AD 2017-08-05
Recurring
final rule
Applicability
| Type | Manufacturer | Model | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | General Electric Company | GE90-76B | Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines |
| engine | General Electric Company | GE90-77B | Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines |
| engine | General Electric Company | GE90-85B | Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines |
| engine | General Electric Company | GE90-90B | Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines |
| engine | General Electric Company | GE90-94B | Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines |
Unsafe Condition
Failure of the high-pressure compressor (HPC) stage 8-10 spool, leading to uncontained rotor release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Required Actions
Initial and repetitive on-wing ultrasonic inspections (USIs) of the HPC stage 8-10 spool for certain engines prior to shop visit. Eddy current inspection (ECI) of all affected engines at each shop visit.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Compliance Time
Within 500 cycles from the effective date of AD 2016-13-05.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Affected Aircraft
General Electric Company GE90-76B, GE90-77B, GE90-85B, GE90-90B, and GE90-94B turbofan engines.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Federal Register Abstract
We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-13-05 for all General Electric Company (GE) GE90-76B, GE90-77B, GE90-85B, GE90- 90B, and GE90-94B turbofan engines. AD 2016-13-05 required eddy current inspection (ECI) of the high-pressure compressor (HPC) stage 8-10 spool at each shop visit for all affected engines and ECI or ultrasonic inspection (USI) for certain affected engines. This new AD requires initial and repetitive on-wing USIs of the HPC stage 8-10 spool for certain engines prior to shop visit and ECI of all affected engines at each shop visit. This AD was prompted by analysis that the risk of the failure of an HPC stage 8-10 spool was excessive without repetitive USI prior to shop visit. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.
Applicability Source Text
Show captured applicability text from the source AD
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) GE90-76B, GE90-
77B, GE90-85B, GE90-90B, and GE90-94B turbofan engines with a high-
pressure compressor (HPC) stage 8-10 spool, part numbers (P/Ns)
1694M80G04, 1844M90G01, or 1844M90G02, installed.
Document Text
Show stored source text (verify against official source)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 71 (Friday, April 14, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17933-17936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07476]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2015-7491; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-39-AD;
Amendment 39-18854; AD 2017-08-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 17934]]
SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-13-05 for
all General Electric Company (GE) GE90-76B, GE90-77B, GE90-85B, GE90-
90B, and GE90-94B turbofan engines. AD 2016-13-05 required eddy current
inspection (ECI) of the high-pressure compressor (HPC) stage 8-10 spool
at each shop visit for all affected engines and ECI or ultrasonic
inspection (USI) for certain affected engines. This new AD requires
initial and repetitive on-wing USIs of the HPC stage 8-10 spool for
certain engines prior to shop visit and ECI of all affected engines at
each shop visit. This AD was prompted by analysis that the risk of the
failure of an HPC stage 8-10 spool was excessive without repetitive USI
prior to shop visit. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective May 19, 2017.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact General Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way,
Cincinnati, OH 45215, phone: 513-552-3272; fax: 513-552-3329; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fa9d9f9b9fd49b9599ba9d9fd4999597"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="82e5e7e3e7ace3ede1c2e5e7ace1edef">[email protected]</span></a>. You may view this service information at the FAA,
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
781-238-7125.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
7491; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket
contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Document Management Facility, 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: John Frost, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7756; fax: 781-
238-7199; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d2b8bdbabcfcb4a0bda1a692b4b3b3fcb5bda4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cea4a1a6a0e0a8bca1bdba8ea8afafe0a9a1b8">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to supersede AD 2016-13-05, Amendment 39-18569 (81 FR 41208,
June 24, 2016; corrected 81 FR 42475, June 30, 2016), (``AD 2016-13-
05''). AD 2016-13-05 applied to all GE GE90-76B, GE90-77B, GE90-85B,
GE90-90B, and GE90-94B turbofan engines. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on December 19, 2016 (81 FR 91880). The NPRM was
prompted by an uncontained failure of the HPC stage 8-10 spool, leading
to an airplane fire. The NPRM proposed to require an ECI or USI of the
HPC stage 8-10 spool and removing from service those parts that fail
inspection. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPC stage
8-10 spool, uncontained rotor release, damage to the engine, and damage
to the airplane.
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 Revise Compliance
The Boeing Company (Boeing) and GE requested paragraph (f)(1)(i) be
changed to apply to ECIs performed between January 2016 and July 29,
2016. Boeing and GE stated that operators who performed an ECI between
January 2016 and July 29, 2016 are in accordance with GE GE90 Service
Bulletin (SB) 72-1151, Initial issue or Revision 1.
We agree. Credit should be given for ECIs performed in accordance
with GE GE90 SB 72-1151, Initial issue or Revision 1. We added
paragraph (f)(2)(iii) to the Compliance section.
Request To Revise Compliance Time
Boeing and GE requested paragraph (f)(1)(ii) be changed to state
that if it has been more than 400 cycles since the qualified initial
USI inspection, then, inspect within 100 cycles from the effective date
of this AD. Boeing and GE stated that this provides the operators with
a reasonable amount of time to perform the USI.
We disagree. The date for the initial inspection was based on the
effective date of AD 2016-13-05. The USI requirement is unchanged, so
the 500 cycle allowance mandated in AD 2016-13-05 is also mandated by
this AD. We did not change this AD.
Request To Revise Service Information
Boeing, GE, and Japan Air Lines (JAL) requested updating the
Related Information section to reflect the latest version of the GE SB.
GE SB 72-1151 was revised to Revision 01 on September 13, 2016 and
includes the most recent details and aligns with this AD.
We agree. GE GE90 SB 72-1151, Revision 01, dated September 13,
2016, includes the most recent details, aligns with this AD, and also
meets the risk analysis performed. We added GE GE90 SB 72-1151,
Revision 01, dated September 13, 2016 and GE GE90 SB 72-1151, Revision
0, dated June 10, 2016 to paragraph (i)(2) of this AD.
Request To Revise Service Information
JAL requested updating paragraph (i)(2) Related Information, to
perform an ECI in accordance with future revisions of the service
information. JAL also requested updating paragraph (i)(2) Related
Information, to add ``and later'' to the revision number relating to
Chapter 72-31-08; Special Procedure 003 and 72-00-31 Special Procedure
006 in GE GE90 Engine Manual, GEK100700, Revision 68, dated September
1, 2016.
We disagree. We are only authorized to mandate use of service
information that we have reviewed and which are published. Since future
revisions of service information are not yet published, we are not
authorized to mandate their use. We did not change this AD.
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. We have determined that
these minor changes:
<bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM, for correcting the unsafe condition; and
<bullet> 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
We reviewed GE GE90 SB 72-1151, Revision 01, dated September 13,
2016. The SB describes procedures for an on-wing USI of the stage 8 web
of the stage 8-10 spool. 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.
We also reviewed Chapter 72-31-08, Special Procedures 003; and
Chapter 72-00-31, Special Procedures 006, in the GE GE90 Engine Manual,
GEK100700, Revision 68, dated
[[Page 17935]]
September 1, 2016. These procedures describe how to perform ECI of the
stage 8 aft web of the stage 8-10 spool.
Interim Action
We consider this AD interim action. GE is determining the root
cause for the unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once a root cause
is determined, we will consider additional rulemaking.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 54 engines installed on airplanes
of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection............ 7 work-hours x $85 per $0 $595 per inspection $32,130 per
hour = $595 per cycle. inspection cycle.
inspection cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 engines that might need this
replacement:
On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement of spool...................... 0 work-hours x $85 per hour = $0.. $780,000 $780,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
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 to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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
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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2016-13-05, Amendment 39-18569 (81 FR 41208, June 24, 2016; corrected
81 FR 42475, June 30, 2016), and adding the following new AD:
2017-08-05 General Electric Company: Amendment 39-18854; Docket No.
FAA-2015-7491; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-39-AD
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective May 19, 2017.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2016-13-05, Amendment 39-18569 (81 FR 41208,
June 24, 2016; corrected June 30, 2016, 81 FR 42475).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) GE90-76B, GE90-
77B, GE90-85B, GE90-90B, and GE90-94B turbofan engines with a high-
pressure compressor (HPC) stage 8-10 spool, part numbers (P/Ns)
1694M80G04, 1844M90G01, or 1844M90G02, installed.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Engine
Compressor Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by an uncontained failure of the HPC stage
8-10 spool. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPC
stage 8-10 spool, uncontained rotor release, damage to the engine,
and damage to the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(1) For HPC stage 8-10 spool, P/N 1694M80G04, all serial numbers
(S/Ns), or HPC stage 8-10 spool, P/N 1844M90G01 or 1844M90G02, with
a S/N listed in Figure 1 to paragraph (f) of this AD; perform an on-
wing ultrasonic inspection (USI) of the stage 8 aft web upper face
as follows:
(i) Perform an initial USI after reaching 8,000 cycles since new
(CSN), but, before exceeding 9,000 CSN, or within 500 cycles in
service after July 29, 2016, whichever occurs later.
(ii) Thereafter, perform a USI of the stage 8 aft web upper face
every 500 cycles since last inspection.
[[Page 17936]]
(iii) Compliance with paragraph (f)(2)(i) or (f)(2)(iii) of this
AD is terminating action for the initial and repetitive USIs
specified by paragraphs (f)(1)(i) and (ii) of this AD.
Figure 1 to Paragraph (f)--HPC Stage 8-10 Spool S/Ns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part Nos. Serial Nos.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1844M90G01...................... GWN005MF GWNBK753 GWNBS077 GWNBS497 GWNBS724
GWN005MG GWNBK754 GWNBS078 GWNBS499 GWNBS794
GWN0087M GWNBK841 GWNBS079 GWNBS500 GWNBS810
GWN0087N GWNBK842 GWNBS080 GWNBS501 GWNBS811
GWN00DGK GWNBK843 GWNBS081 GWNBS502 GWNBS812
GWN00DGL GWNBK844 GWNBS157 GWNBS609 GWNBS813
GWNBJ992 GWNBK952 GWNBS158 GWNBS610 GWNBS814
GWNBK667 GWNBK953 GWNBS159 GWNBS611 GWNBS910
GWNBK674 GWNBK954 GWNBS160 GWNBS612 GWNBS911
GWNBK675 GWNBK955 GWNBS266 GWNBS613 GWNBS912
GWNBK743 GWNBK956 GWNBS267 GWNBS614 GWNBS914
GWNBK744 GWNBK957 GWNBS268 GWNBS721 GWNBS915
GWNBK751 GWNBK958 GWNBS269 GWNBS722 GWNBS982
GWNBK752 GWNBK959 GWNBS270 GWNBS723 GWNBS983
1844M90G02...................... GWN00C2T GWN01C5N GWN02N8D GWN03RTM GWN04E21
GWN00C2V GWN01GE2 GWN02T3R GWN03RTP GWN04GHT
GWN00G2N GWN01GE3 GWN02WGM GWN040RL GWN04GHW
GWN00G2P GWN01GE4 GWN0311K GWN040RM GWN04GJ0
GWN00PFP GWN01GE6 GWN035PP GWN040RN GWN04JW6
GWN00PFR GWN01WH1 GWN038TD GWN040RP GWN04JW7
GWN00T2N GWN02688 GWN039TG GWN04202 GWN04JW8
GWN00YHV GWN02689 GWN03G2R GWN0435W GWN04L7K
GWN0125G GWN0268A GWN03G2W GWN04360 GWN04L7L
GWN0125H GWN02DP2 GWN03G30 GWN04361 GWN04MT7
GWN0166K GWN02DP3 GWN03JPC GWN04362 GWN04MT8
GWN01C5K GWN02F9F GWN03JPD GWN04ATG GWNBS984
GWN01C5L GWN02F9G GWN03N8P GWN04ATH
GWN01C5M GWN02L9T GWN03N8R GWN04E20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) For all HPC stage 8-10 spools, P/N 1694M80G04, 1844M90G01,
or 1844M90G02, perform an eddy current inspection (ECI) of the stage
8 aft upper face as follows:
(i) Perform an initial ECI of the stage 8 aft web upper face at
the next shop visit after the effective date of this AD.
(ii) Thereafter, perform an ECI of the stage 8 aft web upper
face at each subsequent shop visit.
(iii) If you performed an ECI of the stage 8 aft web upper
surface before the effective date of the AD, you met the
requirements of paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this AD.
(3) Remove from service any HPC stage 8-10 spool that fails the
inspection required by paragraphs (f)(1) or (2) of this AD, and
replace with a spool eligible for installation.
(g) Definition
For the purpose of this AD, an engine shop visit is the
induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance during which
the compressor discharge pressure seal face is exposed.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your
request. You may email your request to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a8e9e6ed85e9ec85e9e5e7ebe8cec9c986cfc7de"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b3f2fdf69ef2f79ef2fefcf0f3d5d2d29dd4dcc5">[email protected]</span></a>.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact John Frost,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 1200 District
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7756; fax: 781-238-
7199; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1d77727573337b6f726e695d7b7c7c337a726b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2c46434442024a5e435f586c4a4d4d024b435a">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) GE GE90 Service Bulletin (SB) 72-1151, Revision 01, dated
September 13, 2016; GE GE90 SB 72-1151, Revision 0, dated June 10,
2016; Chapter 72-31-08, Special Procedures 003; and Chapter 72-00-
31, Special Procedures 006, in GE GE90 Engine Manual, GEK100700,
Revision 68, dated September 1, 2016, can be obtained from GE using
the contact information in paragraph (i)(3) of this AD. These SBs
describe procedures for an on-wing USI of the stage 8 web of the
stage 8-10 spool. These engine manual procedures describe how to
perform ECI of the stage 8 aft web of the stage 8-10 spool.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
General Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way,
Cincinnati, OH 45215, phone: 513-552-3272; fax: 513-552-3329; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#91f6f4f0f4bff0fef2d1f6f4bff2fefc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6a0d0f0b0f440b05092a0d0f44090507">[email protected]</span></a>.
(4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
781-238-7125.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 5, 2017.
Carlos A. Pestana,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-07476 Filed 4-13-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
Source: Official FAA Source ↗
Retrieved: Apr 6, 2026
Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA. Always verify with official sources.
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