Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc RB211-524C2 Series Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50877-50878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20353]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0521; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-21-AD; 
Amendment 39-16405; AD 2010-17-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc RB211-524C2 Series 
Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of 
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an 
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

    A number of LPT casings have been found cracked during engine 
shop visit. Cracking of the LPT casing reduces the capability of the 
casing to contain debris in the event of an LPT stage 1 blade 
failure. Therefore, blade failure in an engine featuring a cracked 
LPT casing may result in release of uncontained high energy debris.
    For the reason described above, this AD requires repetitive 
inspections and corrective actions, depending on findings.

We are issuing this AD to detect cracks in the low-pressure turbine 
(LPT) casings, which could result in the release of uncontained high-
energy debris in the event of a stage 1 blade failure. Uncontained 
high-energy debris could result in damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective September 22, 2010.

ADDRESSES: 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7143; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on May 19, 2010 (75 FR 
27973). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    A number of LPT casings have been found cracked during engine 
shop visit. Cracking of the LPT casing reduces the capability of the 
casing to contain debris in the event of an LPT stage 1 blade 
failure. Therefore, blade failure in an engine featuring a cracked 
LPT casing may result in release of uncontained high energy debris.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comment received. The commenter supports the 
NPRM.

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this AD will 
affect about 10 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it 
will take about 10 work-hours per product to comply with this AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about 
$25,000 per product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of 
the AD on U.S. operators to be $258,500.

[[Page 50878]]

Authority for This Rulemaking

    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.

Regulatory Findings

    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); 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (phone (800) 647-5527) is provided in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

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 FAA 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 AD:

2010-17-13 Rolls-Royce plc (Formerly Rolls-Royce Limited): Amendment 
39-16405. Docket No. FAA-2010-0521; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-
21-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective 
September 22, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) model RB211-524C2-19 
and RB211-524C2-B-19 turbofan engines. These engines are installed 
on, but not limited to, Boeing 747 series airplanes.

Reason

    (d) A number of LPT casings have been found cracked during 
engine shop visit. Cracking of the LPT casing reduces the capability 
of the casing to contain debris in the event of an LPT stage 1 blade 
failure. Therefore, blade failure in an engine with a cracked LPT 
casing may result in release of uncontained high-energy debris.
    We are issuing this AD to detect cracks in the low-pressure 
turbine (LPT) casings, which could result in the release of 
uncontained high-energy debris in the event of a stage 1 blade 
failure. Uncontained high-energy debris could result in damage to 
the airplane.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, do the following actions:

Initial Inspection Requirements

    (1) Perform a fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) before the 
life of the LPT casing has reached 4,500 cycles-since-new (CSN) or 
within 4,500 cycles-since-last inspection (CSLI) or within 500 
cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. 
You can find guidance on performing the FPI in RR Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) RB.211-72-AG076, dated November 13, 2008.

Repetitive Inspection Requirements

    (2) Thereafter, perform an FPI at intervals not exceeding 4,500 
CSLI. You can find guidance on performing the FPI in Rolls-Royce plc 
ASB RB.211-72-AG076, dated November 13, 2008.

Remove Parts With Cracks

    (3) Remove cracked LPT casings, found using paragraphs (e)(1) or 
(e)(2) of this AD, from service before further flight.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (g) Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2009-0083, dated April 16, 2009, and 
Rolls-Royce plc ASB No. RB.211-72-AG076, dated November 13, 2008, 
for related information. Contact Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, 
Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom; telephone 011 44 1332 242424; fax 
011 44 1332 249936, for a copy of this service information.
    (h) Contact Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification 
Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: [email protected]; 
telephone (781) 238-7143; fax (781) 238-7199, for more information 
about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 6, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-20353 Filed 8-17-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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