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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-0472; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00095-E;
Amendment 39-22707; AD 2024-06-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type
Certificate Previously Held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and
MOTORLET a.s.) Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all
GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) (type certificate previously held by
WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.) Model M601D-11,
M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F engines. This AD
was prompted by a report of a crack on the centrifugal compressor case
mount pad weld area, caused by a non-conforming welding (lack of
welding penetration). This AD requires a one-time detailed visual
inspection of the compressor case pad welds for any crack, and
replacement of the compressor case if necessary, as specified in a
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated
by reference (IBR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 11, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 11,
2024.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by May 13, 2024.
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 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0472; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For service information identified in this final rule,
contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone:
+49 221 8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: easa.europa.eu.
You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is
also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-0472.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (781) 238-7146; email: barbara.caufield@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-0472; Project Identifier MCAI-
2024-00095-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this final rule because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this final rule.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Barbara
Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite
410, Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2024-0040-E, dated February 8, 2024,
(EASA AD 2024-0040-E) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an
unsafe condition on GEAC Model M601D, M601D-1, M601D-2, M601D-11,
M601D-11NZ, M601E, M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, M601E-
21, M601F, M601FS, and M601Z engines. The MCAI states that a crack was
found on the centrifugal compressor case mount pad weld area of an
engine, which led to an unscheduled engine removal. Further
investigation identified a non-conforming welding in the location of
the failure (lack of welding penetration). The manufacturer issued service
information that provides instruction for a one-time detailed visual inspection
of the
compressor case for any crack in the location of the pad welds, and
replacement of the compressor case if necessary. This condition, if not
addressed, could lead to crack propagation, possibly resulting in
engine separation and reduced control of the airplane.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0472.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2024-0040-E which specifies procedures for
performing a one-time detailed visual inspection of the compressor case
pad welds for any crack, replacement of the compressor case if
necessary, and sending certain inspection results to the manufacturer.
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 ADDRESSES.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the aviation authority of
another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in
the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing this AD after determining
that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same type design.
AD Requirements
This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the MCAI,
except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory
text of this AD, and except as discussed under ``Differences Between
this AD and the MCAI.''
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI
GEAC Model M601D, M601D-1, M601D-2, M601D-11NZ, M601E, M601E-21,
M601FS, and M601Z engines do not have an FAA type certificate,
therefore this AD does not include those engines in the applicability.
Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
Date
Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
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 forgoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule.
The presence of cracks on the compressor case pad weld area caused by
non-conforming welding could lead to crack propagation, possibly
resulting in engine separation and reduced control of the airplane,
which indicates an immediate safety of flight problem. Accordingly,
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and
contrary to the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B).
In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days,
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forgo notice and
comment.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because the FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and
comment, RFA analysis is not required.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 45 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Inspect centrifugal compressor
case |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
$0
|
$85
|
$3,825
|
| Report inspection results |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
0
|
85
|
3,825
|
The FAA estimates the following costs
to do any necessary
replacements 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 this replacement:
On-Condition Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
| Replace centrifugal compressor
case |
10 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $850 |
$5,000
|
$5,850
|
The FAA has included all known costs
in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected operators.
Paperwork Reduction Act
A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements
of the
Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays
a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this
information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for this
collection of information is estimated to take approximately 1 hour per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information. All responses
to this collection of information are mandatory. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection
of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation
Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.
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.
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, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
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:
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