AD 2014-03-16

This AD becomes effective March 18, 2014.

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.

Anthony W. Cerra, Jr., Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7128; fax: 781-238-7199; email: anthony.cerra@faa.gov.

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to the specified products. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on September 26, 2013 (78 FR 59291). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

Service history of Tay series engines discovered that low pressure compressor (LPC) fan blade leading edge is exposed to excessive deterioration. The LPC fan blade leading edge profile influences the LPC aerodynamic characteristics and stability. This condition, if not corrected, could reduce fan flutter margin and, in some cases, could lead to fan blade failure, possibly resulting in uncontained release of high energy debris with consequent damage to, and/or reduced control of, the aeroplane.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2013-0342-0002.

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We considered the comment received. The commenter supports the NPRM (78 FR 59291, September 26, 2013).

We reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

We estimate that this AD will affect about 52 engines of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about six hours per product to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts will cost about $11,000 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be $598,520.

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 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 this AD:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,

(2) Is not a “significant rule” under the 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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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

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