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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0785; Product Identifier 2018-NE-14-AD; Amendment
39-19380; AD 2018-18-01]
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: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-10-11
for all CFM International S.A. (CFM) Model CFM56-7B engines. AD 2018-
10-11 required initial and repetitive inspections of certain fan blades
and, if they fail the inspection, their replacement with parts eligible
for installation. This superseding AD requires the same initial and
repetitive inspections but revises the compliance time for the
repetitive inspections. This AD was prompted by further analysis by the
manufacturer that indicated a need to reduce the repetitive fan blade
inspection interval based on ongoing root cause investigation of an
April 2018 engine failure. The agency is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective October 16, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 16,
2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of May
14, 2018 (83 FR 19176, May 2, 2018).
The FAA must receive any comments on this AD by November 15, 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 01803. 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-2018-0785.
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-
0785; 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 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
The FAA issued AD 2018-10-11, Amendment 39-19286 (83 FR 22836, May
17, 2018), (``AD 2018-10-11''), for all CFM model CFM56-7B engines. AD
2018-10-11 required initial and repetitive ultrasonic inspections (USI)
or eddy
current inspection (ECI) of certain fan blades and, if they fail the inspection,
their replacement with parts eligible for installation. AD 2018-10-11
resulted from an April 2018 event involving an engine failure due to a
fractured fan blade leading to 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. The agency issued AD 2018-10-11 to prevent failure of the fan
blade due to cracking, which could lead to an engine in-flight
shutdown, uncontained release of debris, damage to the airplane, and
possible airplane decompression.
Actions Since AD 2018-10-11 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 2018-10-11, CFM gained a better
understanding of the fan blade failures based on the inspections and
further analysis of the detected cracks and the April 2018 event. As a
result, CFM reduced the repetitive inspection interval to prevent a fan
blade failure. CFM has published Service Bulletin (SB) CFM56-7B S/B 72-
1033, Revision 2, dated July 27, 2018, to reduce the repetitive
inspection interval from 3,000 cycles to 1,600 cycles. The FAA expects
that all affected engines will have completed the initial inspection
based on the previously issued ADs.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
Revision to Cost Estimate
The FAA has determined that, in AD 2018-10-11, it underestimated
the cost per fan blade to be $8,500. However, based on CFM SB CFM56-7B
S/B 72-1033, Revision 2, dated July 27, 2018, and earlier versions the
estimated cost per fan blade should be $51,400. The FAA erroneously
assumed the cost in the service bulletin represented the cost for a set
of 24 fan blades when it actually represented the cost for two fan
blades. In this final rule, the agency has updated the on-condition
costs to reflect the correct cost of the fan blade.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed CFM SB CFM56-7B S/B 72-1033, Revision 2, dated
July 27, 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, Revision 2, 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 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
The FAA also reviewed CFM SB CFM56-7B S/B 72-1019, dated March 24,
2017, CFM SB CFM56-7B S/B 72-1019, Revision 1, dated June 13, 2017, CFM
SB CFM56-7B S/B 72-1024, dated July 26, 2017, CFM SB CFM56-7B S/B 72-
1033, dated April 20, 2018, and General Electric Field Support
Technology (FST) Procedure 2370, dated December 9, 2016. These SBs and
the FST provide information on performing the USI.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has 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 USI or ECI 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.
Due to the reduction in the repetitive inspection interval, some fan
blades have reached or exceeded the revised repetitive inspection
threshold. Because of this, the compliance time for the required action
is shorter than the time necessary for the public to comment and for
the FAA to issue the final rule to ensure the unsafe condition is
addressed. Therefore, the agency finds good cause that notice and
opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable. In addition,
for the reasons stated in this paragraph, the FAA finds 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 the FAA did not provide you with notice and an opportunity
to provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, the
agency invites 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-2018-0785 and product
identifier 2018-NE-14-AD at the beginning of your comments. The agency
specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this final rule. The agency will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
final rule because of those comments.
The FAA will post all comments it receives, without change, to
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive
verbal contact the agency receives about this final rule.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 3,716 engines installed on
1,858 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Inspection Costs
| Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per inspection |
Cost on U.S.
operators |
| Inspect engine fan blade |
2 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $170 |
$0 |
$170 |
$631,720 |
The FAA estimates the following costs
to complete any necessary
replacement of a single fan blade that would be required based on the
results of the inspection. The agency has no way of determining the
number of engines that might need fan blades to be replaced:
On-Condition Costs
| Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
| Replace fan blade |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
$51,400 |
$51,485 |
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.
The FAA is 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 within the Aircraft Certification
Service, 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 part 39 of the Federal Aviation
Regulations (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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2018-10-11, Amendment 39-19286 (83 FR 22836, May 17, 2018) and adding
the following new AD:
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