Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (formerly Rolls-Royce plc) Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 Series Turboprop Engines

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 28 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6461-6462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1708]



[[Page 6461]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25272; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-16-AD; 
Amendment 39-14924; AD 2007-03-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
(formerly Rolls-Royce plc) Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 Series 
Turboprop Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (formerly Rolls-Royce plc) (RRD) 
Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 series turboprop engines. This AD 
would require repetitive inspections of high pressure turbine (HPT) 
blade platforms and shrouds, and reworking the engines if the 
inspections reveal excessive gaps between blade shrouds. This AD 
results from reports of HPT disk rim failures. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent HPT disk rim failures resulting in the release of portions 
of the HPT disk, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 19, 2007. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of March 19, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, D-15827 
Dahlewitz, Germany; telephone 49 (0) 33-7086-1768; fax 49 (0) 33-7086-
3356.
    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Yang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-7747; 
fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to RRD Dart 528, 529, 532, 
535, 542, and 552 series turboprop engines. We published the proposed 
AD in the Federal Register on September 12, 2006 (71 FR 53610). That 
action proposed to require repetitive inspections of HPT blade 
platforms and shrouds, and reworking the engines if the inspections 
reveal excessive gaps between blade shrouds.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the AD, any comments 
received, and any final disposition in person at the Docket Management 
Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is 
located on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation Nassif 
Building at the street address stated in ADDRESSES. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment received.

Incorporate Service Bulletin By Reference

    The Modification & Replacement Parts Association requests that we 
incorporate the service bulletin by reference. We agree that the 
material should be incorporated by reference. We did so in the AD. The 
commenter also requests that we post service bulletins on the DMS. We 
are currently reviewing issues surrounding the posting of this material 
on the DMS as part of an AD docket. Once we have thoroughly examined 
all aspects of this issue and have made a final determination, we will 
decide whether our current practice of not posting service bulletins on 
the DMS should be changed. The final rule remains unchanged.

Changes to the AD

    We have made two changes to the AD. In the proposed AD, we 
mistakenly referred to the RRD Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 
series turboprop engines as turbofan engines. They are turboprop 
engines and we corrected the final rule accordingly.
    Additionally, to clarify paragraph (f)(3), we added the words 
``rework to DRS 611 standard.'' The sentence now reads ``Before 
exceeding 7,400 hours since last HPT blade inspection or rework to DRS 
611 standard.''

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 30 RRD Dart 528, 529, 
532, 535, 542, and 552 series turboprop engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 22 work-
hours per engine to perform the actions, and that the average labor 
rate is $80 per work-hour. No parts are required. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be 
$52,800.

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

    We have 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES.

[[Page 6462]]

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration 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:

2007-03-13 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (formerly Rolls-Royce 
plc): Amendment 39-149824. Docket No. FAA-2006-25272; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-NE-16-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March 
19, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 series turboprop engines. 
These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Hawker Siddeley, 
Argosy AW.650, Fairchild Hiller F-27, F-27A, F-27B, F-27F, F-27G, F-
27J, FH-227, FH-227B, FH-227C, FH-227D, FH-227E, Fokker F.27 all 
makes; British Aircraft Corporation Viscount 744, 745D and 810; and 
Gulfstream G-159 airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of high pressure turbine (HPT) 
disk rim failures. We are issuing this AD to prevent HPT disk rim 
failures resulting in the release of portions of the HPT disk, 
uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the 
actions have already been done.
    (f) Using RRD Dart Service Bulletin (SB) Da72-543, dated July 
11, 2003, and the scheme detailed in RRD Repair Instruction, 
``Restoration of Platform and Shroud gaps by welding, DRS 611,'' 
dated July 15, 2005, inspect and repair HPT blade platforms and 
shroud abutment faces by weld build-up:
    (1) After no more than 1,500 flight hours from the date of issue 
of this AD, if the engine has not been previously inspected or 
reworked to the DRS 611 standard;
    (2) Each time new blades are installed; and
    (3) Before exceeding 7,400 hours since last HPT blade inspection 
or rework to DRS 611 standard.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (g) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, has the authority 
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD if 
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (h) LBA airworthiness directive 2003-217, dated August 7, 2003, 
also addresses the subject of this AD.
    (i) Contact Jason Yang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification 
Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-7747, fax 
(781) 238-7199; e-mail: [email protected] for more information 
about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Dart 
Service Bulletin Da72-543, dated July 11, 2003, and RRD Dart Repair 
Instruction, ``Restoration of Platform and Shroud Gaps by Gaps by 
Welding, DRS 611,'' dated July 15, 2005, to perform the actions 
required by this AD.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service bulletin in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) Contact Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, 
D-15827 Dahlewitz, Germany; telephone 49 (0) 33-7086-1768; fax 49 
(0) 33-7086-335 for a copy of this service information.
    (3) You may review copies 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 January 26, 2007.
Francis A. Favara,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-1708 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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