Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5126-5128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01358]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1334; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-49-AD; 
Amendment 39-17324; AD 2013-02-03]
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 970-84, 970B-84, 972-84, 972B-84, 977-
84, 977B-84, and 980-84 turbofan engines. This AD requires replacement 
of the fuel oil heat exchanger (FOHE). This AD was prompted by a report 
of an in-flight increase of N2 intermediate pressure rotor vibrations 
resulting in an engine surge and pilot shut down of the engine. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent rotor bearing oil starvation, uncontained 
engine failure, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 24, 2013.
    We must receive comments on this AD by March 11, 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 
plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE248BJ, United 
Kingdom; phone: 44 (0) 1332 242424; fax: 44 (0) 1332 249936, or email: 
http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp. 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: Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7754; 
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 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) EASA AD 2012-
0260, dated

[[Page 5127]]

December 11, 2012, to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:
    During a revenue service flight, a Trent 900 engine experienced 
increased N2 intermediate pressure (IP) vibrations, followed by an 
engine surge. The pilot shut down the engine, the aeroplane carried out 
an air turn-back, and a 3-engine landing was successfully performed. 
Subsequent investigation results revealed the presence of oil by-pass 
seal material from the Fuel-to-Oil Heat Exchanger (FOHE) in the 
restrictor hole of the Tail Bearing Housing (TBH) cover plate. The 
blocked restrictor hole caused oil starvation to the low pressure (LP) 
and IP location bearings.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to LP 
location bearing damage, possibly resulting in uncontained engine 
failure and consequent damage to the aeroplane.

The oil baffle seals in FOHE, part number 47111-1241, become damaged 
with use and loose seal material can block the restrictor hole. You may 
obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    RR has issued Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin RB.211-79-
AH031, dated October 25, 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

    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. Accordingly, this AD is effective upon publication.

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-2012-1334; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-NE-49-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:

2013-02-03 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-17324; Docket No. FAA-2012-
1334; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-49-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 24, 
2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 970-84, 970B-84, 
972-84, 972B-84, 977-84, 977B-84, and 980-84 turbofan engines with a 
fuel oil heat exchanger (FOHE), part number 47111-1241, installed.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of an in-flight increase of N2 
intermediate pressure rotor vibrations resulting in an engine surge 
and pilot shut down of the engine. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
rotor bearing oil starvation, uncontained engine failure, and damage 
to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) For engines installed on the effective date of this AD, 
replace the FOHE within 500 engine hours (EHs) from the effective 
date of this AD, or before exceeding 5,000 EHs time since new (TSN) 
or time since overhaul (TSO), whichever occurs later.

[[Page 5128]]

    (2) For engines in the shop on the effective date of this AD, do 
not approve the engine for return to service if the FOHE has 5,000 
or more EHs TSN or TSO.
    (3) After the effective date of this AD, do not install a FOHE 
on any engine, or any engine on any airplane, unless the FOHE has 
fewer than 5,000 EHs TSN or TSO.

(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 Robert Green, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238 7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2012-0260, dated December 11, 2012, and Rolls-Royce plc 
Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin RB.211-79-AH031, dated 
October 25, 2012, for related information.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, 
DE248BJ, United Kingdom; phone: 44 (0) 1332 242424; fax: 44 (0) 1332 
249936; or email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp.
    (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.

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 14, 2013.
Thomas Boudreau,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-01358 Filed 1-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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