Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 231 (Friday, December 2, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73919-73921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26274]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1158; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00771-E; 
Amendment 39-22246; AD 2022-24-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
(Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-710A1-10, 
BR700-710A2-20, and BR700-710C4-11 model turbofan engines. This AD was 
prompted by reports of cracks on certain low-pressure compressor (LPC) 
rotor (fan) disks. This AD requires initial and repetitive visual 
inspections of certain LPC rotor fan disks and, depending on the 
results of the inspections, replacement of any LPC rotor fan disk with 
cracks detected. This AD also allows modification of the engine in 
accordance with RRD service information as a terminating action to 
these inspections, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (IBR). The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 6, 2023.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 6, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1158; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For material that is proposed for IBR in this AD, contact 
EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 
8999 000; email: [email protected]. You may find this material on the 
EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    <bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2022-1158.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sungmo Cho, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
(781) 238-7241; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain RRD BR700-
710A1-10, BR700-710A2-20, and BR700-710C4-11 model turbofan engines. 
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2022 (87 FR 
56284). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2022-0110, dated June 15, 
2022, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member 
States of the European Union (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''). 
The MCAI states that there

[[Page 73920]]

have been reports of cracks on certain LPC rotor fan disks.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require accomplishing the actions 
specified in EASA AD 2022-0110, described previously, except for any 
differences or exceptions identified in the NPRM. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

Conclusion

    These products have been approved by the aviation authority of 
another country and are approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design 
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in 
the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data and 
determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. 
Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is 
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2022-0110. EASA AD 2022-0110 specifies 
procedures for initial and repetitive visual inspections of certain LPC 
rotor fan disks, and replacement of any LPC rotor fan disk with cracks 
detected.
    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 ADDRESSES.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System Service 
Bulletin (SB) SB-BR700-72-101474, Revision 1, dated November 18, 2014 
(RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-101474); RRD BR700 
Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-101952, Initial Issue, dated 
December 1, 2016 (RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-
101952); and RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-A900732, 
Initial Issue, dated June 7, 2022 (RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System 
SB SB-BR700-72-A900732).
    RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System SB-BR700-72-101474 and RRD BR700 
Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-101952 describe procedures for 
the modification of the engine as a terminating action to the initial 
and repetitive visual inspections of certain LPC rotor fan disks. RRD 
BR700 Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-A900732 specifies 
procedures for initial and repetitive visual inspections of certain LPC 
rotor fan disks.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 2,068 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect LPC compressor rotor fan disk.  4 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $340        $703,120
                                         hour = $340.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that are required based on the results of the inspection. 
The agency has no way of determining the number of aircraft that might 
need these replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace LPC compressor rotor fan disk.........  10 work-hours x $85 per hour =          $470,000        $470,850
                                                 $850.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    The FAA is 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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.

The Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

[[Page 73921]]

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:

2022-24-06 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Type Certificate 
previously held by Rolls-Royce plc): Amendment 39-22246; Docket No. 
FAA-2022-1158; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00771-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 6, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
BR700-710A1-10, BR700-710A2-20, and BR700-710C4-11 model turbofan 
engines as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 
2022-0110, dated June 15, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0110).

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine 
Engine Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of cracks on certain low-
pressure compressor (LPC) rotor (fan) disks. The FAA is issuing this 
AD to prevent failure of the LPC rotor fan or blade. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in high energy debris 
release, damage to the airplane, and reduced control of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: 
Perform all required actions within the compliance times specified 
in, and in accordance with, EASA AD 2022-0110.

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0110

    (1) Where EASA AD 2022-0110 requires compliance from its 
effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this 
AD.
    (2) The ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2022-0110 does not apply 
to this AD.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0110 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not include that requirement.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in Sec.  39.19. 
In accordance with Sec.  39.19, send your request to your principal 
inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. 
If sending information directly to the manager of the certification 
office, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (k) of this AD and email to: [email protected].
    Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(k) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Sungmo Cho, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, 
MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7241; email: [email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference 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) European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2022-0110, dated 
June 15, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2022-0110, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 
50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: 
[email protected]. You may find this EASA AD on the EASA website at 
ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, email: [email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on November 14, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-26274 Filed 12-1-22; 8:45 am]
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