Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22180-22182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08445]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0196; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-03-AD; 
Amendment 39-17376; AD 2013-05-04]
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 certain 
Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 970-84, RB211-Trent 970B-84, RB211-
Trent 972-84, RB211-Trent 972B-84, RB211-Trent 977-84, RB211-Trent 
977B-84, and RB211-Trent 980-84 turbofan engines. This AD requires 
inspection of the intermediate pressure compressor rear stub shaft (IPC 
RSS) piston ring. This AD was prompted by the failure of an oil pump 
drive shear neck due to a piston ring seal that was not seated properly 
in the IPC RSS groove. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
oil pump drive shear neck, which could result in loss of oil pressure 
in one or more engines and reduced control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 30, 2013.
    We must receive comments on this AD by May 30, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of April 30, 
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.

[[Page 22181]]

    <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 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 
Airworthiness Directive 2012-0273, dated December 21, 2012, a Mandatory 
Continuing Airworthiness Information (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    During take-off of an A380 on a customer acceptance flight, a 
low oil pressure warning message was observed by the flight crew. 
The take-off was aborted and the aircraft returned to the gate 
without further incident. Initial post-flight inspection of the 
engine revealed that the oil pump drive shear neck had failed. Upon 
further inspection of the engine, pieces of debris were found in the 
oil pump Internal Gear Box (IGB) rear scavenge screen and smaller 
pieces of profiled debris were found on the Electrical Magnetic Chip 
Detector (EMCD). From the material recovered, the origin was found 
to be the piston ring seal, which fits in the groove of the 
Intermediate Pressure Compressor Rear Stub Shaft (IPC RSS). This 
piston ring was introduced as part of Rolls-Royce Mod.72-G585 which 
incorporated a modified 52-spline IP Turbine Shaft, IPC RSS and 
coupling assembly. Therefore, only engines incorporating Mod.72-G585 
are affected.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
loss of oil pressure on one or more of the engines, possibly 
resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane.

    The failure to properly seat the piston ring seal in the groove of 
the IPC RSS occurs during assembly of the shaft. This could cause the 
movement of the ring out of the groove and resulting forces during 
operation may cause fracture of the ring. You may obtain further 
information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    RR has issued Repeater Technical Variance 129978, Issue 1, dated 
December 19, 2012 and Issue 2, dated December 20, 2012; Repeater 
Technical Variance 129940, Issue 1, dated December 20, 2012; and 
Repeater Technical Variance 129994, Issue 1, dated December 19, 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. This AD requires inspection of the IPC RSS piston ring.

Differences Between the AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    This AD requires compliance for all engines within 50 cycles of the 
effective date of this AD. The MCAI requires a staggered compliance 
interval based on the number of affected engines on the airplane. Our 
AD uses a more conservative compliance time because there are no 
engines installed on aircraft of U.S. registry that will be affected.

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-2013-0196; Directorate 
Identifier 2013-NE-03-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

[[Page 22182]]

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:

2013-05-04 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-17376; Docket No. FAA-2013-
0196; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-03-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 30, 
2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 970-84, 
RB211-Trent 970B-84, RB211-Trent 972-84, RB211-Trent 972B-84, RB211-
Trent 977-84, RB211-Trent 977B-84, and RB211-Trent 980-84 turbofan 
engines that incorporate RR production Modification 72-G585 or 
modified in-service through RR Service Bulletin (SB) 72-G585, any 
revision, with a Module 33 installed having a serial number (S/N) 
prior to HC0320, except S/Ns HC0277, HC0281, HC0294, HC0301, HC0309, 
HC0313, HC0315, and HC0318.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by the failure of an oil pump drive shear 
neck due to a piston ring seal that was not seated properly in the 
intermediate pressure compressor rear stub shaft (IPC RSS) groove. 
We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the oil pump drive 
shear neck, which could result in loss of oil pressure in one or 
more engines and reduced control of the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following.
    (1) Within 50 engine flight cycles after the effective date of 
this AD, inspect the IPC RSS piston ring in accordance with the 
instructions of paragraph (d)(2) of RR Repeater Technical Variance 
129978, Issue 2, dated December 20, 2012.
    (2) For an engine that is not in service on the effective date 
of this AD, before returning the engine to service, inspect the IPC 
RSS piston ring on-wing in accordance with paragraph (d)(2) of RR 
Repeater Technical Variance 129978, Issue 2, dated December 20, 
2012; or in shop using paragraph (d) of RR Repeater Technical 
Variance 129994, Issue 1, dated December 19, 2012.
    (3) If, during the inspections required by paragraph (e) of this 
AD, you find that the piston ring seal is not seated properly in the 
IPC RSS groove or is not intact, replace the piston ring seal or 
piston ring assembly before returning the engine to service.

(f) Credit for Previous Actions

    If you performed the inspection in paragraph (e) of this AD 
before the effective date of this AD in accordance with RR Repeater 
Technical Variance 129978, Issue 1, dated December 19, 2012; RR 
Repeater Technical Variance 129940, Issue 1, dated December 20, 
2012, or Airbus QSR RR/L/EN/12-0005, as applicable, you have met the 
inspection requirement of this AD.

(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 MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2012-0273, 
dated December 21, 2012, for related information.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) 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) RR Repeater Technical Variance 129994, Issue 1, dated 
December 19, 2012.
    (ii) RR Repeater Technical Variance 129978, Issue 2, dated 
December 20, 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, 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.
    (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 1, 2013.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-08445 Filed 4-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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