Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36387-36389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14807]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0281; Directorate Identifier 2014-NE-05-AD; 
Amendment 39-17878; AD 2014-13-03]
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 553-61, 553A2-61, 556-61, 556A2-61, 
556B-61, 556B2-61, 560-61, and 560A2-61 turbofan engines. We are 
issuing this AD to address, through an update to the electronic engine 
control (EEC) software, multiple risks of uncontained engine failure 
and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective July 14, 2014.

[[Page 36388]]

    We must receive comments on this AD by August 11, 2014.

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, England, DE248BJ; 
phone: 011-44-1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332-249936; email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp; Internet: https://www.aeromanager.com. 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.

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-2014-
0281; 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 address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is 
in ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Riley, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7758; 
fax: (781) 238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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-2014-0281; Directorate 
Identifier 2014-NE-05-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.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD 2014-0086, dated April 11, 2014 (referred to hereinafter as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    Investigation carried out by RR has identified the risk of fan 
flutter during ground maintenance running, which indicated the need 
to introduce a fan flutter Keep Out Zone (KOZ). In addition, 
following Intermediate Pressure (IP) turbine overspeed events 
experienced on other Trent series engines, the need to introduce a 
protection against IP shaft failures in the event of an internal 
engine fire was identified.
    Fan flutter may result in multiple fan blade failures and 
consequent release of uncontained high energy debris. An unprotected 
IP shaft failure may result in IP turbine overspeed, IP turbine 
burst and, ultimately, release of uncontained high energy debris. 
These conditions, if not corrected, could result in damage to, and 
reduced control of, the aeroplane.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-0281.

Relevant Service Information

    RR has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. RB.211-73-AH531, 
Revision 1, dated March 7, 2014. The ASB describes procedures for 
modifying affected RB211 Trent 500 turbofan engines by installing new 
EEC software Version L6.1.2.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of 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 proposing 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 removal of EEC software, Version 
L5.6.1 or earlier, and installation of a software version eligible for 
installation.

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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects no engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 hour per 
engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. 
Required parts cost is about $0 per engine. Based on these figures, we 
estimate the cost of this AD on 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

    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.

[[Page 36389]]

    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.

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):

2014-13-03 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-17878; Docket No. FAA-2014-
0281; Directorate Identifier 2014-NE-05-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective July 14, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 553-61, 
553A2-61, 556-61, 556A2-61, 556B-61, 556B2-61, 560-61, and 560A2-61 
turbofan engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by the risk of fan flutter occurring during 
ground maintenance running, and the risk of intermediate-pressure 
(IP) shaft failure which may result in IP turbine overspeed and disk 
burst. We are issuing this AD to address, through an update to the 
electronic engine control (EEC) software, multiple risks of 
uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) After the effective date of this AD, within 3 months or 200 
flight cycles, whichever occurs first, modify the engine by removing 
EEC software, Version L5.6.1 or earlier.
    (2) Install EEC software eligible for installation.

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After modification of an engine as required by paragraph (e) of 
this AD, do not install any EEC with a software Version L5.6.1 or 
earlier into any engine.

(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 Mark Riley, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: (781) 238-7758; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2014-0086, 
dated April 11, 2014, for more information. You may examine the MCAI 
in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2014-0281.
    (3) RR Alert Service Bulletin No. RB.211-73-AH531, Revision 1, 
dated March 7, 2014, which is not incorporated by reference in this 
AD, can be obtained from RR using the contact information in 
paragraph (h)(4) of this AD.
    (4) 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; Internet: https://www.aeromanager.com.
    (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 June 13, 2014.
Ann C. Mollica,
Acting Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-14807 Filed 6-26-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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