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

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 148 (Thursday, July 31, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44630-44632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17423]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24825; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-17-AD; 
Amendment 39-15623; AD 2008-16-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
(RRD) 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 superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) for RRD Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 Series turboprop 
engines. That AD currently requires a dimensional inspection of the 
intermediate pressure turbine (IPT) disk or an ultrasonic inspection of 
the seal arm contact between the high pressure turbine (HPT) and the 
IPT disk seal arm and reworking or replacing the IPT disk if worn 
beyond acceptable limits. This AD continues to require those actions. 
This AD results from us including an incorrect engine model and 
omitting an engine model from the applicability of the existing AD. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent HPT disk failure, which can result in an 
uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective September 4, 2008. The Director of the 
Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of 
certain publications listed in the regulations on February 26, 2007 (72 
FR 2610, January 22, 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.
    The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

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 by 
superseding AD 2007-02-07, Amendment 39-14894 (72 FR 2610, January 22, 
2007), 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 November 9, 2007 (72 FR 63508). 
That action proposed to require deleting the Dart 555 series engines 
from the applicability paragraph of the proposed AD, and to list the 
Dart 552 series turboprop engines in the applicability paragraph of the 
proposed AD.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in 
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

Comments

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

Request To Correct a Typographical Error in the Costs of Compliance 
Section

    One commenter asks us to change ``turbofan engines'' in the Costs 
of Compliance Section to ``turboprop engines.'' The commenter states 
that the Dart engine is a turboprop engine, not a ``turbofan engines.''
    We agree. We changed ``turbofan engines'' in the Costs to Comply 
section to ``turboprop engines.''

Request To Add Airplane Models to the Applicability Paragraph

    The same commenter states that paragraph (c) Applicability, appears 
to omit some models of airplanes that might use the engines. The 
commenter states that the Dart engine is installed by supplemental type 
certificate on certain General Dynamics Convair model airplanes, and 
that those airplanes can still be found in the FAA's registry database.
    We partially agree. We must identify in paragraph (c) 
Applicability, all engine models that are affected by this AD. We list 
the aircraft models that might use those engines to help readers to 
determine if they might have an affected engine. However, for clarity, 
we

[[Page 44631]]

have changed the applicability paragraph to include the General 
Dynamics Convair models that might use these engines under supplemental 
type certificates.

Change of Compliance End Dates

    We changed the compliance end dates in paragraphs (f)(2)(i) from 
June 30, 2007, to June 30, 2008, and paragraph (f)(2)(ii) from April 
30, 2008, to July 31, 2008. We changed the compliance dates to avoid 
unnecessary grounding of aircraft while still meeting our safety 
concerns.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. 
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the 
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 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 50 work-hours 
per engine to perform the proposed actions, and that the average labor 
rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $50,000 per 
IPT disk. We estimate that 25 percent, or eight engines, will require 
IPT disk replacement. Based on these figures, we estimate the total 
cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be $500,000.

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.

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 removing Amendment 39-14894 (72 FR 
2610, January 22, 2007), and by adding a new airworthiness directive, 
Amendment 39-15623, to read as follows:

2008-16-05 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (formerly Rolls-Royce 
plc): Amendment 39-15623. Docket No. FAA-2006-24825; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-NE-17-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective 
September 4, 2008.
    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2007-02-17, Amendment 39-14894.

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 
marks; British Aircraft Corporation Viscount 744, 745D and 810; 
Gulfstream G-159, General Dynamics Convair 240D or 600, or 600-240D, 
and 340D or 440D, or 640-340D and 640-440D airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from us including an incorrect engine model 
and omitting an engine model from the applicability of the existing 
AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent HPT disk failure, which can 
result in an 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.

Intermediate Pressure Turbine (IPT) Disk and High Pressure Turbine 
(HPT)/IPT Disk Seal Arm Inspections

    (f) Within 60 days after the effective date of the AD, do either 
of the following:
    (1) Perform a dimensional inspection of the IPT disk and repair 
or replace the IPT disk, if necessary using paragraph 3 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of RRD service bulletin (SB) Da72-538, 
dated June 10, 2005; or
    (2) Perform an ultrasonic inspection of the disk seal arm 
contact between the HPT and the IPT using paragraph 3 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of RRD SB Da72-536, Revision 1, dated 
August 25, 2003.
    (i) For RRD Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542 series turboprop 
engines if wear is outside allowable limits, before June 30, 2008, 
perform a dimensional inspection and repair or replace the IPT disk, 
if necessary. Use paragraph 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
RRD SB Da72-538, dated June 10, 2005.
    (ii) For RRD Dart 552 series turboprop engines if wear is 
outside allowable limits, before July 31, 2008, perform a 
dimensional inspection and repair or replace the IPT disk, if 
necessary. Use paragraph 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of RRD 
SB Da72-538, dated June 10, 2005.
    (iii) If wear is within allowable limits, perform a dimensional 
inspection of the IPT disk at the next engine shop visit or at next 
overhaul, whichever occurs first and repair or replace the IPT disk, 
if necessary. Use paragraph 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
RRD SB Da72-538, dated June 10, 2005.

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 D-2005-197, dated June 30, 2005, 
also addresses the subject of this AD.

[[Page 44632]]

    (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 the Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG service 
information specified in Table 1 to perform the actions required by 
this AD. The Director of the Federal Register previously approved 
the incorporation by reference of the service information specified 
in Table 1 on February 26, 2007 (72 FR 2610, January 22, 2007). 
Contact Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, D-15827 
Dahlewitz, Germany; telephone 49 (0) 33-7086-1768; fax 49 (0) 33-
7086-3356 for a copy of this service information. You may review 
copies at the FAA, New England Region, 12 New England Executive 
Park, Burlington, MA; or 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.

                                       Table 1--Incorporation by Reference
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       Service Bulletin No.                Page                Revision                       Date
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Da72-536: Total Pages: 23........  All.................  1...................  August 25, 2003.
Da72-538: Total Pages: 21........  All.................  Original............  June 10, 2005.
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    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on July 24, 2008.
Carlos Pestana,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-17423 Filed 7-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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