Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 237 (Monday, December 10, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73268-73270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29489]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1117; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-25-AD; 
Amendment 39-17275; AD 2012-24-05]
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 certain 
Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 900 series turbofan engines. This AD 
requires inspection of the low pressure turbine (LPT) bearing housing 
end cover assembly in certain engines and, if necessary, its 
replacement. This AD was prompted by a Trent 900 engine experiencing a 
high intermediate pressure vibration fault, along with other 
fluctuating engine parameters, while in flight. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent fracture of the oil transfer tube, which could result in 
uncontained failure of the engine and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective December 26, 2012.
    We must receive comments on this AD by January 24, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of December 26, 
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 view this 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 
Airworthiness Directive AD No. 2012-0145, dated August 6, 2012 
(referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

    During a revenue service flight, a Trent 900 engine experienced 
a high Intermediate Pressure (IP/N2) vibration fault along with 
several other fluctuating engine parameters, including Low Pressure 
(LP/N1) faults. The flight crew decided to throttle back the engine 
to idle and performed an air turn back. The other engines continued 
to operate normally and an uneventful landing was made.
    The results of an initial investigation revealed that the LP 
system was seized. Removal of the Low Pressure Turbine (LPT) bearing 
housing end cover revealed that the oil transfer tube assembly had 
fractured because the spherical seat between the oil transfer tube 
and the end cover was missing (not installed).
    This non-conformity caused the fracture of the oil transfer 
tube, leading to reduced oil flow and subsequent damage to the LP 
and IP bearings. Rolls-Royce has identified that other Trent 900 
engines could potentially be affected.

    The in-service event engine was assembled at the factory by RR. 
After the in-service event, RR inspected all LPT bearing housing end 
cover assemblies

[[Page 73269]]

they had assembled and found one other assembly with a missing 
spherical seat. RR estimates that up to 200 LPT bearing housing end 
cover assemblies assembled using this procedure may have been built 
without the spherical seat. We are issuing this AD to prevent fracture 
of the oil transfer tube, 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.

Relevant Service Information

    Rolls-Royce has issued Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin 
Alert (NMSB) RB.211-72-AH051, dated August 3, 2012, or Revision 1, 
dated September 11, 2012, and NMSB RB.211-72-H056, dated August 3, 
2012, or Revision 1, dated September 11, 2012. 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

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that notice and comment prior to adoption of 
this rule is unnecessary because no engines are used on U.S. registered 
airplanes. Therefore, we find 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-2012-1117; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-NE-25-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, 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:

2012-24-05 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-17275; Docket No. FAA-2012-
1117; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-25-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective December 26, 
2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 970-84 and 
972-84 series turbofan engines, all serial numbers.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a Trent 900 engine experiencing a high 
intermediate pressure vibration fault, along with other fluctuating 
engine parameters, while in flight. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent fracture of the oil transfer tube, which could result in 
uncontained failure of the engine and damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Before further flight, unless already done, do the following:
    (1) Use paragraph 1.A. of RR Alert Non-Modification Service 
Bulletin (NMSB) RB.211-72-AH051, dated August 3, 2012, or Revision 
1, dated September 11, 2012, and RR NMSB RB.211-72-H056, dated 
August 3, 2012, or Revision 1, dated September 11, 2012, to 
determine which engine serial numbers to inspect.
    (2) Inspect the LPT bearing housing end cover assembly for the 
presence of a spherical seat, P/N CU38971. For guidance on 
performing the inspection, see paragraphs 3.A.(5) through 3.A.(8) of 
the SBs listed in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.
    (3) If, during the inspection required by paragraph (e)(2) of 
this AD, you find that spherical seat, P/N CU38971, is missing, 
replace the LPT bearing housing end cover assembly, P/N FW22780, 
with a part eligible for installation.

[[Page 73270]]

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD:
    (1) Do not approve for return to service any airplane with an 
engine, affected by this AD, installed, unless the engine has passed 
the inspection required by paragraph (e)(2) of this AD.
    (2) Do not install an LPT bearing housing end cover assembly, P/
N FW22780, onto any engine required to be inspected by this AD, 
unless the LPT bearing housing end cover assembly was inspected as 
required by this AD.

(g) Credit for Previous Actions

    If you accomplished the actions required by paragraph (e) of 
this AD before the effective date of this AD using RR Technical 
Variance (TV) 125436, issue 2, dated July 27, 2012, you met the 
requirements of paragraph (e) of this AD.

(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) 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].
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2012-0145, dated August 6, 2012, for related information.

(j) 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 (RR) Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin 
(NMSB) RB.211-72-AH051, dated August 3, 2012.
    (ii) RR Alert NMSB RB.211-72-AH051, Revision 1, dated September 
11, 2012.
    (iii) RR NMSB RB.211-72-H056, dated August 3, 2012.
    (iv) RR NMSB RB.211-72-H056, Revision 1, dated September 11, 
2012.
    (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, email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp, 
or download the publication from https://www.aeromanager.com.
    (4) You may view 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 view this service information 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 November 26, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-29489 Filed 12-7-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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