Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 55 (Thursday, March 21, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17297-17299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06161]


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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 39-17390; AD 2013-05-18]
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 superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 500 series turbofan engines. 
That AD currently requires a one-time inspection of the fuel tubes and 
fuel tube clips for evidence of damage, wear, and fuel leakage. This AD 
requires the same inspection, and adds additional repetitive 
inspections. This AD was prompted by additional RR engineering 
analysis. We are issuing this AD to prevent engine fuel leaks, which 
could result in engine damage and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective April 5, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 5, 
2013.
    We must receive any comments on this AD by May 6, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    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: 011-44-1332-249936; 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 Management Facility 
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 Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is 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

    On January 19, 2012, we issued AD 2012-02-04, Amendment 39-16927 
(77 FR 6668, February 9, 2012), for all RR RB211 Trent 500 series 
turbofan engines. That AD requires a one-time inspection of the fuel 
tubes and fuel tube clips for evidence of damage, wear, and fuel 
leakage. That AD resulted from 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 leakage. We issued that AD to prevent engine 
fuel leaks, which could result in engine damage and damage to the 
airplane.

Actions Since AD Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2012-02-04, Amendment 39-16927 (77 FR 6668, 
February 9, 2012), RR engineering determined that additional repetitive 
inspections are required. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
has notified us of this unsafe condition and corrective actions in EASA 
AD 2012-0237R1, dated November 14, 2012.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed RR Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) 
RB.211-73-AG948, dated September 28, 2012. The NMSB describes 
procedures for inspection and possible removal and replacement of the 
LP fuel tubes, fuel

[[Page 17298]]

tube clips, and fuel-to-oil heat exchanger mounts.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires a one-time inspection, and additional repetitive 
inspections of the fuel tubes, fuel tube clips, and fuel-to-oil heat 
exchanger mounts for evidence of damage, wear, and fuel leakage.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    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 provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite 
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send 
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include 
the docket number FAA-2012-0004 and 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 we 
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will not affect any engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. Therefore, we estimate the cost of this AD 
to U.S. operators to be $0.

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

    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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

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 part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (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 removing airworthiness directive (AD) 
2012-02-04, Amendment 39-16927 (77 FR 6668, February 9, 2012) and 
adding the following new AD:

2013-05-18 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-17390; Docket No. FAA-2012-
0004; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-01-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective April 5, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2012-02-04, Amendment 39-16927 (77 FR 
6668, February 9, 2012).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) 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 any of the following 
fuel tube part numbers installed: FW57605, FW17689, FW57604, 
FK30710, FW57578, or FK30713.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    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 leakage. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent engine fuel leaks, which could result in engine damage and 
damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Inspect the LP fuel system of engines that are on wing 
within 1,600 flight hours after February 24, 2012, or before the 
next flight after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
later. Use the procedures in the Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraph 3.A, of RR Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) 
RB.211-73-AG948, dated September 28, 2012, to do the inspection.
    (2) For engines that are in shop for any reason, after the 
effective date of this AD, inspect the LP fuel system. Use the 
procedures in the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B, of RR 
Alert NMSB RB.211-73-AG948, dated September 28, 2012, to do the 
inspection.
    (3) Thereafter, reinspect the LP fuel system within every 6,000 
flight hours since last inspection. Reinspection may be on-wing or 
in the shop. Use the procedures in the Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraph 3.A or 3.B, as appropriate, of RR Alert NMSB RB.211-73-
AG948, dated September 28, 2012, to do the inspection.
    (4) If the LP fuel system fails the inspections required by this 
AD, replace the part(s) that failed the inspection with hardware 
eligible for installation.

(f) Definitions

    For the purpose of this AD, a shop visit is the induction of an 
engine into the shop for maintenance or overhaul. The separation of 
engine flanges solely for the purposes of transporting the engine 
without subsequent engine maintenance does not constitute an engine 
shop visit.

[[Page 17299]]

(g) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for the initial inspection required by 
paragraph (e)(1) of this AD if you performed the initial inspection 
before the effective date of this AD using RR Alert NMSB RB.211-73-
AG948, dated September 28, 2012; RR NMSB RB.211-73-G723, dated 
September 26, 2011, or Revision 1, dated January 31, 2012; or RR 
Alert NMSB RB.211-73-AG797, dated October 26, 2011, or Revision 1, 
dated January 31, 2012, or Revision 2, dated June 13, 2012.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCS 
for 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: 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 AD 2012-0237R1, 
dated November 14, 2012, for related information.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin 
RB.211-73-AG948, dated September 28, 2012.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For RR 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-
249936; email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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.
    (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 March 7, 2013.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-06161 Filed 3-20-13; 8:45 am]
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