AD 2009-18-01

This AD becomes effective October 1, 2009. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of October 1, 2009.

You can get the service information identified in this AD from CFM International, Technical Publications Department, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; telephone (513) 552-2800; fax (513) 552-2816.

The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

Stephen Sheely, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: stephen.k.sheely@faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7750; fax (781) 238-7199.

The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 with a proposed AD and a supplemental proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to CFM International, S.A. CFM56-5B1/P; -5B2/P; -5B3/P; -5B3/P1; -5B4/P; -5B4/P1; -5B5/P; -5B6/P; -5B7/P; -5B8/P; and -5B9/P turbofan engines, and the supplemental proposed AD applies to CFM International, S.A. CFM56-5B1/P; -5B2/P; -5B3/P; -5B3/P1; -5B4/P; -5B4/P1; -5B5/P; -5B6/P; -5B7/P; -5B8/P; -5B9/P; -5B1/3; -5B2/3; -5B3/3; -5B4/3; -5B5/3; -5B6/3; -5B7/3; -5B8/3; -5B9/3; -5B3/3B1; and -5B4/3B1 turbofan engines. We published the proposed AD in the Federal Register on May 7, 2008 (73 FR 25597). That action proposed to require initial and repetitive ECIs of certain P/N LP turbine rear frames. We published the supplemental proposed AD in the Federal Register on April 24, 2009 (74 FR 18662). That action proposed to require initial and repetitive ECIs of those same P/N LP turbine rear frames, to add two additional P/N LP turbine rear frames, to add 11 engine models to the applicability, and to clarify the commercial and corporate engines/LP turbine rear frames applicability.

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 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 street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the development of this AD. We have considered the comment received.

One commenter, CFM International, S.A. requests that we reference the latest European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2009-0110, dated May 7, 2009, as it is up-to-date on P/Ns and engine models affected.

We agree and changed the AD to reference AD 2009-0110.

We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. We have determined that these changes will neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

We estimate that this AD will affect 282 CFM56-5B series turbofan engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate that it will take about 3 work-hours to perform an eddy current inspection of an LP turbine rear frame. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. A replacement LP turbine rear frame costs about $102,240. If all 282 LP turbine rear frames needed replacement, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be $28,899,360. Our cost estimate is exclusive of possible warranty coverage.

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.

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); and

(3) 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.

We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the address listed under ADDRESSES.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: