Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation AE 3007A1E and AE 1107C Turbofan/Turboshaft Engines

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 17, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7309-7310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3027]



[[Page 7309]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0230; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-24-AD; 
Amendment 39-15809; AD 2009-04-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation AE 3007A1E and 
AE 1107C Turbofan/Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE 3007A1E and AE 1107C turbofan/
turboshaft engines. This AD requires removal from service of certain 
2nd stage, 3rd stage, and 4th stage compressor wheels, compressor cone 
shaft assemblies, and 1st to 2nd-stage turbine spacers at new, reduced, 
published life limits. This AD results from RRC applying an updated 
lifing methodology to the affected parts. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent low-cycle-fatigue failure of the parts listed in Table 1 of 
this AD, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage 
to the aircraft.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 24, 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, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
2300 E. Devon Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60018; 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 3007A1E and AE 
1107C turbofan/turboshaft engines. We published the proposed AD in the 
Federal Register on June 11, 2008 (73 FR 33025). That action proposed 
to require removal from service of certain 2nd stage, 3rd stage, and 
4th stage compressor wheels, compressor cone shaft assemblies, and 1st 
to 2nd-stage turbine spacers, at new, reduced, published life limits.

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 received no comments on the proposal or on 
the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 220 AE 3007A1E turbofan 
engines installed on aircraft of U.S. registry. The action does not 
impose any additional labor costs since it will be performed at engine 
overhaul. Required parts will cost about $100,000 per engine. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators 
to be $22,000,000.

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, 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:

2009-04-03 Rolls-Royce Corporation (Formerly Allison Engine Company, 
Inc.): Amendment 39-15809. Docket No. FAA-2008-0230; Directorate 
Identifier 2007-NE-24-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March 
24, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE 3007A1E 
and AE 1107C turbofan/turboshaft engines, with the following parts 
in Table 1 installed, as applicable:

[[Page 7310]]



                                 Table 1--Affected Parts and Reduced Life Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  New reduced
                                                                                                published life
                Engine                             Part name                   Part No.        limit, in flight
                                                                                                    cycles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AE 3007A1E...........................  2nd Stage Compressor Wheel.......            23050752              15,200
                                       3rd Stage Compressor Wheel.......            23065303              13,300
AE 1107C.............................  2nd Stage Compressor Wheel.......            23050752              11,400
                                       2nd Stage Compressor Wheel.......            23084157              11,400
                                       3rd Stage Compressor Wheel.......            23065303               6,200
                                       3rd Stage Compressor Wheel                   23065303               5,000
                                        (serial numbers L72422, L72475,
                                        L72505, L130704, L130829,
                                        L130830, L138218, L138226,
                                        L138621, L206084, L206163).
                                       3rd Stage Compressor Wheel.......            23084158               6,200
                                       4th Stage Compressor Wheel.......            23050754              14,900
                                       4th Stage Compressor Wheel.......            23071259              14,900
                                       4th Stage Compressor Wheel.......            23084159              14,900
                                       Compressor Cone Shaft Assembly...            23050728               2,900
                                       Compressor Cone Shaft Assembly...            23070729               2,900
                                       1st to 2nd-Stage Turbine Spacer..            23065300               9,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AE 3007A1E turbofan engines are installed on, but not limited to, 
EMBRAER EMB-135BJ and EMB-145XR airplanes. AE 1107C turboshaft 
engines are U.S. type-certificated and are installed on, but not 
limited to, certain U.S. military aircraft.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from RRC applying an updated lifing 
methodology to the affected parts. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
low-cycle-fatigue failure of the parts listed in Table 1 of this AD, 
which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to 
the aircraft.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within 5 days after the effective date of this AD, 
unless the actions have already been done.
    (f) Remove from service the parts listed in Table 1 of this AD, 
at the new, reduced, published life limits specified in Table 1 of 
this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (g) 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

    (h) RRC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AE 3007A-A-72-346, 
dated May 1, 2007; Service Bulletin No. AE 1107C-A-72-086, Revision 
2, dated January 28, 2008; and ASB No. AE 1107C-A-72-089, dated 
January 28, 2008, also pertain to the subject of this AD. Contact 
Rolls-Royce Corporation, P.O. Box 420, Indianapolis, IN 46206-0420; 
telephone (317) 230-6400; fax (317) 230-4243, for a copy of this 
service information.
    (i) Contact Michael Downs, Aerospace Engineer, Chicago Aircraft 
Certification Office, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA, 2300 E. Devon 
Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60018; telephone (847) 294-7870; fax (847) 
294-7834, for more information about this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 5, 2009.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E9-3027 Filed 2-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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