Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc. RB211 535 Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 26, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49099-49101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24023]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NE-22-AD; Amendment 39-12445; AD 2001-19-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc. RB211 535 Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
is applicable to Rolls-Royce plc. (RR) models RB211-535C-37, RB211-
535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-37, and RB211-535E4-B-75 turbofan engines, with 
radial drive steady bearing, part number (P/N) LK76084. This action 
requires the replacement of certain radial drive steady bearings, 
installed in the high speed gearbox drive. This amendment is prompted 
by five reports of radial drive steady bearing failures. The actions 
specified in this AD are intended to reduce the risk of engine in-
flight shutdown, due to failure at low life of radial drive steady 
bearings.

DATES: Effective October 11, 2001.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before November 26, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Information regarding this action may be examined at the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of 
the Regional 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 
238-7176; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is 
the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom (UK), recently 
notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on Rolls-Royce plc. 
models (RR) RB211-535C-37, RB211-535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-37, and RB211-
535E4-B-75 turbofan engines. The CAA advises that five reports of 
failure of the radial drive steady bearing have occurred, causing three 
in-flight shutdowns. Investigation has concluded that a number of 
radial drive steady bearings have been found with evidence of loose 
rivets after a short period in service and have a potential for low 
life failure as a result. This condition can lead to the eventual 
failure of the radial drive steady bearing and an in-flight shutdown.

Manufacturer's Service Information

    Rolls-Royce plc has issued mandatory service bulletin (MSB) RB.211-
72-D176, dated September 19, 2000, that specifies procedures for 
ensuring that all airplanes having engines with the affected bearing 
design installed, will meet the following criteria:
    <bullet> Both radial drive steady bearings installed will have more 
than 600 flight hours accumulated on each engine, or
    <bullet> At least one radial drive steady bearing installed will 
have more than 1,500 flight hours accumulated on one engine if the 
other engine has less than 600 accumulated flight hours, or
    <bullet> One or both engines replace radial drive steady bearings 
of the affected design with new design bearings as specified in service 
bulletin (SB) RB.211-72-C925.
    The CAA has classified this service bulletin as mandatory and 
issued AD 004-09-2000, dated September 19, 2000, in order to assure the 
airworthiness of these RR engines in the UK.

Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement

    This engine model is manufactured in the UK, and is type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the CAA has kept the FAA informed of 
the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the 
CAA, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action 
is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.

FAA's Determination of an Unsafe Condition and Required Actions

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other Rolls-Royce plc. (RR) models RB211-535C-37, 
RB211-535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-37, and RB211-535E4-B-75 turbofan engines 
of the same type design, this AD is being issued to reduce the risk of 
engine in-flight shutdown, due to failure at low life of radial drive 
steady bearings. This AD requires the replacement of certain radial 
drive steady bearings, based on their accumulated flight time.

Immediate Adoption of This AD

    Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for prior 
public comment hereon are impracticable, and that good cause exists for 
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
    Therefore, a situation exists that allows the immediate adoption of 
this regulation.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by 
notice and an opportunity for public comment, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. 
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted 
in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ``ADDRESSES.'' 
All communications received on or before the closing date for comments 
will be considered, and this rule may be amended in light of the 
comments received. Factual information that supports the commenter's 
ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the 
effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether additional 
rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the 
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that 
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this 
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.

[[Page 49100]]

    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2001-NE-22-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Regulatory Analysis

    This final rule does not have federalism implications, as defined 
in Executive Order 13132, because it would 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. Accordingly, 
the FAA has not consulted with state authorities prior to publication 
of this final rule.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and is not a ``significant regulatory action'' 
under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this 
action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined 
that this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will 
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it, if filed, 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, 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.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

2001-19-05  Rolls-Royce plc. Amendment 39-12445. Docket 2001-NE-22-
AD.

Applicability

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is applicable to Rolls-Royce 
plc. (RR) models RB211-535C-37, RB211-535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-37, 
and RB211-535E4-B-75 turbofan engines, with radial drive steady 
bearings, part number (P/N) LK76084, installed on, but not limited 
to Boeing 757 and Tupolev Tu204 airplanes.

    Note 1: This 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 (d) 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

    Compliance with this AD is required as indicated, unless already 
done.
    To reduce the risk of engine in-flight shutdown due to low life 
failure of radial drive steady bearings, do the following:
    (a) If one or more engines in an airplane have a part number 
radial drive steady bearing installed other than P/N LK76084, no 
further action is required.
    (b) If all engines in an airplane have a radial drive steady 
bearing P/N LK76084 installed, replace bearings within 100 flight 
hours after the effective date of this AD, as specified in Table 1 
as follows:

      Table 1.--Radial Drive Steady Bearing Replacement Conditions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   If                                  Then
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Both engines have a radial drive     Replace the lowest life bearing
 steady bearing P/N LK76084 with fewer    with a bearing P/N FB222165
 than 600 hours-since-new (HSN).          or, a bearing P/N LK76084 that
                                          has greater than 1,500 HSN.
(2) One engine has a radial drive        Replace the lowest life bearing
 steady bearing P/N LK76084 with fewer    with a bearing with a bearing
 than 600 HSN, and the other engine has   P/N FB222165 or, a bearing P/N
 a bearing P/N LK76084 with more than     LK 76084 that has greater than
 600 HSN but fewer than 1,500 HSN.        600 HSN.
(3) One engine has a radial drive        No action required.
 steady bearing P/N FK76084 with fewer
 than 600 HSN, and the other engine has
 a bearing P/N FK76084 with more than
 1,500 HSN.
(4) Both engines have a radial drive     No action required.
 steady bearing P/N FK76084 with 600 or
 more HSN.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Whenever an engine is newly installed in an airplane, repeat 
paragraphs (a) through (b) of this AD. For information on installing 
radial drive steady bearing P/N FB222165, see Rolls-Royce plc. 
Service Bulletin RB.211-72-C925, Revision 2, dated March 23, 2001.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (d) 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 (ECO). 
Operators must submit their requests through an appropriate FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, ECO.

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


[[Page 49101]]



Special Flight Permits

    (e) 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.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Civil 
Airworthiness Authority airworthiness directive AD 004-09-2000, 
dated September 19, 2000.

Effective Date of this AD

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on October 11, 2001.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 18, 2001.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-24023 Filed 9-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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