Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbojet Engines

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12585-12587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05319]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1331; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-44-AD; 
Amendment 39-18390; AD 2016-03-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbojet Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2013-11-13 for 
all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Viper Mk. 601-22 turbojet engines. AD 2013-11-
13 required reducing the life of certain critical parts. This AD adds 
two new engine models and additional engine parts to the applicability. 
This AD was prompted by a determination by RR that additional parts for 
the RR Viper Mk. 601-22 as well as additional engine models are 
affected. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of life-limited 
parts, which could lead to an uncontained part release, damage to the 
engine, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective April 14, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publication listed in this AD as of April 14, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact DA 
Services Operations Room at Rolls-Royce plc, Defense Sector Bristol, 
WH-70, P.O. Box 3, Filton, Bristol BS34 7QE, United Kingdom; phone: +44 
(0) 117 97 90700; fax: +44 (0) 117 97 95498; email: royce.com">defence-operations-room@rolls-royce.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
781-238-7125. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2012-
1331.

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-2012-
1331; 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, 
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: Philip Haberlen, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7770; fax: 781-
238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to supersede AD 2013-11-13, Amendment 39-17473 (78 FR 34550, 
June 10, 2013), (``AD 2013-11-13''). AD 2013-11-13 applied to the 
specified products. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
October 9, 2015 (80 FR 61131). The NPRM proposed to continue to require 
reducing the life of certain critical parts. That NPRM also proposed to 
add additional parts for the RR Viper Mk. 601-22 as well as additional 
engine models to the applicability of this AD.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 61131, October 9, 
2015).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (80 FR 61131, October 9, 2015) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 61131, October 9, 2015).

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    RR has issued RR Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) Mk. 521 Number 72-
A408, Circulation A, dated January 2015; RR ASB Mk. 521 Number 72-A408, 
Circulation B, dated January 2015; RR ASB Mk. 522 Number 72-A413, 
Circulation A, dated January 2015; RR ASB Mk. 522 Number 72-A412, 
Circulation B, dated January 2015; and RR ASB Mk 601-22 Number 72-A207, 
dated January 2015. The service information describes procedures for 
identifying the affected parts installed on each engine and determining 
their respective new life limit. This service information is reasonably 
available because the interested parties have access to it through 
their normal course of business or by the means identified in the 
ADDRESSES section of this final rule.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects about 46 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate a pro-rated parts cost of 
$66,000 per engine. We also estimate that it will take about 4 hours

[[Page 12586]]

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 $3,051,640.

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

    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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (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 removing airworthiness directive (AD) 
AD 2013-11-13, Amendment 39-17473 (78 FR 34550, June 10, 2013), (``AD 
2013-11-13''), and adding the following new AD:

2016-03-03 Rolls-Royce plc (Type Certificate previously held by 
Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited, Bristol Engine Division): Amendment 39-
18390; Docket No. FAA-2012-1331; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-44-
AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective April 14, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2013-11-13.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Viper Mk. 521, Viper 
Mk. 522, and Viper Mk. 601-22 turbojet engines.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a review by RR of the lives of certain 
critical parts. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of life-
limited parts, which could lead to an uncontained part release, 
damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, or 
before any affected part exceeds its new revised life limit, 
whichever occurs later, remove any affected engine from service. Use 
Table 1 of RR Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) Mk. 521 Number 72-A408, 
Circulation A, dated January 2015; RR ASB Mk. 521 Number 72-A408, 
Circulation B, dated January 2015; RR ASB Mk. 522 Number 72-A413, 
Circulation A, dated January 2015; RR ASB Mk. 522 Number 72-A412, 
Circulation B, dated January 2015; and RR ASB Mk 601-22 Number 72-
A207, dated January 2015, to identify the affected parts installed 
on each engine and determine their respective new life limits.
    (2) For the RR Viper Mk. 601-22 turbojet engine, remove 
compressor shaft, part number V900766, from service before the 
compressor shaft accumulates 20,720 flight cycles since new.
    (3) Replace any part identified in paragraph (e)(1) or (e)(2) of 
this AD with a part eligible for installation before the affected 
part reaches its new life limit specified in paragraph (e)(2) of 
this AD or in the ASBs referenced in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install any affected 
part identified in paragraph (e) of this AD into any engine, nor 
return any engine to service with any affected part identified in 
paragraph (e) of this AD installed, if any affected part exceeds the 
life limit specified in the appropriate ASB identified in paragraph 
(e)(1) of this AD and/or the life limit identified in paragraph 
(e)(2) 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. You may email your request to: [email protected].

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Philip Haberlen, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7770; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2015-
0127R1, dated August 14, 2015, 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 Docket No. FAA-
2012-1331.

(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) Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) Mk. 521 
Number 72-A408, Circulation A, dated January 2015.
    (ii) RR ASB Mk. 521 Number 72-A408, Circulation B, dated January 
2015.
    (iii) RR ASB Mk. 522 Number 72-A413, Circulation A, dated 
January 2015.
    (iv) RR ASB Mk. 522 Number 72-A412, Circulation B, dated January 
2015.
    (v) RR ASB Mk 601-22 Number 72-A207, dated January 2015.
    (3) For RR service information identified in this AD, contact DA 
Services Operations Room at Rolls-Royce plc, Defense Sector Bristol, 
WH-70, P.O. Box 3, Filton, Bristol BS34 7QE, United Kingdom; phone: 
+44 (0) 117 97 90700; fax: +44 (0) 117 97 95498; email: royce.com">defence-operations-room@rolls-royce.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, 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.



[[Page 12587]]


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 2, 2016.
Ann C. Mollica,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05319 Filed 3-9-16; 8:45 am]
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