Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 229 (Thursday, November 30, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 83492-83494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26302]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1888; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00298-E; 
Amendment 39-22615; AD 2023-23-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
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 all 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model RB211-Trent 800 
engines. This AD is prompted by reports of cracks on certain 
intermediate-pressure compressor (IPC) rotor shaft balance lands. This 
AD requires initial and repetitive on-wing or in-shop borescope 
inspections (BSIs) of certain IPC rotor shaft balance lands for cracks, 
dents, and nicks, and replacement of the IPC rotor shaft if necessary, 
and would prohibit the installation of a certain IPC rotor shaft on any 
engine, 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 4, 2024.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 4, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1888; 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. 
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-2023-1888.

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 by adding an AD that would apply to all RRD Model RB211-
Trent 800 engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
September 15, 2023 (88 FR 63539); corrected on September 27, 2023 (88 
FR 66314). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2023-0040, dated February 
16, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0040) (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 cracking on the IPC rotor shaft 
balance land has been historically observed on RRD Model RB211-Trent 
800 engines. To address this unsafe condition, the manufacturer 
developed a modification, which introduced a revised balancing method 
that removed the original balancing weights from the IPC rotor shaft, 
and published service information to provide instructions for in-
service modification. In addition, the manufacturer published service 
information to provide instructions for in-shop eddy current (EC) 
inspection of the IPC rotor shaft balance land. Consequently, EASA 
issued EASA AD 2014-0152, dated June 20, 2014; corrected June 25, 2014; 
revised March 2, 2018 (EASA AD 2014-0152R1).
    Since EASA issued EASA AD 2014-0152R1, the manufacturer determined 
that certain RB211-Trent 800 engines were not inspected during engine 
refurbishment. The manufacturer then identified the IPC rotor shaft 
balance lands that were not inspected and published service information 
that describes procedures to perform a BSI of the IPC rotor shaft 
balance land until the in-shop EC inspection is accomplished. To 
address this, EASA issued the MCAI.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require initial and repetitive on-
wing or in-shop BSIs of certain IPC rotor shaft balance lands for 
cracks, dents, and nicks, and replacement of the IPC rotor shaft if 
necessary, and proposed to prohibit the installation of a certain IPC 
rotor shaft on any engine. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1888.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received a comment from The Boeing Company (Boeing). Boeing 
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, 
considered the comment received, and determined that air safety 
requires

[[Page 83493]]

adopting the AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for minor 
editorial, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2023-0040, which specifies procedures for 
performing initial and repetitive on-wing or in-shop BSIs of the IPC 
rotor shaft balance land for cracks, dents, and nicks, and replacing 
the IPC rotor shaft if necessary. The MCAI also specifies prohibiting 
the installation of a certain IPC rotor shaft on any engine and that 
accomplishing an in-shop EC inspection of the IPC rotor shaft balance 
land or replacing the IPC rotor shaft constitutes as terminating action 
for the repetitive BSIs.
    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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 194 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSI of IPC rotor shaft balance land...  4.5 work-hours x $85 per              $0         $382.50         $74,205
                                         hour = $382.50.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that would be 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 IPC rotor shaft.......................  50 work-hours x $85 per hour =        $2,123,908      $2,128,158
                                                 $4,250.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

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:

2023-23-13 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Amendment 39-22615; 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1888; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00298-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 4, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
Model RB211-Trent 875-17, RB211-Trent 877-17, RB211-Trent 884-17, 
RB211-Trent 884B-17, RB211-Trent 892-17, RB211-Trent 892B-17, and 
RB211-Trent 895-17 engines.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of cracks on the intermediate-
pressure compressor (IPC) rotor shaft balance land. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to detect cracks on the IPC rotor shaft balance 
land. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to IPC 
rotor shaft failure and consequent uncontained high-energy debris, 
resulting in damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

[[Page 83494]]

(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, European Union Aviation Safety Agency 
(EASA) AD 2023-0040, dated February 16, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0040).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0040

    (1) Where EASA AD 2023-0040 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) This AD does not adopt the Remarks paragraph of EASA AD 
2023-0040.
    (3) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-
0040 specifies to use certain tooling, equivalent tooling may be 
used.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-0040 
specifies to notify the manufacturer or supply pictures to the 
manufacturer of any cracks, dents, or nicks, this AD does not 
include that requirement.

(j) 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 branch, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) 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.

(k) 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].

(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 (EASA) AD 2023-0040, 
dated February 16, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, 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.
    (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 November 20, 2023.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-26302 Filed 11-29-23; 8:45 am]
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