DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0380; Product Identifier 2018-NE-14-AD; Amendment
39-19267; AD 2018-09-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; CFM International S.A. Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all CFM
International S.A. (CFM) Model CFM56-7B engines. This AD requires
initial and repetitive inspections of the concave and convex sides of
the fan blade dovetail to detect cracking and replacement of any blades
found cracked. This AD was prompted by a recent engine failure due to a
fractured fan blade, that resulted in the engine inlet cowl
disintegrating and debris penetrating the fuselage, causing a loss of
pressurization, and prompting an emergency descent. We are issuing this
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 14, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 14,
2018.
We must receive comments on this AD by June 18, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this final rule, contact CFM
International Inc., Aviation Operations Center, 1 Neumann Way, M/D Room
285, Cincinnati, OH 45125; phone: 877-432-3272; fax: 877-432-3329;
email: aviation.fleetsupport@ge.com. You may view this service
information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200
District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759. It is also available on
the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0380.

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-2018-
0380; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The street address for the Docket Operations (phone:
800-647-5527) is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD
docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher McGuire, Aerospace
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803;
phone: 781-238-7120; fax: 781-238-7199; email: chris.mcguire@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

A recent event involving an engine failure due to a fractured fan
blade resulted in the engine inlet cowl disintegrating and debris
penetrating the fuselage, causing a loss of pressurization, and
prompting an emergency descent. One passenger fatality occurred as a
result. In response to this event, the FAA issued Emergency
AD 2018-09-51 (``AD 2018-09-51''), to address certain high-time CFM56-
7B engines, specifically including those with 30,000 or more total
accumulated flight cycles since new. AD 2018-09-51 requires a one-time
ultrasonic inspection (USI) of the concave and convex sides of the fan
blade dovetail.
Since the issuance of AD 2018-09-51, the FAA has been working
closely with CFM to develop an additional compliance plan to address
the risk of fan blade failure for the entire CFM56-7B fleet. This AD
addresses the unsafe condition affecting CFM56-7B engines by requiring
initial and repetitive inspections of fan blades based on accumulated
fan blade cycles. This condition, if not addressed, could result in fan
blade failure due to cracking, which could lead to in an engine in-
flight shutdown (IFSD), uncontained release of debris, damage to the
airplane, and possible airplane decompression. We are issuing this AD
to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR part 51

We reviewed CFM Service Bulletin (SB) CFM56-7B S/B 72-1033, dated
April 20, 2018, and Subtask 72-21-01-220-091, of Task 72-21-01-200-001,
from the CFM56-7B Engine Shop Manual (ESM), Revision 57, dated January
15, 2018. CFM SB CFM56-7B S/B 72-1033 describes procedures for
performing a USI of the affected fan blades. Subtask 72-21-01-220-091,
of Task 72-21-01-200-001, from the CFM56-7B ESM, describes procedures
for performing an eddy current inspection (ECI) of the affected fan
blades. This service information is reasonably available because the
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Other Related Service Information

We also reviewed CFM SB CFM56-7B S/B 72-1019, dated March 24, 2017,
and Revision 1, dated June 13, 2017; CFM SB CFM56-7B S/B 72-1024, dated
July 26, 2017; and General Electric Field Support Technology (FST)
procedure 2370, dated December 9, 2016. These SBs and the FST procedure
provide information on performing the USI inspection.

Other Related Rulemaking

The FAA previously issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (see
Docket No. FAA-2017-0313 at http://www.regulations.gov), to address an
unsafe condition based on a similar event that occurred in 2016. We
will be withdrawing that proposal because this new action represents a
more comprehensive corrective action plan than previously proposed.

FAA's Determination

We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

This AD requires initial and repetitive USIs or ECIs of certain fan
blades and, if they fail the inspection, their replacement with parts
eligible for installation.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public
justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule
because certain fan blades must be inspected, and, if needed, replaced
before further flight. Failure to inspect and replace these parts
within the required compliance times could lead to failure of the fan
blades, engine IFSD, uncontained release of debris, damage to the
airplane, and possible airplane decompression. Therefore, we find good
cause that notice and opportunity for prior public comment are
impracticable. In addition, for the reasons stated above, we find that
good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30
days.

Comments Invited

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or
arguments about this final rule. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2018-
0380 and Product Identifier 2018-NE-14-AD at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this final rule. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
final rule because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this final rule.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 3,716 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. We have
no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these
replacements:

On-Condition Costs

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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.

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

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]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):