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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0719; Product Identifier 2016-NE-24-AD; Amendment
39-19589; AD 2019-05-07]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. Turbofan
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-20-01
for
certain Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell) TFE731-20 and TFE731-
40 turbofan engines. AD 2017-20-01 required removing the affected fan
disk and replacing it with a fan disk eligible for installation. Since
we issued AD 2017-20-01, we determined that some turbofan engine models
were omitted from the applicability of AD 2017-20-01. This AD adds
turbofan engine models to the applicability and removes the Honeywell
TFE731-20 turbofan engine model from the applicability. This AD
requires removal of affected fan disks and replacement with parts
eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by two fan disks found
with surface rollovers in the dovetail slot area. We are issuing this
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 25, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of
November 2, 2017 (82 FR 45173, September 28, 2017).
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Honeywell International Inc., 111 S 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ
85034-2802; phone: 800-601-3099 (Toll Free U.S.A./Canada); 602-365-3099
(International Direct); website: www.myaerospace.com; email:
engine.reliability@honeywell.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-2018-0719.
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-
0719; 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 address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Document Operations, 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: Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer,
Los
Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-
4137; phone: 562-627-5246; fax: 562-627-5210; email:
joseph.costa@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to supersede AD 2017-20-01, Amendment 39-19058 (82 FR 45173,
September 28, 2017), (``AD 2017-20-01''). AD 2017-20-01 applied to
Honeywell TFE731-20 and TFE731-40 turbofan engines with fan disk part
number (P/N) 3060287-2 and a serial number (S/N) listed in Table 9 of
Honeywell Service Bulletin (SB) TFE731-72-5256, Revision 0, dated
October 7, 2016. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on
September 14, 2018 (83 FR 46664). The NPRM was prompted by two fan
disks found with surface rollovers in the dovetail slot area. The NPRM
proposed to require removing the Honeywell TFE731-20 turbofan engine
from the applicability and prohibit the installation of affected fan
disks that do not have ``T43374'' marked adjacent to the fan disk P/N
or S/N. The NPRM also proposed adding Honeywell TFE731-20R, -20AR, -
20BR, and TFE731-40AR, -40BR, and -40R turbofan engines to the
applicability. We are issuing this AD to address 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 and
the FAA's response to each comment.
Request To Correct P/N Typographical Error
Honeywell requested that we correct the P/N from ``P/N 3060267-2''
to ``P/N 3060287-2'' in the ``Actions Since AD 2017-20-01 Was Issued''
paragraph and the Installation Prohibition paragraph.
We agree that we had a typographical error in the ``Actions Since
AD 2017-20-01 Was Issued'' paragraph and the Installation Prohibition
paragraph of the NPRM. We did not update the ``Actions Since AD 2017-
20-01 Was Issued'' paragraph because this language is not included in
this final rule. We, however, updated the P/N in the Installation
Prohibition paragraph of this AD to ``P/N 3060287-2.''
Request To Update the Location of the Marking
Honeywell requested that we update the location references in the
AD of the ``T43374'' marking from the ``engine P/N or S/N'' to the
``fan disk P/N or S/N.''
We agree. Because we want to maintain technical correctness and
consistency with the service information, we updated the location of
the ``T43374'' marking from ``engine P/N or S/N'' to ``fan disk P/N or
S/N'' throughout this AD.
Request To Update Applicability
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) requested that we
update the applicability to include all Honeywell TFE731 engines for
which the affected parts are eligible. EASA reasoned that the
consequence of the applicability is that the Installation Prohibition,
paragraph (h), of this AD, is not valid for those engines that do not
have the affected parts installed. The commenter indicated that only
revising the applicability paragraph will ensure that no spare (or removed)
parts are installed on any engine that does not have an affected part
installed.
We partially agree. We agree that the applicability paragraph will
result in limiting the Installation Prohibition to only those engines
that have the affected fan disk installed on the effective date of the
AD. To be consistent with the Applicability paragraph, we revised the
Installation Prohibition paragraph of this AD to refer only to engines
identified in the Applicability paragraph of this AD.
We disagree with rewording the Applicability paragraph of this AD
because this paragraph meets the safety requirements of this AD.
Further, revising the applicability of this AD would require renoticing
the NPRM and therefore delay the effectivity of this AD. We did not
change this AD.
Support for the AD
An individual commenter expressed support for the NPRM as written.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD with the changes described previously and minor editorial
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Honeywell SB TFE731-72-5256, Revision 0, dated October
7, 2016. The SB identifies affected fan disks by S/N and describes
procedures for removing, inspecting, and replacing the affected fan
disks. 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.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 61 engines installed on airplanes
of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
| Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per
product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
| Remove fan disk and send to Honeywell
for inspection.
|
8 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $680 |
$0 |
$680 |
$41,480 |
| Install reworked or new fan disk |
26 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $2,210 |
0 |
2,210 |
134,810 |
We estimate the following costs to
do any necessary fan disk
replacements that would be required based on the results of the
inspection. We estimate that six engines will need this replacement:
On-Condition Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
| Replace the non-serviceable disk
with a new fan disk |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
$50,000
|
$50,085
|
According to the manufacturer, some
of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.
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
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),
(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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2017-20-01, Amendment 39-19058 (82 FR 45173, September 28, 2017), and
adding the following new AD:
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