General Electric Company Turbofan Engines
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50320 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 160 / Monday, August 19, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 11. Markings and Placards— Vibration levels imposed on the DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Miscellaneous Markings and Placards— airframe can be mitigated to an Fuel, and Oil, Filler Openings acceptable level by utilization of Federal Aviation Administration (Compliance With § 23.1557(c)(1)(ii) isolators, damper clutches, and similar Requirements) provisions so that unacceptable 14 CFR Part 39 Instead of compliance with vibration levels are not imposed on the [Docket No. FAA–2013–0195; Directorate § 23.1557(c)(1)(i), the applicant must previously certificated structure. Identifier 2013–NE–08–AD; Amendment 39– comply with the following: 14. Powerplant Installation—One 17553; AD 2013–16–15] Fuel filler openings must be marked Cylinder Inoperative RIN 2120–AA64 at or near the filler cover with— Tests or analysis, or a combination of For diesel engine-powered Airworthiness Directives; General methods, must show that the airframe airplanes— Electric Company Turbofan Engines can withstand the shaking or vibratory (a) The words ‘‘Jet Fuel’’; and forces imposed by the engine if a AGENCY: Federal Aviation (b) The permissible fuel designations, cylinder becomes inoperative. Diesel Administration (FAA), DOT. or references to the Airplane Flight engines of conventional design typically Manual (AFM) for permissible fuel ACTION: Final rule. have extremely high levels of vibration designations. when a cylinder becomes inoperative. SUMMARY: We are adopting a new (c) A warning placard or note that Data must be provided to the airframe airworthiness directive (AD) for all states the following or similar: installer/modifier so either appropriate General Electric Company (GE) model ‘‘Warning—this airplane is equipped design considerations or operating GEnx–2B67B turbofan engines with with an aircraft diesel engine; service procedures, or both, can be developed to booster anti-ice (BAI) air duct, part with approved fuels only.’’ prevent airframe and propeller damage. number (P/N) 2469M32G01, and The colors of this warning placard support bracket, P/N 2469M46G01, should be black and white. 15. Powerplant Installation—High installed. This AD was prompted by Energy Engine Fragments 12. Powerplant—Fuel System—Fuel- reports of cracks in the BAI air duct. Freezing It may be possible for diesel engine This AD requires initial and repetitive cylinders (or portions thereof) to fail visual inspections of the BAI air duct, If the fuel in the tanks cannot be and physically separate from the engine removal from service of the BAI air duct shown to flow suitably under all at high velocity (due to the high internal if it fails inspection and, as a mandatory possible temperature conditions, then pressures). This failure mode will be terminating action, the installation of fuel temperature limitations are considered possible in engine designs new BAI air duct support brackets. We required. These limitations will be with removable cylinders or other non- are issuing this AD to prevent failure of considered as part of the essential integral block designs. The following is the BAI air duct, resulting in an in-flight operating parameters for the aircraft. required: shutdown of one or more engines, loss Limitations will be determined as (a) It must be shown that the engine of thrust control, and damage to the follows: construction type (massive or integral airplane. (a) The takeoff temperature limitation block with non-removable cylinders) is must be determined by testing or DATES: This AD is effective September inherently resistant to liberating high 23, 2013. analysis to define the minimum fuel energy fragments in the event of a cold-soaked temperature that the catastrophic engine failure; or ADDRESSES: For service information airplane can operate on. (b) It must be shown by the design of identified in this AD, contact General (b) The minimum operating the engine, that engine cylinders, other Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room temperature limitation must be engine components or portions thereof 285, One Neumann Way, Cincinnati, determined by testing to define the (fragments) cannot be shed or blown off OH; phone: 513–552–3272; email: minimum acceptable operating of the engine in the event of a [email protected]. You may view this temperature after takeoff (with catastrophic engine failure; or service information at the FAA, Engine minimum takeoff temperature (c) It must be shown that all possible & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England established in (1) above). liberated engine parts or components do Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this 13. Powerplant Installation—Vibration not have adequate energy to penetrate material at the FAA, call 781–238–7125. Levels engine cowlings; or (d) Assuming infinite fragment Vibration levels throughout the Examining the AD Docket energy, and analyzing the trajectory of engine operating range must be You may examine the AD docket on the probable fragments and components, evaluated and: the Internet at http:// any hazard due to liberated engine parts (a) Vibration levels imposed on the www.regulations.gov; or in person at the or components will be minimized and airframe must be less than or equivalent Docket Management Facility between 9 the possibility of crew injury is to those of the gasoline engine; or a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through eliminated. Minimization must be (b) Any vibration level higher than Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD considered during initial design and not that imposed on the airframe by the docket contains this AD, the regulatory presented as an analysis after design replaced gasoline engine must be evaluation, any comments received, and completion. considered in the modification and the other information. The address for the effects on the technical areas covered by Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is the following paragraphs must be 12, 2013. Document Management Facility, U.S. investigated: Earl Lawrence, Department of Transportation, Docket 14 CFR part 23, §§ 23.251; 23.613; Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Operations, M–30, West Building 23.627; 23.629 (or CAR 3.159, as Certification Service. Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 applicable to various models); 23.572; [FR Doc. 2013–20152 Filed 8–16–13; 8:45 am] New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 23.573; 23.574 and 23.901. BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DC 20590. VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:00 Aug 16, 2013 Jkt 229001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\19AUR1.SGM 19AUR1 pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 160 / Monday, August 19, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 50321 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: install new BAI air duct support distribution of power and Jason Yang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine brackets and replace the BAI air duct responsibilities among the various Certification Office, FAA, Engine & with a part that is eligible for levels of government. Propeller Directorate, 12 New England installation. We did not change the AD. For the reasons discussed above, I Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; Conclusion certify that this AD: phone: 781–238–7747; fax: 781–238– (1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 7199; email: [email protected]. We reviewed the relevant data, action’’ under Executive Order 12866, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: considered the comments received, and (2) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under determined that air safety and the Discussion DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures public interest require adopting this AD (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979), We issued a notice of proposed with the changes described previously. (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR We have determined that these minor in Alaska to the extent that it justifies part 39 to include an AD that would changes: making a regulatory distinction, and • Are consistent with the intent that apply to the specified products. The (4) Will not have a significant was proposed in the NPRM (78 FR NPRM published in the Federal economic impact, positive or negative, 21578, April 11, 2013) for correcting the Register on April 11, 2013 (78 FR on a substantial number of small entities 21578). The NPRM proposed to require unsafe condition; and • Do not add any additional burden under the criteria of the Regulatory initial and repetitive visual inspections Flexibility Act. of the BAI air duct, removal from upon the public than was already service of the BAI air duct if it fails proposed in the NPRM (78 FR 21578, List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 inspection and, as a mandatory April 11, 2013). We also determined that these Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation terminating action, the installation of safety, Incorporation by reference, new BAI air duct support brackets. changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or increase the Safety. Comments scope of this AD. Adoption of the Amendment We gave the public the opportunity to Costs of Compliance Accordingly, under the authority participate in developing this AD. The delegated to me by the Administrator, following presents the comments We estimate that this AD affects 16 the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as received on the proposal and the FAA’s engines installed on airplanes of U.S. follows: response to each comment. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 4 hours per engine to comply PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS Request To Revise Applicability with this AD. The average labor rate is DIRECTIVES The Boeing Company and GE asked $85 per hour. Required parts cost about that the GEnx-2B67 turbofan engine be $11,000 per engine. Based on these ■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 removed from the Applicability section figures, we estimate the cost of this AD continues to read as follows: of this AD. The commenters noted that to U.S. operators to be $181,440.