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

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8081-8082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02809]



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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 28 / Tuesday, February 11, 2014 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 8081]]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0342; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-14-AD; 
Amendment 39-17750; AD 2014-03-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co. KG (RRD) Tay 620-15, 650-15, and 651-
54 turbofan engines. This AD requires replacement of low-pressure 
compressor (LPC) fan blades. This AD was prompted by the discovery that 
the LPC fan blades leading edges erode in service and create an 
unacceptable blade flutter margin. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
LPC fan blade failure, damage to the engine, and damage to the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 18, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-
0342; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for the Docket Operations office 
(phone: 800-647-5527) is provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony W. Cerra, Jr., Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7128; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to the specified products. The 
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on September 26, 2013 (78 FR 
59291). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    Service history of Tay series engines discovered that low 
pressure compressor (LPC) fan blade leading edge is exposed to 
excessive deterioration. The LPC fan blade leading edge profile 
influences the LPC aerodynamic characteristics and stability. This 
condition, if not corrected, could reduce fan flutter margin and, in 
some cases, could lead to fan blade failure, possibly resulting in 
uncontained release of high energy debris with consequent damage to, 
and/or reduced control of, the aeroplane.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2013-0342-0002.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comment received. The commenter supports the 
NPRM (78 FR 59291, September 26, 2013).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 52 engines of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it will take about six hours per 
product to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. 
Required parts will cost about $11,000 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$598,520.

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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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.

[[Page 8082]]

    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]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

2014-03-16 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co. KG (formerly Rolls-
Royce plc): Amendment 39-17750; Docket No. FAA-2013-0342; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-14-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective March 18, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co. KG (RRD) 
Tay 620-15, 650-15, and 651-54 turbofan engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by the discovery that the low-pressure 
compressor (LPC) fan blade leading edges erode in service and create 
an unacceptable blade flutter margin. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent LPC fan blade failure, damage to the engine, and damage to 
the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) For Tay 620-15 engines, replace the complete set of LPC fan 
blades with a set eligible for installation as follows:
    (i) If on the effective date of this AD, the LPC fan blades:
    (A) Have less than 10,000 flight cycles since new (FCSN) or 
flight cycles since last repair (FCSLR), replace the blades before 
accumulating 12,000 FCSN or FCSLR.
    (B) Have 10,000 or more FCSN or FCSLR, replace the blades within 
2,000 flight cycles (FC).
    (ii) Thereafter, replace the LPC fan blades within 12,000 FCSN 
or FCSLR.
    (2) For Tay 650-15 and Tay 651-54 engines, replace the complete 
set of LPC fan blades with a set eligible for installation as 
follows:
    (i) If on the effective date of this AD, the LPC fan blades:
    (A) Have less than 8,000 FCSN or FCSLR, replace the blades 
before accumulating 10,000 FCSN or FCSLR.
    (B) Have 8,000 or more FCSN or FCSLR, replace the fan blades 
within 2,000 FC.
    (ii) Thereafter, replace the LPC fan blades within 10,000 FCSN 
or FCSLR.

(f) Definitions

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, a repair is one that was 
performed in accordance with RRD Alert Non-Modification Service 
Bulletin (NMSB) No. Tay-72-A1782, Revision 2, dated May 30, 2013, or 
earlier versions of this Alert NMSB.
    (2) LPC fan blades eligible for installation are:
    (i) For Tay 620-15 engines, LPC fan blades with less than 12,000 
FCSN or FCSLR; and
    (ii) For Tay 650-15 and Tay 651-54 engines, LPC fan blades with 
less than 10,000 FCSN or FCSLR.

(g) 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.

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Anthony W. 
Cerra, Jr., Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7128; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2013-0143, 
dated July 12, 2013, for more information. You may examine the MCAI 
in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2013-0342-0002.
    (3) RRD Alert NMSB No. Tay-72-A1782, Revision 2, dated May 30, 
2013, pertains to the subject of this AD and can be obtained from 
RRD, using the contact information in paragraph (h)(4) of this AD.
    (4) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co. KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, 15827 
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; phone: 49 0 33-7086-1200 (direct 
1016); fax: 49 0 33-7086-1212.
    (5) 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.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 30, 2014.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-02809 Filed 2-10-14; 8:45 am]
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