Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56760-56761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21286]



[[Page 56760]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0848; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-20-AD; 
Amendment 39-17167; AD 2012-17-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc 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 all 
Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 800 series turbofan engines. This AD 
requires removing from service certain intermediate pressure (IP) 
turbine discs that have a serial number listed in this AD. This AD was 
prompted by RR performing an evaluation that determined that the 
current lives for certain IP turbine discs with a steel inclusion may 
fail before they reach their current mandatory life limits. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the IP turbine disc, which could 
result in uncontained failure of the engine and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 1, 2012.
    We must receive comments on this AD by October 29, 2012.

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 
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.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Rolls-Royce 
plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, England, DE248BJ; 
phone: 011-44-1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332-245418 or email from http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp, or download the 
publication from https://www.aeromanager.com. You may review copies of 
the referenced service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-
238-7125.

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 & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7143; fax: 
781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

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 
AD 2012-0120, dated July 4, 2012 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    The inspection of several IP turbine discs at past engine 
overhauls identified the presence of steel inclusions in these 
parts. Further investigation concluded that all affected parts were 
manufactured from Waspalloy billets produced before 1997 at a 
certain supplier who also melted steel in the same furnaces. Initial 
engineering evaluation concluded that the lives of the parts would 
not be affected by the presence of the said steel inclusions. This 
evaluation has been recently repeated, utilising improved structural 
analysis, and it is now concluded that the currently published lives 
of the components cannot be supported for some discs with a steel 
inclusion.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to an uncontained 
IP turbine disc failure, possibly resulting in damage to, and 
reduced control of, the aeroplane.

The current life limit of the Trent 800 IP turbine disc is 11,610 
standard duty cycles. Analysis shows that discs that could have steel 
inclusions in them must be removed earlier than the current life to 
prevent uncontained disc failure. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the IP turbine disc, which could result in uncontained 
failure of the engine and damage to the airplane. You may obtain 
further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    This product has been approved by the United Kingdom and is 
approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral 
agreement with the European Community, 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 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

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because no 
affected IP turbine discs are installed in engines that are used on 
U.S.-registered airplanes. Therefore, we determined that notice and 
opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are unnecessary 
and that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in fewer 
than 30 days.

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-2012-0848; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-NE-20-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

[[Page 56761]]

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, Incorporation by 
reference, 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.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

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

2012-17-04 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-17167; Docket No. FAA-2012-
0848; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-20-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective October 1, 
2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 875-17, 877-
17, 884-17, 884B-17, 892-17, 892B-17, and 895-17 turbofan engines 
that have an intermediate pressure (IP) turbine disc with a serial 
number listed in Table 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD, installed.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by RR performing an evaluation that 
determined that the current lives for certain IP turbine discs with 
a steel inclusion may fail before they reach their current mandatory 
life limits. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the IP 
turbine disc, which could result in uncontained failure of the 
engine and damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following. Remove disc serial 
numbers (S/Ns) listed in Table 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD within 
9,700 standard duty cycles since new.

           Table 1 to Paragraph (e)--Affected IP Turbine Discs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           IP Turbine Disc S/N
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADREB 73
ADREB 79
ADREB 80
ADREB 81
ADREB 82
ADREB 83
ADREB 84
ADREB 85
ADREB 86
ADREB 87
ADREB 88
ADREB 89
ADREB 90
ADREB 91
ADREB 92
ADREB 94
ADREB 96
ADREB 102
ADREB 103
ADREB 104
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install any IP and 
Low Pressure (LP) turbine module on any engine with an IP turbine 
disc with an S/N listed in Table 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD if 
the life of the disc is equal to or greater than 9,700 standard duty 
cycles since new. After the effective date of this AD, do not 
install any IP turbine disk listed in Table 1 to paragraph (e) of 
this AD if the life of the disk is equal to or greater than 9,700 
standard duty cycles since new.

(g) Definitions

    For the purposes of this AD, a shop visit is one where the IP 
and LP turbine module has been removed from the engine.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
to this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request.

(i) Related Information

    (1) You may find additional information on replacing the IP 
turbine disc, in RB211 Trent 800 Propulsion Systems Non-Modification 
Service Bulletin No. RB.211-72-AG795, dated October 28, 2011.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Alan Strom, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7143; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (3) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2012-0120, dated July 4, 2012, for related information.
    (4) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, 
England, DE248BJ; phone: 011-44-1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332-245418 
or email from http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 15, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21286 Filed 9-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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