Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 77 (Monday, April 24, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18843-18845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07984]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0755; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-12-AD; 
Amendment 39-18860; AD 2017-08-11]
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 superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2012-04-01 for 
all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 800 model turbofan engines. AD 
2012-04-01 required removal from service of certain critical engine 
rotating parts based on reduced life limits. This AD makes additional 
revisions to the life limits of certain critical engine rotating parts. 
This AD was prompted by RR further revising the life limits of certain 
critical engine rotating parts. We are issuing this AD to correct the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: See the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

[[Page 18844]]

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-2010-
0755; 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: Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7754; 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 2012-04-01, Amendment 39-16956 (77 FR 10355, 
February 22, 2012), (``AD 2012-04-01''). AD 2012-04-01 applied to the 
specified products. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
January 18, 2017 (82 FR 5454). The NPRM proposed to continue to require 
removal from service of certain critical engine rotating parts based on 
reduced life limits.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comments received. The Boeing Company and 
American Airlines support the NPRM as written.

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 16 engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost             Parts cost           product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement of critical engine      0 work-hours x $85     $45,000 (pro-rated            $45,000        $720,000
 rotating parts.                     per hour = $0.         cost of parts).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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) 
2012-04-01, Amendment 39-16956 (77 FR 10355, February 22, 2012) and 
adding the following AD:

2017-08-11 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-18860; Docket No. FAA-2010-
0755; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-12-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective May 30, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2012-04-01, Amendment 39-16956 (77 FR 10355, 
February 22, 2012).

 (c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RR RB211-Trent 875-
17, 877-17, 884-17, 884B-17, 892-17, 892B-17, and 895-17 turbofan 
engines.

 (d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7200, Engine 
(Turbine/Turboprop).

 (e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by RR revising the life limits of certain 
critical engine rotating parts. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
the failure of critical engine rotating parts, damage to the engine, 
and damage to the airplane.

 (f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) After the effective date of this AD, remove from service the 
parts listed in Table 1 to paragraph (f) of this AD before exceeding 
the new life limit indicated:

[[Page 18845]]



                                  Table 1 to Paragraph (f)--Reduced Part Lives
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Life in cycles
              Part nomenclature                         Part No.             Life in standard   using the HEAVY
                                                                               duty cycles          profile
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intermediate Pressure (IP) Compressor Rotor   FK24100                                  12,500             11,500
 Shaft.
IP Compressor Rotor Shaft...................  FK24496                                   8,860              8,180
High-Pressure Compressor (HPC) Stage 1 to 4   FK24009                                   4,560              4,460
 Rotor Discs Shaft.
HPC Stage 1 to 4 Rotor Discs Shaft..........  FK26167                                   5,580              5,280
HPC Stage 1 to 4 Rotor Discs Shaft..........  FK32580                                   5,580              5,280
HPC Stage 1 to 4 Rotor Discs Shaft..........  FW11590                                   8,550              6,850
HPC Stage 1 to 4 Rotor Discs Shaft..........  FW61622                                   8,550              6,850
HPC Stage 5 and 6 Discs and Cone............  FK25230                                   5,000              5,000
HPC Stage 5 and 6 Discs and Cone............  FK27899                                   5,000              5,000
IP Turbine Rotor Disc.......................  FK21117                                  11,610             10,400
IP Turbine Rotor Disc.......................  FK33083                                       0                  0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Reserved.

 (g) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install any IP 
turbine discs, P/N FK33083, into any engine.

 (h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 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].

 (i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Robert Green, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency, AD 2016-0223, 
dated November 8, 2016, 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-2010-0755.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 13, 2017.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-07984 Filed 4-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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