Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. Engines

• Published date: 20 September 2024
• FR Document: 2024-21408
• Citation: 89 FR 77013
• Pages: 77013-77015
• Section: Rules and Regulations
• Issuer: Transportation Department,Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)]
                [Rules and Regulations]
                [Pages 77013-77015]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2024-21408]
                ========================================================================
                Rules and Regulations Federal Register
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                Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 183 / Friday, September 20, 2024 /
                Rules and Regulations
                [[Page 77013]]
                DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                Federal Aviation Administration
                14 CFR Part 39
                [Docket No. FAA-2024-2146; Project Identifier AD-2024-00464-E;
                Amendment 39-22849; AD 2024-19-07]
                RIN 2120-AA64
                Airworthiness Directives; CFM International, S.A. Engines
                AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
                ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
                certain CFM International, S.A. (CFM) Model LEAP-1A32 engines. This AD
                was prompted by a report of multiple events of loss of thrust control
                during go-around. This AD requires replacement of the full set of fuel
                nozzles. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
                these products.
                DATES: This AD is effective October 7, 2024. The FAA must receive comments on this AD by November 4, 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-2024-2146; 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, any comments received, and other
                information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mehdi Lamnyi, Aviation Safety
                Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone:
                (781) 238-7743; email: [email protected].
                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
                the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-2146; Project
                Identifier AD-2024-00464-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 Mehdi
                Lamnyi, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des
                Moines, WA 98198. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not
                specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
                this rulemaking.
                Background On January 11, 2024, an Airbus Model A321neo airplane powered by
                CFM Model LEAP-1A engines experienced a loss of thrust control on
                engine 1 during a go-around. On February 4, 2024, the same Airbus Model
                A321neo airplane experienced N1 fluctuation/reduction on engine 2
                during a go-around. A manufacturer investigation determined that
                significantly higher than expected fuel nozzle coking was creating back
                pressure in the fuel system that then triggered the fuel pump relief
                valve to open, reducing fuel flow to the engine and resulting in a
                reduction in thrust. This condition, if not addressed, could result in
                loss of engine thrust control and reduced control of the airplane. The
                FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
                products.
                FAA's Determination The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency 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 replacement of the full set of fuel nozzles.
                Interim Action The FAA considers this AD to be an interim action. The unsafe
                condition is still under investigation by the manufacturer and,
                depending on the results of that investigation, the FAA may consider
                further rulemaking action.
                Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
                Date Section 553(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
                [[Page 77014]]
                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. The FAA justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of
                this rule because no domestic operators use this product. It is
                unlikely that the FAA will receive any adverse comments or useful
                information about this AD from any U.S. operator. Accordingly, notice
                and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary, pursuant to 5
                U.S.C. 553(b). In addition, for the foregoing reason(s), 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.
                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 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 0 engines installed on
                airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD: Estimated Costs
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost per Cost on U.S. Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Replace the full set of fuel nozzles 40 work-hours x $85 per $126,000 $129,400 $0 hour = $3,400.
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                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
                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:
                2024-19-07 CFM International, S.A.: Amendment 39-22849; Docket No.
                FAA-2024-2146; Project Identifier AD-2024-00464-E.
                (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 7, 2024.
                (b) Affected ADs None.
                (c) Applicability This AD applies to CFM International, S.A. (CFM) Model LEAP-1A32
                engines installed on Airbus SAS Model A321-251NX airplanes having
                any of the following airplane serial numbers: 11200, 11420, 11473,
                11609, 11698, 11791, 11815, 12136, 12314, and 12370.
                (d) Subject Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7300, Engine Fuel
                and Control.
                (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report of multiple events of loss of
                thrust control during go-around. The FAA is issuing this AD to
                prevent the loss of engine thrust control. The unsafe condition, if
                not addressed, could result in reduced control of the airplane.
                (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
                unless already done.
                (g) Required Actions (1) At the applicable times specified in paragraphs (g)(1)(i)
                and (ii) of this AD, replace the full set of fuel nozzles, on each
                engine, with parts eligible for installation. (i) On either affected engine installed on the airplane: Before
                accumulating 600 flight cycles (FCs) since new or since last
                replacement of the full set of fuel nozzles, or within 10 FCs after
                the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (ii) On the other affected engine installed on the same
                airplane: Before accumulating 800 FCs since new or since last
                replacement of the full set of fuel nozzles, or within 10 FCs after
                the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (2) Thereafter, on each affected engine installed on the
                airplane, at intervals not to exceed 600 FCs since last replacement
                of the full set of fuel nozzles, replace the full set of fuel
                nozzles with parts eligible for installation.
                (h) Definition For the purpose of this AD, ``parts eligible for installation''
                are new fuel nozzles or fuel nozzles made serviceable using CFM
                Component Maintenance Manual (CMM) 73-11-30 (CFM-TP.CM.056.), any
                revision.
                (i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety Branch,
                FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested
                using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14
                CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local
                Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending
                information directly to the manager of AIR-520 Continued Operational
                Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in
                paragraph (j)(1) of this AD and email to: [email protected]. (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
                principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
                [[Page 77015]]
                of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
                district office.
                (j) Additional Information (1) For more information about this AD, contact Mehdi Lamnyi,
                Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines,
                WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7743; email: [email protected]. (2) Material identified in this AD that is not incorporated by
                reference is available at CFM International, S.A., GE Aviation Fleet
                Support, 1 Neumann Way, M/D Room 285, Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone:
                (877) 432-3272; email: [email protected].
                (k) Material Incorporated by Reference None. Issued on September 13, 2024.
                Peter A. White,
                Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
                Certification Service.
                [FR Doc. 2024-21408 Filed 9-19-24; 8:45 am]
                BILLING CODE 4910-13-P