Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co Engines

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 80582-80584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25517]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1399; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01533-E; 
Amendment 39-22585; AD 2023-22-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-15-07 
for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) (type certificate 
previously held by Rolls-Royce plc) Model RB211-524G2-19, RB211-524G2-
T-19, RB211-524G3-19, RB211-524G3-T-19, RB211-524H2-19, RB211-524H2-T-
19, RB211-524H-36, and RB211-524H-T-36 engines. AD 2020-15-07 required 
replacement of the low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage 1 disk with part 
number (P/N) UL37606, UL37607, UL37608, UL37722, or UL37790, installed. 
This AD was prompted by an updated analysis by the engine manufacturer, 
which indicates certain part-numbered and serial-numbered LPT stage 1 
disks that have undergone rework could fail before the current 
published life limits. This AD retains the requirement to replace the 
LPT stage 1 disk and includes additional LPT stage 1 disks, as 
specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which 
is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 26, 2023.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 26, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1399; 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 service information identified in this final rule, 
contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: 
+49 221 8999 000; email: [email protected]; website: easa.europa.eu. 
You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    <bullet> You may view this service information 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-2023-1399.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sungmo Cho, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 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 to supersede AD 2020-15-07,

[[Page 80583]]

Amendment 39-21170 (85 FR 43682, July 20, 2020) (AD 2020-15-07). AD 
2020-15-07 applied to RRD RB211-524G2-19, RB211-524G2-T-19, RB211-
524G3-19, RB211-524G3-T-19, RB211-524H2-19, RB211-524H2-T-19, RB211-
524H-36, and RB211-524H-T-36 model turbofan engines with LPT stage 1 
disks, P/N UL37606, UL37607, UL37608, UL37722, or UL37790, installed. 
AD 2020-15-07 required replacement of the LPT stage 1 disk before it 
reaches its new Declared Safe Cycle Limit (DSCL) or within 25 flight 
cycles after the effective date of the AD, whichever occurs later. The 
FAA issued AD 2020-15-07 to prevent failure of the LPT stage 1 disk.
    The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 12, 2023 (88 FR 
44235). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2022-0237, dated December 2, 2022 
(EASA AD 2022-0237) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, 
which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European 
Union. The MCAI states that further investigation by the manufacturer 
identified additional part-numbered LPT stage 1 disks affected by the 
unsafe condition. As a result of this finding, RRD published revised 
service information, which includes the additional affected LPT stage 1 
disk P/Ns.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1399.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to include additional LPT stage 1 
disks and require accomplishing the actions specified in the MCAI 
described previously, except for any differences identified as 
exceptions in the regulatory text of the NPRM. The FAA is issuing this 
AD to prevent failure of the LPT stage 1 disk, which if not addressed, 
could result in uncontained release of high-energy debris from the 
engine, in-flight shutdown of the engine, damage to the engine, and 
damage to the airplane.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received a comment from the Air Line Pilots Association, 
International (ALPA) and The Boeing Company who supported the NPRM 
without change.

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 2022-0237, which specifies procedures for 
replacement of the LPT stage 1 disk and reducing the DSCL for LPT stage 
1 disks.
    This material is reasonably available because the interested 
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by 
the means identified in ADDRESSES.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 18 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove and replace LPT stage 1 disk.  120 work-hours x $85            $30,000          $40,200         $723,600
                                       per hour = $10,200.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The FAA has 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 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:

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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2020-15-07, Amendment 39-21170 (85 
FR 43682, July 20, 2020); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

2023-22-01 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co. KG: Amendment 39-
22585; Docket No. FAA-2023-1399; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01533-
E.

[[Page 80584]]

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 26, 
2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2020-15-07, Amendment 39-21170 (85 FR 43682, 
July 20, 2020).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co. KG (RRD) 
Model RB211-524G2-19, RB211-524G2-T-19, RB211-524G3-19, RB211-524G3-
T-19, RB211-524H2-19, RB211-524H2-T-19, RB211-524H-36, and RB211-
524H-T-36 engines.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by an updated analysis by the engine 
manufacturer, which indicates certain part-numbered and serial-
numbered low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage 1 disks that have 
undergone rework could fail before the current published life 
limits. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LPT 
stage 1 disk. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result 
in uncontained release of high-energy debris from the engine, in-
flight shutdown of the engine, damage to the engine, and damage to 
the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Perform all 
required actions within the compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2022-0237, dated December 2, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0237).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0237

    (1) Where EASA AD 2022-0237 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2022-0237.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 
CFR 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 (j) 
of this AD and email to: [email protected].
    (2) 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.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Sungmo Cho, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 
phone: (781) 238-7241; email: [email protected].

(k) 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 (EASA) AD 2022-0237, 
dated December 2, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2022-0237, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 
50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: 
[email protected]; website:easa.europa.eu. 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 material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on October 25, 2023.
Caitlin Locke,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25517 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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