80 FR 69838 - Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 218 (November 12, 2015)

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-1B turbofan engine models. This AD was prompted by reports of GEnx-1B engine oil loss. This AD requires removal and replacement of the non-conforming ball valve in the oil filler cap. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of engine oil, which could lead to failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and damage to the airplane.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 218 (Thursday, November 12, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69838-69839]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28747]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-1658; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-18-AD; 
Amendment 39-18320; AD 2015-23-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-1B turbofan engine models. This AD 
was prompted by reports of GEnx-1B engine oil loss. This AD requires 
removal and replacement of the non-conforming ball valve in the oil 
filler cap. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of engine oil, which 
could lead to failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, 
and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective December 17, 2015.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, 
Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: [email protected]. You 
may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-
238-7125.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
1658; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 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 address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher McGuire, Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7120; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all GE GEnx-1B turbofan 
engine models. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 17, 
2015 (80 FR 34560). The NPRM was prompted by multiple reports of engine 
oil loss and resultant flight plan diversions. The NPRM proposed to 
require removal and replacement of the non-conforming ball valve in the 
oil filler cap. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition 
on these products.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM (80 
FR 34560, June 17, 2015) and the FAA's response to each comment.

Support for the NPRM

    One individual commenter expressed support for the NPRM (80 FR 
34560, June 17, 2015).

Request To Change Applicability

    American Airlines (American) requested that paragraph (c) 
Applicability be changed. American stated that the part number and the 
post-SB markings are located on the oil filler cap scupper not on the 
oil filler cap itself. American indicated that this change would 
improve clarity and accomplishment of the AD.

[[Page 69839]]

    We agree. We revised paragraph (c), Applicability, of this AD to 
read: ``This AD applies to all General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-1B 
model turbofan engines with oil filler cap, part number (P/N) 
2349M62G01, installed, that do not contain any of the following 
markings after the P/N on the oil filler cap scupper: ``P/M BALL PP,'' 
or ``RW,'' or ``79-0022.''

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD with the change described previously. We determined that this 
change will not increase the economic burden on any operator or 
increase the scope of this AD.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed GE GEnx-1B Service Bulletin (SB) No. 79-0022, Revision 
1, dated May 13, 2015. The SB describes procedures for removing and 
replacing the ball valve in the oil filler cap.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 86 engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 hour per 
engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. 
Required parts cost about $11 per engine. Based on these figures, we 
estimate the cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be $8,256.

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

    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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA 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 (AD):

2015-23-04 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-18320; Docket No. 
FAA-2015-1658; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-18-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective December 17, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-1B 
model turbofan engines with oil filler cap, part number (P/N) 
2349M62G01, installed, that do not contain any of the following 
markings after the P/N on the oil filler cap scupper: ``P/M BALL 
PP,'' or ``RW,'' or ``79-0022.''

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of GEnx-1B engine oil loss. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent loss of engine oil, which could lead 
to failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and 
damage to the airplane.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Within 360 cycles in service after the effective date of 
this AD, remove the ball valve, P/N 2349M68P01, from the affected 
oil filler cap and replace with a part eligible for installation.
    (2) Reserved.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
to this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request. You may email your request to: [email protected].

(g) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Christopher 
McGuire, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7120; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) GE GEnx-1B SB No. 79-0022, Revision 1, dated May 13, 2015, 
which is not incorporated by reference in this AD, can be obtained 
from GE using the contact information in paragraph (g)(3) of this 
AD.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
General Electric Company, GE Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, 
Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: 513-552-3272; email: [email protected].
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 781-238-7125.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 4, 2015.
Carlos Pestana,
Acting Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-28747 Filed 11-10-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P