[Federal Register: October 26, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 205)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54895-54896]
[DOCID:fr26oc09-1]

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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0294; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-08-AD;
Amendment 39-16057; AD 2009-22-06]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; International Aero Engines AG (IAE)
V2500-A1, V2527E-A5, V2530-A5, and V2528-D5 Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2500-A1, V2527E-A5, V2530-A5, and
V2528-D5 turbofan engines. This AD requires reducing the published life
limit of certain high-pressure compressor (HPC) stage 9-12 disc
assemblies. This AD also removes from service those HPC stage 9-12 disc
assemblies using a drawdown schedule. This AD results from IAE updating
the low-cycle-fatigue (LCF) life analysis for certain HPC stage 9-12
disc assemblies. We are issuing this AD to prevent an uncontained
failure of the HPC stage 9-12 disc assembly, resulting in an in-flight
engine shutdown and possible damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 30, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD
from International Aero Engines AG, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT
06108; telephone:<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue,
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Dickert, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to IAE V2500-A1, V2527E-A5,
V2530-A5, and V2528-D5 turbofan engines. We published the proposed AD
in the Federal Register on June 29, 2009 (74 FR 30981). That action
proposed to require reducing the published life limit of certain HPC
stage 9-12 disc assemblies. That action also proposed to remove from
service those HPC stage 9-12 disc assemblies using a drawdown schedule.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
the Docket Operations office (telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>) is provided in
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on
the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 18 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about
200 work-hours per engine to perform the actions, and that the average
labor rate is $80 per work-hour. The prorated cost due to a life
reduction for a HPC stage 9-12 disc assembly installed in a V2500-A1
engine, is about $5,600 per engine, and for one installed in a V2527E-
A5, V2530-A5, or V2528-D5 engine, is about $29,700 per engine. Based on
these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. operators to be
$485,200.

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.
    We are 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

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:

    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    (3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the
address listed under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:

2009-22-06 International Aero Engines AG: Amendment 39-16057. Docket
No. FAA-2009-0294; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-08-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective November
30, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to International Aero Engines AG (IAE)
V2500-A1, V2527E-A5, V2530-A5, and V2528-D5 turbofan engines. These
engines are installed on, but not limited to, Airbus A320 and A321
series, and McDonnell Douglas Corporation MD-90 airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from IAE updating the low-cycle-fatigue
(LCF) life analysis for certain high-pressure compressor (HPC) stage
9-12 disc assemblies. We are issuing this AD to prevent an
uncontained failure of the HPC stage 9-12 disc assembly, resulting
in an in-flight engine shutdown and possible damage to the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the
actions have already been done.

V2500-A1 Turbofan Engines

    (f) For V2500-A1 turbofan engines with HPC stage 9-12 disc
assemblies, P/N 2A3200, 2A3300, 2A3400, 2A3500, 6A4131, and 6A7545,
installed, remove from service as follows:
    (1) For HPC stage 9-12 disc assemblies that have accumulated
fewer than 12,000 cycles-since-new (CSN) on the effective date of
this AD, remove from service before the disc assembly accumulates
14,600 CSN.
    (2) For HPC stage 9-12 disc assemblies that have accumulated
12,000 or more CSN but fewer than 14,600 CSN on the effective date
of this AD:
    (i) If the next engine shop visit will occur before accumulating
14,600 CSN, then remove from service before accumulating 14,600 CSN.
    (ii) If the next engine shop visit will occur upon accumulating
14,600 or more CSN, then remove from service at the next engine shop
visit but not to exceed 15,000 CSN.
    (3) For HPC stage 9-12 disc assemblies that have accumulated
14,600 or more CSN on the effective date of this AD, remove from
service at the next engine shop visit but not to exceed 15,000 CSN.

V2527E-A5 and V2530-A5 Turbofan Engines

    (g) For V2527E-A5 and V2530-A5 turbofan engines with HPC stage
9-12 disc assemblies, P/N 6A4156 and 6A7547 installed, remove from
service as follows:
    (1) For HPC stage 9-12 disc assemblies that have accumulated
fewer than 9,000 CSN on the effective date of this AD, remove from
service before the disc assembly accumulates 11,800 CSN.
    (2) For HPC stage 9-12 disc assemblies that have accumulated
9,000 or more CSN but fewer than 11,800 CSN on the effective date of
this AD:
    (i) If the next engine shop visit will occur before accumulating
11,800 CSN, then remove from service before accumulating 11,800 CSN.
    (ii) If the next engine shop visit will occur upon accumulating
11,800 or more CSN, then remove from service at the next engine shop
visit but not to exceed 12,000 CSN.
    (3) For HPC stage 9-12 disc assemblies that have accumulated
11,800 or more CSN on the effective date of this AD, remove from
service at the next engine shop visit but not to exceed 12,000 CSN.

V2528-D5 Turbofan Engines

    (h) For V2528-D5 turbofan engines with HPC stage 9-12 disc
assemblies, P/N 6A4156 and 6A7547 installed, remove from service as
follows:
    (1) For HPC stage 9-12 disc assemblies that have accumulated
fewer than 9,000 CSN on the effective date of this AD, remove from
service before the disc assembly accumulates 11,800 CSN.
    (2) For HPC stage 9-12 disc assemblies that have accumulated
9,000 or more CSN but fewer than 11,800 CSN on the effective date of
this AD:
    (i) If the next engine shop visit will occur before accumulating
11,800 CSN, then remove from service before accumulating 11,800 CSN.
    (ii) If the next engine shop visit will occur upon accumulating
11,800 or more CSN, then remove from service at the next engine shop
visit but not to exceed 13,200 CSN.
    (3) For HPC stage 9-12 disc assemblies that have accumulated
11,800 or more CSN on the effective date of this AD, remove from
service at the next engine shop visit but not to exceed 13,200 CSN.

Definition

    (i) 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 except that the
separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of
transportation without subsequent engine maintenance does not
constitute an engine shop visit.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (j) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, has the authority
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD if
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (k) IAE Alert Service Bulletin No. V2500-ENG-72-A0554, Revision
1, dated June 27, 2008, also pertains to the subject of this AD.
Contact International Aero Engines AG, 400 Main Street, East
Hartford, CT 06108; telephone:<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>,
for a copy of this service information.
    (l) Contact Kevin Dickert, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax<PHONE_NUMBER>,
for more information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (m) None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 16, 2009.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-25644 Filed 10-23-09; 8:45 am]

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