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

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 16, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26755-26757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07872]



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                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 74 / Tuesday, April 16, 2024 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 26755]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1878; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01582-E; 
Amendment 39-22711; AD 2024-06-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-25-03 
for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent 7000-72 
and Trent 7000-72C engines. AD 2021-25-03 required operators to revise 
the airworthiness limitation section (ALS) of their existing approved 
continuous airworthiness maintenance program by incorporating the 
revised tasks of the applicable time limits manual (TLM) for each 
affected engine model. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-25-03, the 
manufacturer again revised the TLM to introduce new or more restrictive 
tasks and limitations and associated thresholds and intervals for life-
limited parts, which prompted this AD. This AD requires revising the 
ALS of the operator's existing approved engine maintenance or 
inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more 
restrictive tasks and limitations and associated thresholds and 
intervals for life-limited parts, 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 May 21, 2024.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 21, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov 
under Docket No. FAA-2023-1878; 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-2023-1878.

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 2021-25-03, Amendment 39-21846 (86 FR 
71135, December 15, 2021) (AD 2021-25-03). AD 2021-25-03 applied to all 
RRD Model Trent 7000-72 and Trent 7000-72C engines. AD 2021-25-03 
required operators to revise the ALS of their existing approved 
continuous airworthiness maintenance program by incorporating the 
revised tasks of the applicable TLM for each affected model turbofan 
engine, as specified in EASA AD 2020-0244. The FAA issued AD 2021-25-03 
to prevent the failure of critical rotating parts, which could result 
in failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and loss of 
the airplane.
    The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 18, 2023 
(88 FR 63888). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2022-0248, dated 
December 14, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0248) (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 the manufacturer published a 
revised engine TLM to introduce new or more restrictive tasks and 
limitations and associated thresholds and intervals for life-limited 
parts.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1878.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the ALS of the 
operator's existing approved engine maintenance or inspection program, 
as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive tasks and 
limitations and associated thresholds and intervals for life-limited 
parts, which are specified in EASA AD 2022-0248, described previously, 
except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory 
text of this AD.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from two commenters. The commenters were 
the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) and Delta Air 
Lines, Inc. (DAL). ALPA supported the NPRM without change. The 
following presents the comments received on the NPRM from DAL and the 
FAA's response to each comment.

Request To Clarify the Definition of Approved Maintenance Program (AMP)

    Delta requested that the FAA revise paragraph (h)(1) of the 
proposed AD to clarify the definition of the AMP and to refer to the 
operator's Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP) instead. 
DAL stated that the FAA's definition of an AMP in paragraph (h)(1) of 
the proposed AD contradicts the definition of an AMP in paragraph 
(h)(4). DAL also noted that the definitions for an AMP in paragraph 
(h)(1) and (4) of the proposed AD are part of the operator's CAMP.
    The FAA partially agrees. Paragraph (h)(4) of this AD has been 
revised to refer to the airworthiness limitations section of the 
``existing approved

[[Page 26756]]

aircraft maintenance or inspection program'' rather than the ``existing 
approved engine maintenance or inspection program.'' However, paragraph 
(h)(1) of this AD was not changed as a result of this comment because a 
CAMP is a specific type of maintenance program, and this AD uses the 
term ``maintenance program'' generically to include an AMP and a CAMP.

Request To Allow Alternative Actions and Prohibit Relaxed Thresholds 
Intervals

    DAL requested paragraph (i) of the proposed AD be revised to remove 
the ``no alternative actions'' statement and to clarify that only 
relaxed thresholds and intervals are not allowed unless they are 
specified in the provisions of the ``Ref. Publications'' section of 
EASA AD 2022-0248. DAL stated that paragraph (i) of the proposed AD 
does not allow any alternative thresholds and interval changes once the 
required TLM revision is incorporated into the operator's maintenance 
program. DAL noted that an operator may elect to incorporate stricter 
thresholds and intervals than prescribed in the TLM, which would allow 
the intervals and thresholds to be changed if they remain within the 
published limits of the TLM.
    The FAA disagrees with the request. The FAA notes that paragraph 
(i) of this AD does not limit the operators from using more restrictive 
limits or from performing more frequent inspections. This paragraph 
requires the actions within the compliance time of the TLM, which 
specifies the completion of tasks at intervals of no more than a 
defined number of engine flight cycles and replacement of parts before 
exceeding published life limits. Based on this, replacement of a part 
at a more restrictive time would fall within compliance time of the TLM 
and will satisfy that particular requirement of the AD. The FAA did not 
change this AD as a result of these comments.

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 comments received, 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, and any other changes described previously, 
this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will 
increase the economic burden on any operator.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2022-0248, which specifies revising the 
ALS of the existing approved engine maintenance or inspection program, 
as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive tasks and 
limitations and associated thresholds and intervals for life-limited 
parts.
    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 40 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise the ALS........................  1 work-hours x $85 per                $0             $85          $3,400
                                         hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 2021-25-03, Amendment 39-21846 (86 
FR 71135, December 15, 2021); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

2024-06-06 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Amendment 39-22711; 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1878; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01582-E.

[[Page 26757]]

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 21, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2021-25-03, Amendment 39-21846 (86 FR 71135, 
December 15, 2021).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Model 
Trent 7000-72 and Trent 7000-72C engines.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the manufacturer revising the engine 
time limits manual (TLM) life limits of certain critical rotating 
parts and updating certain maintenance tasks. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to prevent the failure of critical rotating parts. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of one 
or more engines, loss of thrust control, and loss of 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 
2022-0248, dated December 14, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0248).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0248

    (1) Where EASA AD 2022-0248 defines the AMP as the approved 
Aircraft Maintenance Programme containing the tasks on the basis of 
which the scheduled maintenance is conducted to ensure the 
continuing airworthiness of each operated engine, this AD defines 
the AMP as the aircraft maintenance program containing the tasks on 
the basis of which the scheduled maintenance is conducted to ensure 
the continuing airworthiness of each operated airplane.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2022-0248 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (3) This AD does not require compliance with paragraphs (1), 
(2), (4), and (5) of EASA AD 2022-0248.
    (4) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0248 specifies revising 
the approved AMP within 12 months after the effective date of EASA 
AD 2022-0248, this AD requires revising the airworthiness 
limitations section of the existing approved aircraft maintenance or 
inspection program, as applicable, within 90 days after the 
effective date of this AD.
    (5) This AD does not adopt the Remarks paragraph of EASA AD 
2022-0248.

(i) Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals

    After performing the actions required by paragraph (g) of this 
AD, no alternative actions and associated thresholds and intervals, 
including life limits, are allowed unless they are approved as 
specified in the provisions of the ``Ref. Publications'' section of 
EASA AD 2022-0248.

(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, AIR-520 Continued Operational 
Safety 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 2022-0248, 
dated December 14, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2022-0248, 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 March 15, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-07872 Filed 4-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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