AD 89-23-06 R1

This amendment revises an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to CFM International (CFMI) CFM56-2, -3, -3B, -3C, and -5 series turbofan engines, that currently requires repetitive magnetic chip detector (MCD) inspections and removal from service of certain No. 3 bearings. This amendment removes the requirement for MCD inspections for certain No. 3 bearings if the bearing has 6,000 or more hours time in service since new, extends the removal from service date for certain No. 3 bearings, changes the inspection interval for certain No. 3 bearings, deletes a specific No. 3 bearing part number, and replaces reference to specific maintenance manuals with service bulletins. Other requirements of the current AD remain unchanged and are carried over into this revised AD. This amendment is prompted by additional data that demonstrates a reduced bearing failure rate after a period of time in service; therefore, an acceptable level of safety can be maintained with a relaxation of some of the current AD requirements. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent a No. 3 bearing failure, and a subsequent inflight engine shutdown.

Final rule.

89-23-06 R1 CFM International: Amendment 39-10290. Docket 89-ANE-05. Revises AD 89-23-06, Amendment 39-6370, which superseded AD 89-17-04, amendment 39-6196.

Applicability: CFM International (CFMI) CFM56-2, -3, -3B, -3C, and -5 series turbofan engines, installed on but not limited to Airbus A319 and A320 series, McDonnell Douglas DC-8 series, and Boeing 737 series aircraft.

Note 1: This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to each engine identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For engines that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (i) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.

To prevent a No. 3 bearing failure and subsequent inflight engine shutdown, accomplish the following:

(a) For CFM56-3, -3B, and -3C series engines equipped with No. 3 bearings, Part Number (P/N) 9732M10P12 (Serial Number (S/N) series FAFDxxxx or FAFExxxx); 9732M10P18; or 1362M76P02 accomplish the following:

(1) Inspect the forward sump magnetic chip detector (MCD) in accordance with CFM56-3/-3B/-3C Service Bulletin (SB) No. 72-530, Revision 3, dated November 17, 1995, within the next 50 hours time in service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD. Thereafter, inspect the forward sump MCD at intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS since the last inspection (SLI) in accordance with CFM56-3/-3B/-3C SB No. 72-530, Revision 3, dated November 17, 1995, until accomplishment of paragraph (a)(2) below, or, for bearing P/N 9732M10P12, until the TIS since new is 6,000 hours or more. Remove from service, prior to further flight, engines which exhibit MCD metallic debris defined as not serviceable in accordance with CFM56-3/-3B/-3C SB No. 72-530, Revision 3, dated November 17, 1995.

(2) Remove from service No. 3 bearings, P/N 9732M10P18 and 1362M76P02, at the next shop visit, or before January 31, 1998, whichever occurs first. Removal of No. 3 bearings in accordance with this paragraph constitutes terminating action to the inspection requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this AD.

(b) For CFM56-2 series engines equipped with No. 3 bearings, P/N 9732M10P12 (S/N series FAFDxxxx or FAFExxxx) or 9732M10P18, accomplish the following:

(1) Inspect the forward sump MCD in accordance with CFM56-2 SB No. 72-620, Revision 4, dated November 17, 1995, within the next 50 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD. Thereafter, inspect theforward sump MCD at intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS SLI in accordance with CFM56-2 SB No. 72-620, Revision 4, dated November 17, 1995, until accomplishment of paragraph (b)(2) below, or, for bearing P/N 9732M10P12, until the TIS since new is 6,000 hours or more. Remove from service, prior to further flight, engines which exhibit MCD metallic debris defined as not serviceable in accordance with CFM56-2 SB No. 72-620, Revision 4, dated November 17, 1995.

(2) Remove from service No. 3 bearings, P/N 9732M10P18, at the next engine shop visit, or before January 31, 1998, whichever occurs first. Removal of No. 3 bearings in accordance with this paragraph constitutes terminating action to the inspection requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this AD.

(c) For CFM56-3, -3B, and -3C series engines equipped with No. 3 bearings, P/N 9732M10P10; 9732M10P17; or 9732M10P12 (S/N series other than FAFDxxxx or FAFExxxx), inspect the forward sump MCD in accordance with CFM56-3/-3B/-3C SB No. 72-530, Revision 3, dated November 17, 1995, within the next 75 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD. Thereafter, inspect the forward sump MCD at intervals not to exceed 75 hours TIS SLI in accordance with CFM56-3/-3B/-3C SB No. 72-530, Revision 3, dated November 17, 1995, until the bearing TIS since new is 6,000 hours or more. Remove from service, prior to further flight, engines which exhibit MCD metallic debris defined as not serviceable in accordance with CFM56-3/-3B/-3C SB No. 72-530, Revision 3, dated November 17, 1995.

(d) For CFM56-2 series engines equipped with No. 3 bearings, P/N 9732M10P10; 9732M10P17; or 9732M10P12 (S/N series other than FAFDxxxx or FAFExxxx), inspect the forward sump MCD in accordance with CFM56-2 SB No. 72-620, Revision 4, dated November 17, 1995, within the next 75 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD. Thereafter, inspect the forward sump MCD at intervals not to exceed 75 hours TIS SLI in accordance with CFM56-2 SB No. 72-620,Revision 4, dated November 17, 1995, until the bearing TIS since new is 6,000 hours or more. Remove from service, prior to further flight, engines which exhibit MCD metallic debris defined as not serviceable in accordance with CFM56-2 SB No. 72-620, Revision 4, dated November 17, 1995.

(e) For CFM56-5 series engines equipped with No. 3 bearing, P/N 9542M60P01, inspect the forward sump MCD in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of CFM56-5 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 72-A118, Revision 1, dated August 1, 1997, within the next 50 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD. Thereafter, inspect the forward sump MCD at intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS SLI in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of CFM56-5 ASB No. 72-A118, Revision 1, dated August 1, 1997. Remove from service, prior to further flight, engines which exhibit MCD metallic debris defined as not serviceable in accordance with CFM56-5 ASB No. 72-A118, Revision 1, dated August 1, 1997.(f) Bearing inspections accomplished in accordance with AD 89-17-04 or AD 89-23-06 satisfy the corresponding requirements of this AD.

(g) No. 3 bearing, P/N 9732M10P12 (S/N series FAFDxxxx or FAFExxxx), identified in paragraphs (a) or (b); or No. 3 bearing, P/N 9732M10P10, 9732M10P17, or 9732M10P12 (S/N series other than FAFDxxxx or FAFExxxx), identified in paragraphs (c) or (d); with a TIS since new of 6,000 hours or more constitutes terminating action to the applicable inspection requirements of paragraphs (a)(1), (b)(1), (c), or (d) of this AD.

(h) For the purpose of this AD, a shop visit is defined as the induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance resulting in exposure of the inlet gearbox.

(i) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, Engine Certification Office. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Engine Certification Office.

Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive, if any, may be obtained from the Engine Certification Office.

(j) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the aircraft to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

(k) The actions required by this AD shall be done in accordance with the following CFMI SBs:

Document No.
Pages
Revision
Date
(CFM56-2) SB 72-620
1-3
4
November 17, 1995

4-9
3
November 22, 1993

10
4
November 17, 1995
Total pages: 10.

(CFM56-3/3B/3C)

SB 72-530
1-3
3
November 17, 1995

4-11
2
November 22, 1993

12
3
November 17, 1995
Total pages: 12.

(CFM56-5) SB 72-A118
1-7
1
August 1, 1997
Total pages: 7.

This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from CFM International, Technical Publications Department, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; telephone (513) 552-2981, fax (513) 552-2816. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(l) This amendment becomes effective on January 28, 1998.

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) by revising AD 89-23-06, Amendment 39-6370 (54 FR 43581, October 26, 1989), which is applicable to CFM International (CFMI) CFM56-2, -3, -3B, -3C, and -5 series turbofan engines, was published in the Federal Register on September 19, 1997 (62 FR 49177). That action proposed to require removing the requirement for magnetic chip detector (MCD) inspections for certain No. 3 bearings if the bearing has 6,000 or more hours time in service since new, extending the removal from service date for certain No. 3 bearings, changing the inspection interval for certain No. 3 bearings, deleting a specific No. 3 bearing part number, and replacing reference to specific maintenance manuals with service bulletins. Other requirements of the current AD remain unchanged and are carried over into this revised AD.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the makingof this amendment. Two comments were received from air carriers, both of which support the rule as proposed. No comments were received on the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA has revised paragraphs (a)(2) and (b)(2) of this AD in order to more accurately define an "affected No. 3 bearing." In addition, the FAA has revised paragraph (h) of this AD in order to more accurately define a "shop visit". Lastly, the FAA has added paragraph (g) in the AD to clarify what constitutes terminating action to the inspections required by the AD.

The FAA has also revised the calendar end-date in paragraphs (a)(2) and (b)(2) of this AD to January 31, 1998, based upon the anticipated effective date of this AD.

All changes introduced in this revised AD are relaxatory in nature except for the new inspection interval in paragraph (d). The manufacturer has advised the FAA that there is only one engine, not installed on a U.S. registered aircraft, that is affected bythis new inspection interval. Therefore, no additional cost to U.S. operators is expected to result from this relaxatory action. In addition, since no U.S. operators will be affected by the new inspection interval a situation exists that allows the immediate adoption of this regulation. Therefore, it is found that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days following publication.

The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption "ADDRESSES."

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air Transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:
PART 39 - AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Amendment 39-6370 (54 FR 43581, October 26, 1989) and by adding a new airworthiness directive, Amendment 39-10290, to read as follows: