Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6668-6669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2895]



[[Page 6668]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0004; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-01-AD; 
Amendment 39-16927; AD 2012-02-04]
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 RB211-Trent 500 series turbofan engines. This AD 
requires a one-time inspection of the fuel tubes and fuel tube clips 
for evidence of damage, wear, and fuel leakage. This AD was prompted by 
reports of wear found between the securing clips and the low-pressure 
(LP) fuel tube outer surface, which reduces the fuel tube wall 
thickness, leading to fracture of the fuel tube and consequent fuel 
leak. We are issuing this AD to prevent engine fuel leaks, which could 
result in risk to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective February 24, 2012.
    We must receive comments on this AD by March 26, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of Rolls-Royce plc Alert Service Bulletin No. RB.211-73-
AG797, dated October 26, 2011, listed in the AD as of February 24, 
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: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp. 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; email: 
[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 2011-0243, dated December 20, 2011 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    Fuel leaks from the LP fuel tubes which run between the LP fuel 
pumps and high pressure (HP) fuel pumps have occurred in service.
    The subsequent technical investigations have shown that these 
have resulted from frettage between the securing clips and the LP 
fuel tube outer surface, which reduces the fuel tube wall thickness, 
leading to fracture of the fuel tube and consequent fuel leak.

    The corrective action includes inspection of the tubes and the 
associated clips. The fretting and thinning of the fuel tubes is caused 
by relative movement between the tubes and the clips. You may obtain 
further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Rolls-Royce plc has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. RB.211-73-
AG797, dated October 26, 2011. 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 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

    No domestic operators use this product. Therefore, we find that 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and 
that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less 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-2012-0004; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-NE-01-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

[[Page 6669]]

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:

2012-02-04 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-16927; Docket No. FAA-2012-
0004; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-01-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective February 24, 
2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 553-61, RB211-
Trent 553A2-61, RB211-Trent 556-61, RB211-Trent 556A2-61, RB211-
Trent 556B-61, RB211-Trent 556B2-61, RB211-Trent 560-61, and RB211-
Trent 560A2-61 turbofan engines that have not complied with Rolls-
Royce plc Service Bulletin No. RB.211-73-G723, and that have any of 
the following fuel tube part numbers installed:
    (1) FW57605.
    (2) FW17689.
    (3) FW57604.
    (4) FK30710.
    (5) FW57578.
    (6) FK30713.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of wear found between the 
securing clips and the low-pressure (LP) fuel tube outer surface, 
which reduces the fuel tube wall thickness, leading to fracture of 
the fuel tube and consequent fuel leak. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent engine fuel leaks, which could result in risk to the 
airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following one-time actions within 
1,600 flight hours after the effective date of this AD.
    (1) Visually inspect the fuel tube clips holding the LP fuel 
tube run from the LP fuel pump to the fuel-oil-heat exchanger, and 
the clips holding the LP fuel tube run from the LP filter to the 
high-pressure (HP) fuel pump, for evidence of damage or wear and 
replace as necessary. Do this in accordance with paragraphs 
3.A(4)(a) through 3.A(4)(c) of Rolls-Royce plc Alert Service 
Bulletin No. RB.211-73-AG797, dated October 26, 2011.
    (2) Clean and dry the LP fuel tube run from the LP fuel pump to 
the fuel-oil-heat exchanger, and the LP fuel tube run from the LP 
filter to the HP fuel pump.
    (i) Visually inspect for evidence of damage, wear near the clip 
locations, and for fuel leakage.
    (ii) Reject the tube and replace it if evidence of fuel leakage 
or contact frettage to a depth of greater than 0.1 mm (0.004 in.) on 
the outer surface of a bend, or 0.2 mm (0.008 in.) in any other 
area, is evident.

(f) 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.

(g) Related Information

    (1) 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; email: [email protected]; phone: (781) 238-7143; fax: (781) 
238-7199.
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2011-0243, dated 
December 20, 2011, for related information.

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of the following service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) 
and 1 CFR part 51:
    (2) Rolls-Royce plc Alert Service Bulletin No. RB.211-73-AG797, 
dated October 26, 2011.
    (3) 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: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp.
    (4) You may review copies of the 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 copies of the service information 
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 January 19, 2012.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-2895 Filed 2-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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