Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW2000 Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); reopening of comment period.

SUMMARY:

This action revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW2000 series turbofan engines, that would supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) by modifying the airworthiness limitations section of the manufacturer's manual and an air carrier's approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program to incorporate additional inspection requirements. This action revises the proposed rule by adding the low pressure compressor (LPC) hub assembly, high pressure turbine (HPT) 1st stage disk, and HPT 2nd stage hub to the additional inspection requirements. The regulatory section revises the manufacturer's Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA), and for air carrier operations revises the approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program. 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 January 28, 2002.

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-61-AD, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299. Comments may be inspected at this location, by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: “9-ane-adcomment@faa.gov.” Comments sent via the Internet must contain the docket number in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jason Yang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-7747, 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 action 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 proposal must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: “Comments to Docket Number 98-ANE-61-AD.” The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRM's

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-61-AD, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299.

Discussion

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to add an airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW2000 series turbofan engines, was published as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on November 1, 2001 (66 FR 55138). That NPRM would have modified the airworthiness limitations section of the manufacturer's manual and an air carrier's approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program to incorporate additional inspection requirements. That NPRM was prompted by an FAA study of in-service events involving uncontained failures of critical rotating engine parts. That condition, if not corrected, could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

Since the issuance of that NPRM, the FAA has become aware that the LPC hub assembly, HPT 1st stage disk, and HPT 2nd stage hub were inadvertantly omitted from the list of parts for enhanced inspection, and must be added. This proposal would add to that NPRM, modification of the airworthiness limitations section of the manufacturer's manual and air carrier's approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program to incorporate additional inspection requirements.

Since this change expands the scope of the originally proposed rule, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to reopen the comment period to provide additional opportunity for public comment.

Economic Analysis

The FAA estimates that 724 engines installed on airplanes of US registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 20 work hours per engine to do the proposed actions. The average labor rate is $60 per work hour. The cost effect of the added inspections per engine is approximately $1,200 per year, with the approximate total cost for the U.S. fleet of $868,800 per year.

Regulatory Analysis

The regulations adopted herein will 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. Therefore, it is determined that this action does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

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 effect, 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.