Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9380-9382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03533]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0561; Directorate Identifier 2014-NE-12-AD; 
Amendment 39-18105; AD 2015-04-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc 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 certain 
Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 turbofan 
engines. This AD requires inspection of the oil feed tube sealing 
sleeve and removal of those oil feed tube sealing sleeves that are 
affected by this AD. This AD was prompted by fractures of the high-
pressure/intermediate-pressure (HP/IP) turbine support internal oil 
feed tube. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HP/IP 
turbine support internal oil feed tube, which could result in 
uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 30, 2015.

ADDRESSES: See the For Further Information Contact section.

[[Page 9381]]

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-
0561; 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 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 
Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wego Wang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7134; 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 18, 2014 (79 FR 
56025). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

There have been nine occurrences of high oil consumption, caused by 
fracture of the High/Intermediate Pressure (HP/IP) turbine support 
internal oil feed tube Part Number (P/N) FW45909.

The oil feed tube threaded end adaptor and sealing sleeve P/N 
FW15003 are designed to form a sliding joint which, if restrained, 
can compress the oil feed tube during thermal contraction of the 
turbine casing at the end of the flight cycle. On each subsequent 
flight, the thermal growth and contraction of the turbine casing 
relative to the oil tube, during the heating and cooling phases of 
the flight cycle, apply a load cycle to the tube, which may lead to 
low cycle fatigue fracture.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (79 FR 56025, September 
18, 2014).

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 69 engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 8.5 hours 
per engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per 
hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. 
operators to be $49,853.

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.

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):

2015-04-03 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-18105; Docket No. FAA-2014-
0561; Directorate Identifier 2014-NE-12-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective March 30, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-
60, and 772B-60 turbofan engines, serial numbers 41693 through 42309 
inclusive, 42313, 42318, 42319, 42320, 42328, and 42330 with high-
pressure/intermediate-pressure (HP/IP) turbine support internal oil 
feed tube sealing sleeve, part number (P/N) FW15003, installed, that 
is marked with the prefix ``B/N'' followed by a six digit batch 
number and does not contain the marking 102013, 112013 or 102013L.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by fractures of the HP/IP turbine support 
internal oil feed tube. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 
the HP/IP turbine support internal oil feed tube, which could result 
in 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) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, perform 
on-wing or in-shop inspection for, and remove from service, any 
affected HP/IP turbine support internal oil feed tube sealing 
sleeve.
    (2) Remove from service any HP/IP turbine support internal oil 
feed tube sealing sleeve on which markings cannot be sufficiently 
identified to determine whether said sealing sleeve is part of the 
affected population.
    (3) From the effective date of this AD, you may install on 
engines HP/IP turbine support internal oil feed tube sealing 
sleeves, P/N FW15003, that are marked with the prefix ``B/N'' 
followed by a six digit batch number, provided that the part is 
marked with 102013, 112013, or 102013L.

[[Page 9382]]

(f) 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. You may email your request to: [email protected].

(g) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Wego Wang, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7134; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2014-0168, 
dated July 16, 2014, for more information. You may examine the MCAI 
in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2014-0561.

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 11, 2015.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-03533 Filed 2-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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