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

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 7 (Thursday, January 10, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2197-2198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00128]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1350; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-40-AD; 
Amendment 39-17313; AD 2012-27-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
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 Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Tay 620-15 turbofan 
engines. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the low-pressure 
compressor (LPC) fan blades and if erosion is found their replacement 
before further flight. This AD was prompted by evidence of excessive 
leading edge erosion of the LPC fan blades on certain Tay 620-15 
engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LPC fan 
blade, which could result in uncontained engine failure and damage to 
the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 25, 2013.
    We must receive comments on this AD by February 25, 2013.

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 
Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, 15827 Blankenfelde-
Mahlow, Germany; phone: 49 0 33-7086-1883; fax: 49 0 33-7086-3276. 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: Frederick Zink, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7779; 
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 
Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2012-0234, dated November 6, 2012 
(referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

The Low Pressure Compressor (LPC) (fan) blades of certain Tay 620/
15/20 and Tay 620-15 engines show evidence of excessive leading edge 
erosion. Excessive material removal during the maintenance reduces 
the LPC (fan) blade chordal width and potentially changes the 
balance of the fan blade. Reduced chordal width can affect LPC (fan) 
blade performance and in combination with other circumstances could 
lead to a fan blade root failure and fan blade separation.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to the LPC 
(fan) blade failure, potentially causing release of high-energy 
debris, possibly resulting in damage to the aeroplane and/or injury 
to the occupants.

We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LPC fan blade, which 
could result in uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane. 
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    RRD has issued Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin TAY-72-
A1777, dated October 26, 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 Germany 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. 
This AD requires a one-time inspection of the LPC fan blades and if 
erosion is found their replacement before further flight.

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-2012-1350; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-NE-40-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 2198]]

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:

2012-27-01 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Formerly Rolls-Royce 
plc, Derby, England): Amendment 39-17313; Docket No. FAA-2012-1350; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-40-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 25, 
2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Tay 
620-15 turbofan engines, serial numbers 17085, 17088, 17166, 17072, 
17073, 17078, and 17079.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by evidence of excessive leading edge 
erosion of the low-pressure compressor (LPC) fan blades on certain 
Tay 620-15 engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
LPC fan blade, which could result in uncontained engine failure and 
damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following.
    (1) Before the next flight after the effective date of the AD, 
inspect the leading edge of the LPC fan blades and determine if 
excessive erosion is evident. Guidance on conducting the inspection 
can be found in RRD Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) 
TAY-72-A1777, dated October 26, 2012.
    (2) If the measured blade chordal width is outside the 
requirements, before the next flight, replace the complete set of 
LPC fan blades with a set of LPC fan blades eligible for 
installation.
    (3) Within 30 days after performing the inspection required by 
paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, provide, for all repaired blades, the 
actual chordal width measurement to RRD, Service Engineering.

(f) Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement

    For any reporting requirement in this AD, a federal agency may 
not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, 
nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply 
with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information 
displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number 
for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for 
this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 
minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
completing and reviewing the collection of information. All 
responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments 
concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing 
the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. 
SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, AES-200.

(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 Frederick Zink, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7779; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency Emergency AD 2012-
0234, dated November 6, 2012, and RRD Alert NMSB TAY-72-A1777.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, 15827 
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; phone: 49 0 33-7086-1883; fax: 49 0 
33-7086-3276. You may view this service information at 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.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 27, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-00128 Filed 1-9-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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