AD 2018-22-06

AD Final Rules - 2018-22-06.pdf
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AD Number:
2018-22-06
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2017-1206
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines
Subject:
Fuel Control/Turbine Engines
Status:
Current
Citation:
Federal Register Volume 83, Number 209 (Monday, October 29, 2018)
Citation Publish Date:
10/29/2018
Effective Date:
12/03/2018
Make:
Pratt & Whitney
Model:
PW2037 | PW2037M | PW2040
Product Type:
Engine
Product Subtype:
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
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[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 209 (Monday, October 29, 2018)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 54229-54232]


From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[FR Doc No: 2018-23526]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2017-1206; Product Identifier 2017-NE-42-AD; Amendment 39-19479; AD


2018-22-06]


RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Turbofan Engines


AGENCY:
 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.


ACTION:
 
Final rule.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


SUMMARY:
 
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt & Whitney (PW)


PW2037, PW2037M, and PW2040 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by an uncommanded


high thrust event that occurred during approach on January 16, 2016, and during landing on April 6,


2016. This AD requires removal of the metering valve pilot valve (MVPV) within certain fuel control


units (FCUs) and the MVPV's replacement with a part eligible for installation. We are issuing this


AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.


DATES:
 
This AD is effective December 3, 2018.


The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain


publication listed in this AD as of December 3, 2018.


ADDRESSES:
 
For service information identified in this final rule, contact Pratt & Whitney Division,


400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06118; phone: 800-565-0140; fax: 860-565-5442. 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-2017-1206.


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-2017-1206; 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 U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30,
2


West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC


20590.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 
Kevin M. Clark, Aerospace Engineer, ECO


Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7088; fax: 781-238-


7199; email: Kevin.M.Clark@faa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Discussion


We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD


that would apply to all PW PW2037, PW2037M, and PW2040 turbofan engines. The NPRM


published in the Federal Register on April 11, 2018 (83 FR 15519). The NPRM was prompted by


reports of an uncommanded high thrust event that occurred during approach on January 16, 2016, and


during landing on April 6, 2016, due to loosening of the MVPV end cap. These uncommanded events


were associated with improper maintenance on the MVPV within certain FCUs. The NPRM


proposed to require removal of the MVPV for certain FCUs. 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 final rule. The following


presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment.


Request To Disallow Repairs


PW and the Boeing Company (Boeing) requested that we remove the allowance in this AD for


the repair of the MVPV. The commenters noted that repairs cannot preclude damage to the valve,


which could lead to future Loss of Thrust Control (LOTC) events.


We disagree because the repairs allowed by this AD will have a tamper proof feature to secure


the end plugs. This feature will preclude the end plug from loosening in service. We did not change


this AD.


Request To Increase Number of Affected Engines


PW requested that we revise the number of affected engines in costs of compliance section of


this AD from 212 to 253. PW noted that there are 253 FCU serial numbers listed in Table 1 of PW


Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) PW2000 A73-172, dated October 16, 2017.


We disagree. Although Table 1 lists 253 affected engines, our cost estimate refers to engines


installed on U.S. registered airplanes. Our estimate of this number is 212 engines. We did not change


this AD.


Request To Increase Cost Estimate for Parts


PW and Delta Air Lines (Delta) requested that we change the estimated parts cost to $25,482 per


engine. The commenters indicated that $25,482 is the cost of a new MVPV.


We partially agree. We revised the Costs of Compliance section of this AD to estimate $25,482


as the cost of a new MVPV. We expect, however, that certain operators will have the MVPV


repaired, so we are also are also including an estimate for the cost of a repaired part.