Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines AG 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 certain International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, V2531-E5, and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by an analysis performed by the manufacturer after an event involving an uncontained failure of a high-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage disk that resulted in high-energy debris penetrating the engine cowling. This proposed AD would require the performance of an ultrasonic inspection (USI) of the HPT 1st-stage disk and HPT 2nd-stage disk and, depending on the results of the inspections, replacement of the HPT 1st-stage disk or HPT 2nd-stage disk. 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 April 7, 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 International Aero Engines AG, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06118; phone: (800) 565-0140; email: help24@pw.utc.com; website: http://fleetcare.pw.utc.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-2021-0129; 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:

Nicholas Paine, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7742; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: nicholas.j.paine@faa.gov.

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-2021-0129; Project Identifier AD-2020-01597-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.

The FAA has been informed that IAE has done some outreach with affected operators regarding the proposed corrective actions for this unsafe condition. As a result, affected operators are already aware of the proposed corrective actions and, in some cases, have already begun planning for implementation. Therefore, the FAA has determined that a 30-day comment period is appropriate given the particular circumstances related to the proposed correction of this unsafe condition.

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 Nicholas Paine, 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

On March 18, 2020, an Airbus Model A321-231 airplane, powered by IAE V2533-A5 model turbofan engines, experienced an uncontained HPT 1st-stage disk failure that resulted in an aborted takeoff. The uncontained failure of the HPT 1st-stage disk resulted in high-energy debris penetrating the engine cowling. The FAA published Emergency AD 2020-07-51 on March 21, 2020 (followed by publication in the Federal Register on April 13, 2020, as a Final Rule, Request for Comments (85 FR 20402)) and AD 2021-01-03 on January 6, 2021 (86 FR 458), to remove from service HPT 1st-stage and HPT 2nd-stage disks identified as having the highest risk of failure. Based on the root cause analysis performed since that event, the manufacturer identified a population of HPT 1st-stage disks and HPT 2nd-stage disks that require inspection and possible removal from service. This condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained HPT disk failure, damage to the engine, damage to 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 Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed IAE Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1, dated January 26, 2021. The NMSB identifies the affected HPT 1st-stage disks and HPT 2nd-stage disks on IAE V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines and specifies procedures for a USI of the HPT 1st-stage disk and HPT 2nd-stage disk.

The FAA also reviewed IAE NMSB No. V2500-E5-72-0015, dated December 15, 2020. The NMSB identifies the affected HPT 1st-stage disks and HPT 2nd-stage disks on IAE V2531-E5 model turbofan engines and specifies procedures for a USI of the HPT 1st-stage disk and HPT 2nd-stage disk.

This service information is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in ADDRESSES.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

This proposed AD would require the performance of a USI of the HPT 1st-stage disk and HPT 2nd-stage disk and, depending on the results of the inspections, replacement of the HPT 1st-stage disk or HPT 2nd-stage disk with a part eligible for installation.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 1,100 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.

The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary replacement that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspections. The agency has no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this replacement:

The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.

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

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

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

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

International Aero Engines AG: Docket No. FAA-2021-0129; Project Identifier AD-2020-01597-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by April 7, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, V2531-E5, and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines with an installed:

(1) High-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage disk, part number (P/N) 2A5001, with a serial number (S/N) listed in Appendix A, Table 1, of IAE Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1, dated January 26, 2021 (IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1) or IAE NMSB No. V2500-E5-72-0015, dated December 15, 2020 (IAE NMSB V2500-E5-72-0015); and/or

(2) HPT 2nd-stage disk, P/N 2A4802, with an S/N listed in Appendix A, Table 2, of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1, or IAE NMSB V2500-E5-72-0015.

(d) Subject

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by an analysis performed by the manufacturer after an event involving an uncontained failure of a HPT 1st-stage disk that resulted in high-energy debris penetrating the engine cowling. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPT 1st-stage disk and HPT 2nd-stage disk. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained HPT disk failure, damage to the engine, damage to the airplane, and loss of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

(1) For IAE V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines with an HPT 1st-stage disk, P/N 2A5001, with an S/N listed in Appendix A, Table 1, of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1, at the next engine shop visit after the effective date of this AD or before the HPT 1st-stage disk has accumulated 3,200 flight cycles (FCs) since the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, perform an ultrasonic inspection (USI) of the HPT 1st-stage disk using the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 6, of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1.

(2) For IAE V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, and V2533-A5 model turbofan engines with an HPT 2nd-stage disk, P/N 2A4802, with an S/N listed in Appendix A, Table 2, of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1, at the next engine shop visit after the effective date of this AD or before the HPT 2nd-stage disk has accumulated 3,200 FCs since the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, perform a USI of the HPT 2nd-stage disk using the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 7, of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1.

(3) For IAE V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2525-D5, and V2527-A5 model turbofan engines with an HPT 1st-stage disk, P/N 2A5001, with an S/N listed in Appendix A, Table 1, of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1, at the next HPT rotor and stator assembly (HPT module) removal or before the HPT 1st-stage disk has accumulated 6,700 FCs since the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, perform a USI of the HPT 1st-stage disk using the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 6, of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1.

(4) For IAE V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2525-D5, and V2527-A5 model turbofan engines with an HPT 2nd-stage disk, P/N 2A4802, with an S/N listed in Appendix A, Table 2, of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1, at the next HPT module removal or before the HPT 2nd-stage disk has accumulated 6,700 FCs since the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, perform a USI of the HPT 2nd-stage disk using the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 7, of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1.

(5) For IAE V2531-E5 model turbofan engines with an HPT 1st-stage disk, P/N 2A5001, with an S/N listed in Appendix A, Table 1, of IAE NMSB V2500-E5-72-0015, at the next engine shop visit or before the HPT 1st-stage disk has accumulated 3,200 FCs since the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, perform a USI of the HPT 1st-stage disk using the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 6, of IAE NMSB V2500-E5-72-0015.

(6) For IAE V2531-E5 model turbofan engines with an HPT 2nd-stage disk, P/N 2A4802, with an S/N listed in Appendix A, Table 2, of IAE NMSB V2500-E5-72-0015, at the next engine shop visit or before the HPT 2nd-stage disk has accumulated 3,200 FCs since the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, perform a USI of the HPT 2nd-stage disk using the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 7, of IAE NMSB V2500-E5-72-0015.

(7) If, during the USI required by paragraphs (g)(1) through (6) of this AD, a HPT 1st-stage disk or HPT 2nd-stage disk does not pass the inspection as specified in the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 8., of IAE NMSB V2500-ENG-72-0713, Revision 1, or IAE NMSB V2500-E5-72-0015, as applicable, before further flight, remove the HPT 1st-stage disk or 2nd-stage disk, as applicable, from service and replace with a part eligible for installation.

(h) Definition

For the purpose of this AD, an “engine shop visit” is the induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the separation of pairs of major mating engine flanges, H-P, except for the following situations, which do not constitute an engine shop visit.

(1) Separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of transportation without subsequent engine maintenance.

(2) Engine removal for the purpose of performing field maintenance activities at a maintenance facility in lieu of performing them on-wing.

(i) 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 certification office, send it to the attention of the person identified in Related Information. You may email your request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov.

(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.

(j) Related Information

(1) For more information about this AD, contact Nicholas Paine, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7742; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: nicholas.j.paine@faa.gov.

(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact International Aero Engines AG, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06118; phone: (800) 565-0140; email: help24@pw.utc.com; website: http://fleetcare.pw.utc.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.