Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 13, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26985-26987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12077]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9553; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-29-AD; 
Amendment 39-18904; AD 2017-11-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation 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 Corporation (RRC) AE 3007C and 3007C1 turbofan engines. 
This AD was prompted by analysis and by cracks found in the high-
pressure turbine (HPT) wheel during an inspection. This AD requires 
replacement of the affected HPT wheels at new, lower life limits. We 
are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 18, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 18, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Rolls-Royce Corporation, 450 South Meridian Street, Mail Code 
NB-01-06, Indianapolis, IN 46225; phone: 317-230-3774; email: 
royce.com">indy.pubs.services@rolls-royce.com; Internet: www.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-2016-9553.

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-2016-
9553; 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 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: Kyri Zaroyiannis, Aerospace Engineer, 
Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
2300 E. Devon Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60018; phone: 847-294-7836; fax: 
847-294-7834; 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 certain RRC AE 3007C and 
3007C1 model turbofan engines. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on February 22, 2017 (82 FR

[[Page 26986]]

11327) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by analysis and by cracks 
found in the HPT wheel during an inspection. The NPRM proposed to 
require replacement of the affected HPT wheels at new, lower life 
limits. We are issuing this AD to prevent uncontained failure of the 
HPT wheels, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We have considered the comment received. An individual 
commenter supported the NPRM.

Conclusion

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

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed RRC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) AE 3007C-A-72-318, 
Revision 2, dated September 23, 2016. The ASB provides updated life 
limits for the affected HPT wheels. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 307 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 HPT wheel (Part      0 work-hours x $85     $39,171 (pro-rated            $39,171      $3,838,758
 Number (P/N) 23062373, 23065891,    per hour = $0.         cost of part).
 or 23070664) at reduced life.
Replacement of HPT wheel (P/N       0 work-hours x $85     $21,911 (pro-rated             21,911       4,579,399
 23063462, 23065892, 23069116,       per hour = $0.         cost of part).
 23069592, or 23074643) at reduced
 life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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):

2017-11-05 Roll-Royce Corporation (Type Certificate previously held 
by Allison Engine Company): Amendment 39-18904; Docket No. FAA-2016-
9553; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-29-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective July 18, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    (1) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE 3007C 
and 3007C1 turbofan engines with 1st stage high-pressure turbine 
(HPT) wheels, part number (P/N) 23062373, 23065891, or 23070664; or 
with 2nd stage HPT wheels, P/N 23063462, 23065892, 23069116, 
23069592 (except those serial numbers (S/Ns) noted in paragraph 
(c)(2) of this AD), or 23074643, installed.
    (2) This AD does not apply to RRC AE 3007C and 3007C1 turbofan 
engines with 2nd stage HPT wheels, P/N 23069592, with S/Ns listed in 
Table 6 of RRC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) AE 3007C-A-72-318, 
Revision 2, dated September 23, 2016, installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine/
turboprop Engine, Turbine Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by analysis and by cracks found in the HPT 
wheel during an inspection. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
uncontained failure of the HPT wheels, damage to the engine, and 
damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) For all RRC AE 3007C or C1 engines with an installed 1st 
stage HPT wheel, P/N 23062373, 23065891, or 23070664, or 2nd stage 
HPT wheel, P/N 23063462, 23065892, 23069116, 23069592 (except those 
S/Ns excluded by paragraph (c)(2) of this AD) or 23074643, after the 
effective date of this AD, remove the affected wheels before 
exceeding the new life limits identified in paragraph C., Table 1 of 
RRC ASB AE 3007C-A-72-318, Revision 2, dated September 23, 2016.

[[Page 26987]]

    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not return to 
service any engine with an HPT turbine wheel, with an affected P/N 
and an S/N, with a wheel life that exceeds the new life limits 
identified in paragraph C., Table 1 of RRC ASB AE 3007C-A-72-318, 
Revision 2, dated September 23, 2016.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 
to make your request.

(h) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Kyri Zaroyiannis, 
Aerospace Engineer, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, Small 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, 2300 E. Devon Ave., Des Plaines, IL 
60018; phone: 847-294-7836; fax: 847-294-7834; email: 
[email protected].

(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 Corporation (RRC) Alert Service Bulletin AE 
3007C-A-72-318, Revision 2, dated September 23, 2016.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For RRC service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce Corporation, 450 South Meridian Street, Mail Code NB-01-
06, Indianapolis, IN 46225; phone: 317-230-3774; email: 
royce.com">indy.pubs.services@rolls-royce.com; Internet: www.rolls-royce.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 
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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 17, 2017.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-12077 Filed 6-12-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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