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

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21845-21846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08733]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0884; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-31-AD; 
Amendment 39-17829; AD 2014-08-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-
30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines. This AD requires replacement 
of the low-pressure compressor (LPC) case ice impact panels. This AD 
was prompted by a report of a partial de-bonding of the LPC case ice 
impact panels during an engine shop visit. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the LPC case ice impact panels, which could result 
in damage to the engine and loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 23, 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-
0884; 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: Rose Len, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7772; 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 December 23, 2013 (78 FR 
77382). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    Partial de-bonding of the low-pressure compressor case ice 
impact panels was reported during engine shop visit.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to ice impact panel 
de-bonding, resulting, in case of an impact event and release of 
particles, in blockage of the outlet guide vane and consequent 
potential loss of thrust or reduced fan flutter margin.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, RRD issued Alert Non 
Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) SB-BR700-72-A900281 to provide 
instructions for a one-time ice impact panel replacement using an 
improved repair method.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2013-0884-0002.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (78 FR 77382, December 23, 
2013).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed.

[[Page 21846]]

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 232 engines installed on 
aircraft of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 24 
hours per engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 
per hour. Required parts will cost about $9,268 per engine. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$2,623,456.

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.
    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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2014-08-05 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Type Certificate 
previously held by Rolls-Royce Deutschland GmbH and BMW Rolls-Royce 
GmbH): Amendment 39-17829; Docket No. FAA-2013-0884; Directorate 
Identifier 2013-NE-31-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective May 23, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of a partial de-bonding of the 
low-pressure compressor (LPC) case ice impact panels during an 
engine shop visit. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
LPC case ice impact panels, which could result in damage to the 
engine and loss of control of the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, after the effective date of this AD, at the 
next engine shop visit or within 12,500 engine flight cycles since 
the last shop visit, whichever occurs first, replace the four LPC 
ice impact panels with panels eligible for installation.

(f) Definitions

    (1) For the purposes of this AD, an ``engine shop visit'' is the 
induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the 
separation of pairs of major mating engine flanges. The separation 
of engine flanges solely for the purpose of transportation without 
subsequent engine maintenance does not constitute an engine shop 
visit.
    (2) For the purposes of this AD, a panel that is ``eligible for 
installation'' is a new LPC impact panel or one that has been 
repaired using RRD Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) 
No. ALERT SB-BR700-72-A900281, dated July 1, 2013.

(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 Rose Len, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7772; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2013-0231, 
dated September 24, 2013, for more information. You may examine the 
MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2013-0884-0002.
    (3) RRD Alert NMSB No. ALERT SB-BR700-72-A900281, dated July 1, 
2013, which is not incorporated by reference in this AD, 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 33-7086-1944; fax: 49 33-
7086-3276.
    (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 April 8, 2014.
Ann C. Mollica,
Acting Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-08733 Filed 4-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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