Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc RB211 Trent 800 Series Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 159 (Monday, August 18, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49344-49345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20831]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-NE-08-AD; Amendment 39-13271; AD 2003-16-18]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc RB211 Trent 800 Series 
Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 875-17, Trent 877-17, Trent 
884-17, Trent 892-17, Trent 892B-17, and Trent 895-17 turbofan engines 
with intermediate pressure (IP) turbine discs, part numbers (P/Ns) 
FK21117 and FK33083 installed. This AD requires removal from service of 
these IP turbine discs based on newly established reduced turbine disc 
life limits. This AD is prompted by reports of two IP turbine blade 
release incidents as a result of dust caps separating from the blades 
and subsequent improved modeling analysis. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent uncontained IP turbine disc failure and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective September 22, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information identified in this AD 
from Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31 Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom; 
telephone 011-44-1332-242424; fax 011-44-1332-249936.
    You may examine the AD docket at the FAA, New England Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA. You may examine the service information, at the FAA, 
New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA.

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 FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed airworthiness directive (AD). The proposed AD applies 
to RR RB211 Trent 875-17, Trent 877-17, Trent 884-17, Trent 892-17, 
Trent 892B-17, and Trent 895-17 turbofan engines with IP turbine discs, 
P/Ns FK21117 and FK33083 installed. We published the proposed AD in the 
Federal Register on May 7, 2003 (68 FR 24383). That action proposed to 
require removal from service of these IP turbine discs based on newly 
established reduced turbine disc life limits. Information on the 
reduced life limits may be found in Rolls-Royce Mandatory Service 
Bulletin (MSB) RB.211-72-E058, dated January 14, 2003.

Comments

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

Request To Include a Reference to RR Service Information

    One commenter requests that a reference to RR MSB RB.211-72-E058, 
dated January 14, 2003, be included in the final rule. The commenter 
believes

[[Page 49345]]

that the reference to the MSB is necessary for traceability to the AD.
    The FAA agrees. The MSB reference is included in the Supplementary 
Information paragraph and in Compliance paragraph (f)(1) of the AD.

Request To Withdraw Unnecessary AD

    One commenter states that the new life limits specified in the AD 
are being included in the Trent 800 Time Limits Manual (Chapter 5); 
therefore, the AD is unnecessary to mandate the new reduced life 
limits.
    The FAA does not agree. Although the new life limits are being 
included in the Trent 800 Time Limits Manual, the reduced life limits 
are not enforceable unless mandated by an AD. Accordingly, the FAA will 
not change the AD based on this comment.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments 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.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39--Effect on the AD

    On July 10, 2002, the FAA published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 
(67 FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's AD system. That 
regulation now includes material that relates to altered products, 
special flight permits, and alternative methods of compliance. The 
material previously was included in each individual AD. Since the 
material is included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in 
future AD actions.

Regulatory Findings

    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 by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket No. 2003-NE-08-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2003-16-18 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-13271. Docket No. 2003-NE-
08-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective September 22, 2003.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 875-17, 
Trent 877-17, Trent 884-17, Trent 892-17, Trent 892B-17, and Trent 
895-17 turbofan engines with intermediate pressure (IP) turbine 
discs part numbers (P/Ns) FK21117 and FK33083 installed. These 
engines are installed on, but not limited to Boeing 777 airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD is prompted by reports of two IP turbine blade 
release incidents as a result of dust caps separating from the 
blades. Subsequently, the manufacturer applied improved modeling 
techniques for analysis, which revealed higher than predicted 
operating temperatures at the IP turbine disc rim and surrounding 
area due to inflow of annulus exhaust gases. The actions specified 
in this AD are intended to prevent uncontained IP turbine disc 
failure and damage to the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance cycles specified unless the 
actions have already been done.
    (f) To prevent uncontained IP turbine disc failure and damage to 
the airplane, do the following:
    (1) Remove IP turbine disc P/N FK21117 from service at or before 
accumulating 8,600 cycles-since-new (CSN), and remove IP turbine 
disc P/N FK33083 from service at or before accumulating 3,000 CSN. 
Information on the reduced life limits may be found in Rolls-Royce 
Mandatory Service Bulletin RB.211-72-E058, dated January 14, 2003.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any IP 
turbine disc P/N FK21117, that exceeds 8,600 CSN, or any IP turbine 
disc P/N FK33083, that exceeds 3,000 CSN.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (g) Alternative methods of compliance must be requested in 
accordance with 14 CFR part 39.19, and must be approved by the 
Manager, Engine Certification Office, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, FAA.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) None.

Related Information

    (i) The subject of this AD is addressed in CAA airworthiness 
directive 002-01-2003, dated January 14, 2003.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 7, 2003.
Francis A. Favara,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-20831 Filed 8-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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