Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 900 Series Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14797-14799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6154]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0176; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-05-AD; 
Amendment 39-16636; AD 2011-06-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 900 
Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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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:

    An uncontained engine failure has recently occurred on a Rolls-
Royce RB211 Trent 900 involving release of high energy debris and 
resulting in damage to the aeroplane. Analysis of the available 
elements from the incident investigation shows that an oil fire in 
the High Pressure/Intermediate Pressure (HP/IP) structure cavity may 
have initiated a sequence of events leading to rupture of the drive 
arm of the IP Turbine (IPT) disc and subsequent overspeed and burst 
of that same disc.

We are issuing this AD to prevent overspeed of the intermediate 
pressure turbine, which could result in loss of disc integrity, an 
uncontained failure of the engine, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 4, 2011.
    We must receive comments on this AD by April 18, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey

[[Page 14798]]

Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590-0001.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.

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 the same as the 
Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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]; phone: (781) 238-7143; fax: (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2010-0262, dated December 13, 2010 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    An uncontained engine failure has recently occurred on a Rolls-
Royce RB211 Trent 900 involving release of high energy debris and 
resulting in damage to the aeroplane. Analysis of the available 
elements from the incident investigation shows that an oil fire in 
the High Pressure/Intermediate Pressure (HP/IP) structure cavity may 
have initiated a sequence of events leading to rupture of the drive 
arm of the IP Turbine (IPT) disc and subsequent overspeed and burst 
of that same disc.
    Rolls-Royce has developed a modification of the Engine 
Electronic Controller (EEC) software, featuring an IPT Overspeed 
Protection System (IPTOS). The purpose of the IPTOS functionality is 
to detect engine conditions that may potentially lead to an IP 
turbine overspeed, and shut down the engine before the level of 
overspeed reaches the disc burst speed.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Rolls-Royce plc has issued Trent 900 Series Propulsion Systems 
Alert Service Bulletin No. RB.211-73-AG639, dated December 3, 2010. The 
actions described in this service information are intended to correct 
the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of the 
United Kingdom, and is approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom, EASA has 
notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we 
evaluated all information provided by the EASA, and determined the 
unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    Since no domestic operators use this product, notice and 
opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are unnecessary. 
Therefore, we are adopting this regulation immediately.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2011-0176; Directorate 
Identifier 2011-NE-05-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact 
with FAA personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of the 
Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, 
including, if provided, the name of the individual who sent the comment 
(or signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor 
union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement 
in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).

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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    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.


[[Page 14799]]




Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2011-06-11 Rolls-Royce plc (RR): Amendment 39-16636; Docket No. FAA-
2011-0176; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-05-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 4, 
2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to RR model RB211-Trent 970-84, 970B-84, 
972-84, 972B-84, 977-84, 977B-84, and 980-84 turbofan engines. These 
engines are installed on, but not limited to, Airbus A380 series 
airplanes.

Reason

    (d) An uncontained engine failure has recently occurred on a 
Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 900 involving release of high energy debris 
and resulting in damage to the aeroplane. Analysis of the available 
elements from the incident investigation shows that an oil fire in 
the High Pressure/Intermediate Pressure (HP/IP) structure cavity may 
have initiated a sequence of events leading to rupture of the drive 
arm of the IP Turbine (IPT) disc and subsequent overspeed and burst 
of that same disc.
    Rolls-Royce has developed a modification of the Engine 
Electronic Controller (EEC) software, featuring an IPT Overspeed 
Protection System (IPTOS). The purpose of the IPTOS functionality is 
to detect engine conditions that may potentially lead to an IP 
turbine overspeed, and shut down the engine before the level of 
overspeed reaches the disc burst speed.

We are issuing this AD to prevent overspeed of the intermediate 
pressure turbine, which could result in loss of disc integrity, an 
uncontained failure of the engine, and damage to the airplane.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) Within 10 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, 
incorporate software 10.6 to the EEC.
    (2) Guidance on incorporating software 10.6 can be found in 
Rolls-Royce plc Trent 900 Series Propulsion Systems Alert Service 
Bulletin (SB) No. RB.211-73-AG639, dated December 3, 2010.

Prior Software Version Prohibition

    (3) After incorporation of software 10.6, do not incorporate any 
software version prior to 10.6 to the EEC.

FAA AD Differences

    (f) This AD differs from the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 
Information (MCAI) as follows:
    (1) MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2010-0262, 
dated December 13, 2010, requires that after EEC modification of an 
installed engine as required by that AD, do not intermix with any 
EEC software standards prior to modification 73-F328 (standard 
9.2.1) on that airplane. This AD does not, because there are no U.S. 
registered airplanes with RB211-Trent 900 engines.
    (2) MCAI EASA AD 2010-0262, dated December 13, 2010, states that 
from the effective date of the AD, no engine may be installed in an 
airplane unless the engine has incorporated the new software. This 
AD does not, because there are no U.S. registered airplanes with 
RB211-Trent 900 engines.
    (3) MCAI EASA AD 2010-0262, dated December 13, 2010, allows 
incorporation of later approved versions of EEC software standards 
that will include IPTOS functionality. This AD does not. Instead, we 
prohibit software installation prior to version 10.6.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) 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

    (h) Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2010-0262, dated December 13, 2010, 
and Rolls-Royce plc Trent 900 Series Propulsion Systems Alert SB No. 
RB.211-73-AG639, dated December 3, 2010, for related information.
    (i) Contact Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, 
United Kingdom; phone: 44 1332 242424; fax: 44 1332 249936, for a 
copy of the service information referenced in this AD.
    (j) 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]; 
phone: (781) 238-7143; fax: (781) 238-7199, for more information 
about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 11, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6154 Filed 3-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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