Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56756-56759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22533]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0008; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-43-AD; 
Amendment 39-17115; AD 2012-14-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
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 certain

[[Page 56757]]

Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-
30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by the 
discovery of a manufacturing defect on certain part number (P/N) and 
serial number (S/N) low-pressure (LP) compressor booster rotors. This 
AD requires initial and repetitive fluorescent penetrant inspections of 
certain P/N and S/N LP compressor booster rotors and rework or 
replacement of them as terminating action to the repetitive 
inspections. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LP 
compressor booster rotor, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 19, 2012. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in this AD as of October 19, 2012.

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: Mark Riley, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7758; fax: 
781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

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 February 24, 2012 
(77 FR 11019). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for 
the specified products. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2011-
0232 states:

    Several LP compressor booster rotors have been found non-
compliant to original design.
    The technical investigations carried out by Rolls-Royce 
Deutschland revealed that this discrepancy is due to a manufacturing 
defect and that only some specific LP compressor booster rotor 
serial numbers are affected.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to an uncontained 
engine failure, potentially damaging the aeroplane and injuring its 
occupants, and/or injuring persons on the ground.
    To address this condition, RRD has developed an inspection 
program and a rework for the affected LP compressor booster rotors.
    For the reason described above, depending on engine type of 
operations, this AD requires repetitive fluorescent penetrant 
inspections of the LP compressor booster rotor and if any crack is 
found, replacement with a serviceable part. This AD also requires 
rework of all affected LP compressor booster rotors.

You may obtain further information by examining EASA AD 2011-0232 in 
the AD docket.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data 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 affects 
about 96 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also 
estimate that it will take about 5 work-hours per engine to perform one 
inspection and about 8 work-hours per engine to perform the rework. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, if all 
engines are reworked, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. operators 
to perform one inspection and to perform the rework to be $106,080.

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, 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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2012-14-01 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Amendment 39-17115; 
Docket No. FAA-2012-0008; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-43-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective October 19, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
BR700-

[[Page 56758]]

715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines, with 
a low-pressure (LP) compressor booster rotor, part number (P/N) 
BRH19215, or P/N BRH19871, with serial numbers (S/N) 118 to 255 
inclusive, installed.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by the discovery of a manufacturing defect 
on certain P/N and S/N LP compressor booster rotors. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent failure of the LP compressor booster rotor, 
uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) At the applicable compliance time in Table 1 to paragraph 
(e) of this AD, perform an initial fluorescent penetrant inspection 
(FPI) of the LP compressor booster rotor, in accordance with 
paragraphs 3.D. through 3.H.(1) (except paragraphs 3.G.(1) and 
3.G.(2)) of Accomplishment Instructions of RRD Alert Non-
Modification Service Bulletin No. ALERT SB-BR700-72-A900503, 
Revision 4, dated June 16, 2011.

               Table 1 to Paragraph (e)--Compliance Times
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Repetitive FPI
   Engine type of operation     Initial FPI (whichever   interval  (not
                                     occurs later)         to exceed)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Hawaiian'' Flight Mission     Before accumulating             6,000 EC
 only.                           36,000 engine cycles
                                 (EC) or within 500 EC
                                 after the effective
                                 date of this AD.
Any other rating, or            Before accumulating             4,000 EC
 combination of ratings.         18,000 EC, or within
                                 500 EC after the
                                 effective date of
                                 this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed the applicable 
compliance time in Table 1 of this AD, perform repetitive FPIs of 
the LP compressor booster rotor, in accordance with paragraphs 3.D. 
through 3.H.(1) (except paragraphs 3.G.(1) and 3.G.(2)) of 
Accomplishment Instructions of RRD Alert Non-Modification Service 
Bulletin No. ALERT SB-BR700-72-A900503, Revision 4, dated June 16, 
2011.
    (3) Remove cracked LP compressor booster rotors before further 
flight.
    (4) At the next piece part exposure of the LP compressor booster 
rotor during shop visit, remove the LP compressor booster rotor and 
either:
    (i) Rework the LP compressor booster rotor in accordance with 
paragraph 3.D. of Accomplishment Instructions of RRD Service 
Bulletin (SB) No. SB-BR700-72-101683, dated September 20, 2010; or
    (ii) Replace the LP compressor booster rotor with one that is 
eligible for installation.

(f) Definitions

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, an LP compressor booster rotor 
that is eligible for installation is one that is not listed in 
applicability paragraph (c) of this AD.
    (2) The Hawaiian Flight Mission referenced in Table 1 to 
paragraph (e) is shown in Figure 1 to paragraph (f)(2):

[[Page 56759]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR14SE12.054

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Mark Riley, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7758; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2011-0232, dated December 13, 2011, for related 
information.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the following service 
information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise:
    (i) Rolls-Royce Deutschland (RRD) Ltd & Co KG Alert Non-
Modification Service Bulletin No. ALERT SB-BR700-72-A900503, 
Revision 4, dated June 16, 2011.
    (ii) RRD Ltd & Co KG Service Bulletin No. SB-BR700-72-101683, 
dated September 20, 2010.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, 15827 
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany, telephone: +49 (0) 33-7086-1883, fax: 
+49 (0) 33-7086-3276.
    (4) You may review this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 781-238-7125.
    (5) You may also review the service information that is 
incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 25, 2012.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-22533 Filed 9-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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