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Proposed Rules Federal Register Vol. 72, No. 10

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday contains notices to the public of the proposed Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590– through Friday, except Federal holidays. issuance of rules and regulations. The 0001. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647– purpose of these notices is to give interested • Fax: (202) 493–2251. 5227) is located on the plaza level of the persons an opportunity to participate in the • Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on Department of Transportation Nassif rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules. the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Building at the street address stated in 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, ADDRESSES. Comments will be available DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday in the AD docket shortly after the DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION through Friday, except Federal holidays. Docket Management Facility receives You may examine the comments on them. this proposed AD in the AD docket on Federal Aviation Administration Discussion the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. 14 CFR Part 39 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara GE released version 5.10 software for Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer, FADECs installed in CF34–10E series [Docket No. FAA–2006–26585; Directorate . The software was Identifier 2006–NE–44–AD] Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England released to change the engine’s High RIN 2120–AA64 Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; Pressure Turbine Active Clearance telephone (781) 238–7773; fax (781) Control. GE has since evaluated the Airworthiness Directives; General 238–7199. effects of this software version release, Electric Company CF34–10E Series and discovered that cases are SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Turbofan Engines being adversely affected. The software Comments Invited release causes changes to thermal AGENCY: Federal Aviation gradients and greater stresses to the We invite you to send us any written Administration (FAA), Department of combustor case, reducing its life. This relevant data, views, or arguments Transportation (DOT). condition, if not corrected, could result regarding this proposal. Send your ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking in uncontained combustor case failure comments to an address listed under (NPRM). resulting in an in-flight engine ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– shutdown and possible damage to the SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 2006–26585; Directorate Identifier airplane. new airworthiness directive (AD) for 2006–NE–44–AD’’ in the subject line of General Electric Company (GE) CF34– your comments. We specifically invite FAA’s Determination and Requirements 10E series turbofan engines. This comments on the overall regulatory, of the Proposed AD proposed AD would require revising the economic, environmental, and energy We have evaluated all pertinent combustor case published life limit and aspects of the proposed AD. We will information and identified an unsafe removing combustor cases from service consider all comments received by the condition that is likely to exist or before reaching a reduced life limit. closing date and may amend the develop on other products of this same This proposed AD results from GE’s proposed AD in light of those type design. However, since none of the evaluation of the effects to the comments. affected combustor cases are near or combustor case due to installing version We will post all comments we above the proposed new life limit and 5.10 software in the full-authority receive, without change, to http:// are not expected to be for at least two digital electronic control (FADEC), and dms.dot.gov, including any personal years, we do not propose to mandate revising the combustor case published information you provide. We will also immediate replacement of combustor life limit. We are proposing this AD to post a report summarizing each cases. Instead, we are proposing this AD prevent uncontained combustor case substantive verbal contact with FAA which would require: failure resulting in an in-flight engine personnel concerning this proposed AD. • Revising the published life limit in shutdown and possible damage to the Using the search function of the DOT the Airworthiness Limitations Section airplane. Web site, anyone can find and read the of the CF34–10E Engine Manual, for comments in any of our dockets, combustor cases, part number (P/N) DATES: We must receive any comments including the name of the individual 2070M47G02 and P/N 2070M47G03, on this proposed AD by March 19, 2007. who sent the comment (or signed the from 39,600 cycles-since-new (CSN) to ADDRESSES: Use one of the following comment on behalf of an association, 24,600 CSN; and addresses to comment on this proposed business, labor union, etc.). You may • Removing from service combustor AD. review the DOT’s complete Privacy Act cases, P/N 2070M47G02 and P/N • DOT Docket Web site: Go to Statement in the Federal Register 2070M47G03, before reaching 24,600 http://dms.dot.gov and follow the published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR CSN. instructions for sending your comments 19477–78) or you may visit http:// electronically. dms.dot.gov. Costs of Compliance • Government-wide rulemaking Web We estimate that this proposed AD site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov Examining the AD Docket would affect 42 CF34–10E series and follow the instructions for sending You may examine the docket that turbofan engines installed on airplanes your comments electronically. contains the proposal, any comments of U.S. registry. This proposed • Mail: Docket Management Facility; received, and any final disposition in combustor case removal does not U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 person at the DOT Docket Office impose any additional labor costs if

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performed at the time of scheduled The Proposed Amendment AD if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. engine overhaul. The financial burden Under the authority delegated to me to the operators (prorate) is about by the Administrator, the Federal Related Information $140,080 per engine due to the Aviation Administration proposes to (j) Contact Tara Chaidez, Aerospace reduction in the life limit. Based on amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows: Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, these figures, and on the prorating for Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New the usage of the combustor cases, we PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS England Executive Park, Burlington, MA estimate the cost of the proposed AD on DIRECTIVES 01803; telephone (781) 238–7773, fax (781) U.S. operators to be $5,886,720. 238–7199; e-mail: [email protected] for 1. The authority citation for part 39 more information about this AD. Authority for This Rulemaking continues to read as follows: Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on Title 49 of the United States Code Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. January 10, 2007. specifies the FAA’s authority to issue § 39.13 [Amended] Francis A. Favara, rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Section 106, describes the authority of Aircraft Certification Service. the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, the following new airworthiness directive: [FR Doc. E7–499 Filed 1–16–07; 8:45 am] Aviation Programs, describes in more BILLING CODE 4910–13–P detail the scope of the Agency’s General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA– authority. 2006–26585; Directorate Identifier 2006– NE–44–AD. We are issuing this rulemaking under DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION the authority described in Subtitle VII, Comments Due Date Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, (a) The Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration ‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that (FAA) must receive comments on this section, Congress charges the FAA with airworthiness directive (AD) action by March 14 CFR Part 39 promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 19, 2007. RIN 2120–AA64 air commerce by prescribing regulations Affected ADs for practices, methods, and procedures (b) None. [Docket No. FAA–2005–22430; Directorate the Administrator finds necessary for Identifier 2005–NE–34–AD] safety in air commerce. This regulation Applicability is within the scope of that authority (c) This AD applies to General Electric Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca because it addresses an unsafe condition Company (GE) CF34–10E2A1, CF34–10E5, Arrius 2 F Engines that is likely to exist or develop on CF34–10E5A1, CF34–10E6, CF34–10E6A1, products identified in this rulemaking and CF34–10E7 turbofan engines. These AGENCY: Federal Aviation engines are installed on, but not limited to, action. Administration (FAA), Department of Embraer ERJ–190 and –195 airplanes. Transportation (DOT). Regulatory Findings Unsafe Condition ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking We have determined that this (d) This AD results from GE’s evaluation of (NPRM). proposed AD would not have federalism the effects to the combustor case due to SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to implications under Executive Order installing version 5.10 software in the full- authority digital electronic control (FADEC), supersede an existing airworthiness 13132. This proposed AD would not and revising the combustor case published directive (AD) for Turbomeca Arrius 2 F have a substantial direct effect on the life limit. We are issuing this AD to prevent turboshaft engines. That AD currently States, on the relationship between the uncontained combustor case failure resulting requires removing from service certain national Government and the States, or in an in-flight engine shutdown and possible serial number (SN) fuel control units on the distribution of power and damage to the airplane. (FCUs) or replacing the constant delta responsibilities among the various Compliance pressure diaphragm in those FCUs. This levels of government. (e) You are responsible for having the proposed AD would require replacing For the reasons discussed above, I actions required by this AD performed within all FCUs not incorporating modification certify that the proposed regulation: 30 days after the effective date of this AD, Tf 55 with FCUs that incorporate 1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory unless the actions have already been done. modification Tf 55. This proposed AD action’’ under Executive Order 12866; (f) Revise the published life limit in the results from the European Aviation Airworthiness Limitations Section of the 2. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the CF34–10E Engine Manual, for combustor Safety Agency (EASA) and Turbomeca DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures cases, part number (P/N) 2070M47G02 and expanding the applicability to the full (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and P/N 2070M47G03, from 39,600 cycles-since- population of FCUs installed on Arrius 3. Would not have a significant new (CSN) to 24,600 CSN. 2 F turboshaft engines. FCUs not economic impact, positive or negative, (g) Remove from service combustor cases, incorporating modification Tf 55 are on a substantial number of small entities P/N 2070M47G02 and P/N 2070M47G03, susceptible to having an improperly under the criteria of the Regulatory before reaching 24,600 CSN. assembled constant delta pressure (delta (h) The requirements of this AD have been P) diaphragm. We are proposing this AD Flexibility Act. met when the engine manual changes are We prepared a regulatory evaluation made and operators have modified their to prevent an uncommanded engine in- of the estimated costs to comply with continuous airworthiness maintenance plans flight shutdown on a single-engine this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES to reflect the Engine Maintenance Program helicopter, resulting in a forced section for a location to examine the requirements specified in the GE CF34–10E autorotation landing or an accident. regulatory evaluation. Engine Manual. DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by March 19, 2007. List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 Alternative Methods of Compliance (i) The Manager, Engine Certification ADDRESSES: Use one of the following Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation Office, has the authority to approve addresses to comment on this proposed safety, Safety. alternative methods of compliance for this AD.

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