Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation AE 3007A1/1, AE 3007A1/3, AE 3007A1, AE 3007A1E, AE 3007A1P, AE 3007A3, AE 3007C, and AE 3007C1 Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 224 (Monday, November 23, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61023-61024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27986]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0246; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-04-AD; 
Amendment 39-16091; AD 2009-24-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation AE 3007A1/1, AE 
3007A1/3, AE 3007A1, AE 3007A1E, AE 3007A1P, AE 3007A3, AE 3007C, and 
AE 3007C1 Turbofan 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 
Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE 3007A1/1, AE 3007A1/3, AE 3007A1, AE 
3007A1E, AE 3007A1P, AE 3007A3, AE 3007C, and AE 3007C1 turbofan 
engines with a fan spinner part number (P/N) 23070964 or P/N 23078783, 
installed. This AD requires replacement of the fan spinner. This AD 
results from a report of a fan spinner releasing from an AE 3007A 
turbofan engine, during flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent the 
fan spinner from releasing, which could result in injury, damage to the 
engine, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective December 28, 2009.

ADDRESSES: 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: Michael Downs, Aerospace Engineer, 
Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 
2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone: (847) 294-7870; fax: (847) 294-7834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to RRC AE 3007A1/1, AE 
3007A1/3, AE 3007A1, AE 3007A1E, AE 3007A1P, AE 3007A3, AE 3007C, and 
AE 3007C1 turbofan engines with a fan spinner P/N 23070964 or P/N 
23078783, installed. We published the proposed AD in the Federal 
Register on June 24, 2009 (74 FR 30017). That action proposed to 
require replacement of the fan spinner.

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 Change the Compliance Time

    One commenter, Rolls-Royce Corporation, requests that we change the 
compliance time of no later than 1,500 additional cycles-in-service, to 
no later than 4,000 additional cycles-in-service. The commenter bases 
this change on their updated risk assessment of the affected fan 
spinners.
    We have reviewed Rolls-Royce Corporation's updated risk assessment 
and agree with the change in compliance time. We changed the AD to 
state the compliance time to be no later than 4,000 additional cycles-
in-service.

Request To Specify Installation of an Approved Fan Spinner

    One commenter, EMBRAER, requests that we specify that an approved 
fan spinner must be installed after the affected fan spinner is 
removed. The commenter states that the proposed AD does not instruct to 
install a fan spinner, and operators might interpret the AD as allowing 
engines to operate without a fan spinner.
    We agree. We added wording to paragraphs (f) and (g) that states to 
install an approved P/N fan spinner.

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 1,600 RRC AE 3007A series and 
AE 3007C series turbofan engines installed

[[Page 61024]]

on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 
one work-hour per engine to perform the actions, and that the average 
labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $12,943 
per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the 
AD to U.S. operators to be $20,836,800.

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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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:

2009-24-04 Rolls-Royce Corporation (formerly Allison Engine 
Company): Amendment 39-16091. Docket No. FAA-2009-0246; Directorate 
Identifier 2009-NE-04-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective December 
28, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE 3007A1/
1, AE 3007A1/3, AE 3007A1, AE 3007A1E, AE 3007A1P, AE 3007A3, AE 
3007C, and AE 3007C1 turbofan engines with a fan spinner part number 
(P/N) 23070964 or P/N 23078783, installed. These engines are 
installed on, but not limited to, Embraer EMB-135, EMB-145, and 
Cessna Citation X airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of a fan spinner releasing 
from an AE 3007A turbofan engine during flight. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent the fan spinner from releasing, which could result in 
injury, damage to the engine, 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.

Replacement of the Fan Spinner

    (f) For RRC AE 3007A1/1, AE 3007A1/3, AE 3007A1, AE 3007A1E, AE 
3007A1P, and AE 3007A3 turbofan engines, remove fan spinner P/N 
23070964 or P/N 23078783 at the next shop visit, but no later than 
4,000 additional cycles-in-service (CIS) after the effective date of 
this AD, and install an approved P/N fan spinner.
    (g) For RRC AE 3007C and AE 3007C1 turbofan engines, remove fan 
spinner P/N 23070964 or P/N 23078783 at the next shop visit, but no 
later than 4,000 additional CIS after the effective date of this AD, 
and install an approved P/N fan spinner.

Fan Spinner Installation Prohibition

    (h) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any fan 
spinner P/N 23070964 or P/N 23078783 on any Rolls Royce Corporation 
engine.

Definition

    (i) For the purpose of this AD, a shop visit is induction of the 
engine into the engine maintenance shop for any cause.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (j) The Manager, Chicago Aircraft 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

    (k) Contact Michael Downs, Aerospace Engineer, Chicago Aircraft 
Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 2300 East 
Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018; e-mail: [email protected]; 
telephone: (847) 294-7870; fax: (847) 294-7834, for more information 
about this AD.
    (l) Rolls-Royce Corporation Service Bulletin (SB) No. AE 3007A-
72-361, dated June 26, 2008, and SB No. AE 3007C-72-285, dated June 
26, 2008, pertain to the subject of this AD. Contact Rolls-Royce 
Corporation, P.O. Box 420, Indianapolis, IN 46206; telephone (317) 
230-3774; fax (317) 230-8084; e-mail: royce.com">indy.pubs.services@rolls-royce.com, for a copy of this service information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (m) None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 13, 2009.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-27986 Filed 11-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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