AD 2020-05-01

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective March 25, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG 
(RRD) (Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) Trent 
1000-AE3, Trent 1000-CE3, Trent 1000-D3, Trent 1000-G3, Trent 1000-
H3, Trent 1000-J3, Trent 1000-K3, Trent 1000-L3, Trent 1000-M3, 
Trent 1000-N3, Trent 1000-P3, Trent 1000-Q3, and Trent 1000-R3 model 
turbofan engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine 
Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the manufacturer identifying that the 
high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades may fail prematurely. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPT blades. 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

    (1) Before exceeding the compliance time specified in Table 1 to 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to 
exceed 50 HPT blade flight cycles (FCs) since the last inspection, 
perform an on-wing borescope inspection (BSI) of the HPT blades, 
part number (P/N) KH10575 (pre-mod/SB 72-J550), or P/N KH64485 
(post-mod/SB 72-J550), for cracks.

[[Page 13730]]

    (i) Use Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.C., of RR Alert 
NMSB Trent 1000 72-AK316, Revision 3, dated July 16, 2019, to 
perform the BSI.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR10MR20.017
    
    (2) Within 10 engine FCs after in-flight shutdown (IFSD) of an 
engine, perform an on-wing BSI of the HPT blades, P/N KH10575 (pre-
mod/SB 72-J550), or P/N KH64485 (post-mod/SB 72-J550), for cracks on 
the not-affected (no IFSD) engine installed on that airplane.
    (i) Use Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.C., of RR Alert 
NMSB Trent 1000 72-AK316, Revision 3, dated July 16, 2019.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) Remove the full set of HPT blades if any individual HPT 
blade is found cracked during the on-wing BSI required by paragraph 
(g)(1) or (2) and replace with a full HPT blade set eligible for 
installation within the compliance time specified in Table 2 to 
paragraph (g)(3) of this AD.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR10MR20.018

    (4) Remove the full set of HPT blades, P/N KH10575 (pre-mod/SB 
72-J550), or P/N KH64485 (post-mod/SB 72-J550), after the effective 
date of this AD, as follows.
    (i) Before accumulating 1,000 HPT blade FCs on any engine, or
    (ii) Before both engines installed on the airplane accumulate a 
combined total of 1,400 HPT blade FCs.

(h) Definitions

    For the purpose of this AD, ``HPT blade FCs'' are the FCs 
accumulated by the engine since first flight, or since the last 
installation of a full set of new HPT blades, whichever occurs 
later.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for any initial or repetitive BSI of the HPT 
blades required by paragraph (g) of this AD if you performed the 
initial or repetitive BSI before the effective date of this AD using 
RR Alert NMSB Trent 1000 72-AK316, Revision 2, dated April 30, 2019, 
or earlier versions.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO 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 of the 
certification office, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (k)(1) of this AD. You may email your 
request 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) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Stephen Elwin, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7750; fax: 781-238-7236; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2019-0099R2, dated September 6, 2019, for more information. You may 
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0179.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) 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) Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin 
Trent 1000 72-AK316, Revision 3, dated July 16, 2019.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For RR service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, 15827 
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; phone: +49 (0) 33 708 6 0; email: 
https://www.rolls-royce.com/contact-us.aspx.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine and 
Propeller Standards

[[Page 13731]]

Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.
    (5) You may view this service information at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, email: [email protected], 
or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.