with serviceable parts. In addition, that AD requires reporting the findings of cracked fan hubs and monthly reporting of the number of inspections performed.

    Since AD 97-17-04 was issued, we have collected sufficient data on inspections and determined that we do not need further monthly reports of inspections performed.

    FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information, and we are proposing this AD, which would revise AD 97-17-04 to eliminate the monthly requirement to report the number of completed inspections back to the FAA. All other requirements contained in AD 97-17-04 would still be maintained.

    Cost of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD revision would affect 1,170 JT8D-209, -217, -217C, and -219 turbofan engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate that it would take four work-hours per engine to complete one inspection of the fan hub at piece-part exposure. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $374,400.

    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 Start Printed Page 67832is 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. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

    Start List of Subjects

    List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    • Air transportation
    • Aircraft
    • Aviation safety
    • Incorporation by reference
    • Safety
    End List of Subjects

    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:

    Start Part

    PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Start Authority

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

    End Authority
    [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-10106 (62 FR 45152, August 26, 1997) and by adding a new airworthiness directive to read as follows:

    Pratt & Whitney: Docket No. FAA-2009-0883; Directorate Identifier 97-ANE-08.

    Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by February 19, 2010.

    Affected ADs

    (b) This AD revises AD 97-17-04, Amendment 39-10106.

    Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT8D-209, -217, -217C, and -219 turbofan engines with front compressor front hub (fan hub), part number (P/N) 5000501-01, installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series airplanes.

    Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from the FAA determining that it has collected a sufficient amount of data since issuing AD 97-17-04 and that therefore, it no longer needs the monthly reporting of the number of completed inspections. We are issuing this AD to prevent fan hub failure due to tierod, counterweight, or bushed hole cracking, which could result in an uncontained engine failure 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.

    (f) Inspect fan hubs for cracks in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, Paragraph A, Part 1, and, if applicable, Paragraph B, of PW Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. A6272, dated September 24, 1996, as follows:

    (1) For fan hubs identified by serial numbers (S/Ns) in Table 2 of this AD, after the fan hub has accumulated more than 4,000 cycles-since-new (CSN), as follows:

    (i) Initially inspect within 315 cycles-in-service (CIS) from the effective date of this AD, or 4,315 CSN, whichever occurs later.

    (ii) Thereafter, re-inspect after accumulating 2,500 CIS since last inspection, but not to exceed 10,000 CIS since last inspection.

    (2) For fan hubs identified by S/Ns in Appendix A of PW ASB No. A6272, dated September 24, 1996, after the fan hub has accumulated more than 4,000 CSN, as follows:

    (i) Select an initial inspection interval from Table 1 of this AD, and inspect accordingly.

    Table 1—Inspections

    Initial inspectionRe-inspection
    (A) Within 1,050 CIS after the effective date of AD 97-02-11, March 5, 1997, or prior to accumulating 5,050 CSN, whichever occurs later;After accumulating 2,500 CIS since-last-inspection, but not to exceed 6,000 CIS since-last-inspection.
    OROR
    (B) Within 990 CIS after the effective date of AD 97-02-11, March 5, 1997, or prior to accumulating 4,990 CSN, whichever occurs later;After accumulating 2,500 CIS since-last-inspection, but not to exceed 8,000 CIS since-last-inspection.
    OROR
    (C) Within 965 CIS after the effective date of AD 97-02-11, March 5, 1997, or prior to accumulating 4,965 CSN, whichever occurs later.After accumulating 2,500 CIS since-last-inspection, but not to exceed 10,000 CIS since-last-inspection.

    Table 2—Hubs With Traveler Notations

    M67663M67802P66880S25545P66747R33099S25292
    M67671M67812P66885S25558P66756R33107S25299
    M67675M67826R32732S25564P66800R33113S25301
    M67681M67829R32733S25598P66814R33124S25302
    M67685M67830R32735S25618P66819R33131S25308
    M67686M67831R32740S25621P66831R33132S25312
    M67687M67832R32741S25637R32767R33133S25316
    M67697M67834R32810S25640R32787R33136S25323
    M67700M67843R32849T50693R32792R33152S25334
    M67706M67849R32850T50752R32795R33157S25335
    M67710M67858S25222T50785R32796R33163S25337
    M67712M67866S25464T50791R32800R33165S25344
    M67713M67868S25481T50792R32807R33168S25369
    M67714M67869S25483T50819R32856R33171S25377
    Start Printed Page 67833
    M67715M67872S25484T50823R32860R33173S25378
    M67716M67888S25486T50827R32870R33180S25381
    M67717N71771S25488T50874R32883R33181S25394
    M67722N71804S25489T50875R32905R33189S25399
    M67723N71806S25490T51058R32926R33194S25402
    M67725N71810S25491T51104R32930R33198S25406
    M67726N71811S25492R32952R33201S25411
    M67730N71875S25494R32964R33202S25413
    M67731N71876S25495R32966R33207S25414
    M67746N71921S25497R32971S25193S25415
    M67751N71965S25498R32976S25195S25418
    M67753N72062S25499R32981S25207S25419
    M67764N72126S25500R32990S25208S25421
    M67765N72152S25501R32994S25221S25422
    M67784N72162S25502R33000S25229S25430
    M67791N72207S25505R33004S25238S25437
    M67792N72216S25506R33040S25246S25439
    M67793N72219S25507R33055S25248S25449
    M67794N72242S25508R33059S25250R33186
    M67795P66693S25509R33077S25256S25528
    M67796P66695S25514R33080S25262
    M67797P66696S25529R33082S25268
    M67798P66698S25532R33086S25278
    M67799P66699S25541R33087S25287
    M67800P66737S25543R33089S25288
    M67801P66753S25544R33090

    (ii) Thereafter, re-inspect at intervals that correspond to the selected inspection interval.

    (3) If a fan hub is identified in both Table 2 of this AD and Appendix A of PW ASB No. A6272, dated September 24, 1996, inspect in accordance with paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, whichever occurs first.

    (4) For fan hubs with S/Ns not listed in Table 2 of this AD or in Appendix A of PW ASB No. A6272, dated September 24, 1996, after the fan hub has accumulated more than 4,000 CSN, inspect the next time the fan hub is in the shop at piece-part level, but not to exceed 10,000 CIS after March 5, 1997.

    (5) Prior to further flight, remove from service fan hubs found cracked or that exceed the bushed hole acceptance criteria described in PW ASB No. A6272, dated September 24, 1996.

    Reporting Requirements

    (g) Report findings of cracked fan hubs using Accomplishment Instructions, Paragraph F, of Attachment 1 to PW ASB No. A6272, dated September 24, 1996, within 48 hours to Kevin Dickert, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-7117; fax (781) 238-7199; e-mail: Kevin.Dickert@faa.gov.

    (h) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the reporting requirements and assigned OMB control number 2120-0056.

    Alternative Methods of Compliance

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

    Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use the Pratt & Whitney service information specified in Table 3 of this AD to perform the inspections required by this AD. The Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of the documents listed in the following Table 3 as of March 5, 1997 (62 FR 4902) in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108; telephone (860) 565-8770; fax (860) 565-4503, 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 3—Incorporation by Reference

    Service informationPageRevisionDate
    Alert Service Bulletin No. A6272AllOriginalSeptember 24, 1996.
    Total Pages: 21
    Non-Destruct Inspection Procedure No. NDIP-892AllASeptember 15, 1996.
    Total Pages: 30
    Attachment IAllASeptember 15, 1996.
    Total Pages: 4
    Start Signature
    Start Printed Page 67834

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 10, 2009.

    Peter A. White,

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

    End Signature
    End Part End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. E9-30221 Filed 12-18-09; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
12/21/2009
Department:
Federal Aviation Administration
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
Document Number:
E9-30221
Dates:
We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by February 19, 2010.
Pages:
67831-67834 (4 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. FAA-2009-0883, Directorate Identifier 97-ANE-08
RINs:
2120-AA64: Airworthiness Directives
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2120-AA64/airworthiness-directives
Topics:
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety
PDF File:
e9-30221.pdf
CFR: (1)
14 CFR 39.13