AD 2022-18-04

This AD is effective October 12, 2022.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 12, 2022.

For service information identified in this final rule, contact General Electric Company, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; phone: (513) 552-3272; email: aviation.fleetsupport@ge.com; website: www.ge.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0514.

Alexei Marqueen, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7178; email: Alexei.T.Marqueen@faa.gov.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain GE GEnx-1B model turbofan engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 3, 2022 (87 FR 33658). The NPRM was prompted by several reports of fuel manifold leaks resulting in multiple flight delays and cancellations on four separate occasions between 2018 and 2021 on airplanes with GEnx-1B model turbofan engines installed. The manufacturer's investigation revealed that variations in braze coverage and braze fillet radii caused high stress concentration factors at the braze block joints, leading to HCF failure in the tube bundles with brazed joints. As a result of its investigation, the manufacturer determined that the HPT fuel hose VSV manifold, VSV fuel hose manifold, LPT fuel hose VBV manifold, and VBV fuel hose manifold required redesign by replacing all braze features and cushioned clamps with block clamps. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require the removal and replacement of the fuel hydraulic lines. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA received comments from five commenters. Commenters included the Air Line Pilots Association, International, American Airlines, The Boeing Company, United Airlines, and an anonymous commenter. All commenters supported the NPRM without change.

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, and determined that air safety requires adopting the AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

The FAA reviewed GE GEnx-1B Service Bulletin 73-0099 R00, dated February 28, 2022. This service information specifies procedures for the removal and replacement of the fuel hydraulic lines. 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 ADDRESSES.

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 298 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.

The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

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.

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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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:

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