Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines, 61086-61087 [2021-24071]
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 212 (Friday, November 5, 2021)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 61086-61087] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2021-24071] [[Page 61086]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2021-0949; Project Identifier AD-2021-00115-E] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company 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 all General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80C2A1, CF6-80C2A2, CF6- 80C2A3, CF6-80C2A5, CF6-80C2A5F, and CF6-80C2A8 model turbofan engines with an installed left-hand rear mount link assembly, part number (P/N) 1846M23G01. This proposed AD was prompted by the manufacturer reducing the life limit for the affected left-hand rear mount link assembly. This proposed AD would require revising the Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) of the GE CF6-80C2 Engine Manual, GEK92451, and the operator's existing approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program (CAMP). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 20, 2021. 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 https://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, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215, phone: (513) 552-3272; email: [email protected]; website: www.ge.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (781) 238-7759. Examining the AD Docket You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0949; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Stevenson, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7132; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments Invited The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0949; Project Identifier AD-2021-00115-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments. Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM. Confidential Business Information CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Scott Stevenson, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking. Background The FAA received a report from the manufacturer reducing the life limit for the affected left-hand rear mount link assembly. The left- hand rear mount link assembly was redesigned and certified in 1999, and the FAA subsequently issued AD 2000-12-08 (65 FR 39536, June 27, 2000), mandating the replacement of the affected left-hand rear mount link assembly with a part eligible for installation. Later, analysis from the aircraft manufacturer of stress loads in their extended service goal mission profile revealed loads during the take-off phase that were not included at certification. These additional loads result in a reduced life limit on the left-hand rear mount link assembly. This condition, if not addressed, could result in separation of the engine from the airplane, and loss of the airplane. FAA's Determination The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design. Related Service Information The FAA reviewed GE CF6-80C2 Temporary Revision (TR) 05-0276, dated July 13, 2021 (GE TR 05-0276), and GE CF6-80C2 TR 05-0277, dated July 9, 2021 (GE TR 05-0277). GE TR 05-0276 and GE TR 05-277 provide the new life limit to be updated into the ALS, for the affected left-hand rear mount link assembly, in the GE CF6-80C2 Engine Manual, GEK92451. Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM This proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the GE CF6-80C Engine Manual, GEK92451, as applicable to each affected engine model, and the operator's existing approved CAMP to incorporate a reduced life limit for the affected left-hand rear mount link assembly, P/N 1846M23G01. Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 220 [[Page 61087]] engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD: Estimated Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost per Cost on U.S. Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revise ALS of Engine Manual and the 2 work-hour x $85 per $0 $170 $37,400 operator's existing approved CAMP. hour = $170. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. The FAA is 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 The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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. 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: General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA-2021-0949; Project Identifier AD-2021-00115-E. (a) Comments Due Date The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by December 20, 2021. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80C2A1, CF6-80C2A2, CF6-80C2A3, CF6-80C2A5, CF6-80C2A5F, and CF6-80C2A8 model turbofan engines with an installed left-hand rear mount link assembly, part number (P/N) 1846M23G01. (d) Subject Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7120, Engine Mount Section. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report from the manufacturer on an updated analysis of stress loads during take-off, which revealed a stress increase with take-off phase loads that were not included at certification. The FAA is issuing this AD to lower the life limit of the left-hand rear mount link assembly and prevent the failure of the engine mount system. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in separation of the engine from the airplane, and loss of the airplane. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Required Actions Within 180 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the GE CF6-80C2 Engine Manual, GEK92451, and the operator's existing approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program, by reducing the life limit of the left-hand rear mount link assembly, P/N 1846M23G01, from 50,000 flight cycles (FCs) to 23,800 FCs. (h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the ECO Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. You may email your request to: [email protected]. (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. (i) Related Information (1) For more information about this AD, contact Scott Stevenson, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7132; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: [email protected]. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact General Electric Company, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: (513) 552-3272; email: [email protected]; website: www.ge.com. You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (781) 238-7759. Issued on October 27, 2021. Lance T. Gant, Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2021-24071 Filed 11-4-21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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