[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56756-56759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22533]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0008; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-43-AD;
Amendment 39-17115; AD 2012-14-01]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
[[Page 56757]]
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-
30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by the
discovery of a manufacturing defect on certain part number (P/N) and
serial number (S/N) low-pressure (LP) compressor booster rotors. This
AD requires initial and repetitive fluorescent penetrant inspections of
certain P/N and S/N LP compressor booster rotors and rework or
replacement of them as terminating action to the repetitive
inspections. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LP
compressor booster rotor, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the
airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective October 19, 2012. The Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain
publications listed in this AD as of October 19, 2012.
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: Mark Riley, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7758; fax:
781-238-7199; email: mark.riley@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products.
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 24, 2012
(77 FR 11019). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for
the specified products. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2011-
0232 states:
Several LP compressor booster rotors have been found non-
compliant to original design.
The technical investigations carried out by Rolls-Royce
Deutschland revealed that this discrepancy is due to a manufacturing
defect and that only some specific LP compressor booster rotor
serial numbers are affected.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to an uncontained
engine failure, potentially damaging the aeroplane and injuring its
occupants, and/or injuring persons on the ground.
To address this condition, RRD has developed an inspection
program and a rework for the affected LP compressor booster rotors.
For the reason described above, depending on engine type of
operations, this AD requires repetitive fluorescent penetrant
inspections of the LP compressor booster rotor and if any crack is
found, replacement with a serviceable part. This AD also requires
rework of all affected LP compressor booster rotors.
You may obtain further information by examining EASA AD 2011-0232 in
the AD docket.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM.
Conclusion
We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this AD affects
about 96 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also
estimate that it will take about 5 work-hours per engine to perform one
inspection and about 8 work-hours per engine to perform the rework. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, if all
engines are reworked, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. operators
to perform one inspection and to perform the rework to be $106,080.
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 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 this AD:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.
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 (phone: (800) 647-5527) is provided in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA 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 (AD):
2012-14-01 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Amendment 39-17115;
Docket No. FAA-2012-0008; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-43-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective October 19, 2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD)
BR700-
[[Page 56758]]
715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines, with
a low-pressure (LP) compressor booster rotor, part number (P/N)
BRH19215, or P/N BRH19871, with serial numbers (S/N) 118 to 255
inclusive, installed.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by the discovery of a manufacturing defect
on certain P/N and S/N LP compressor booster rotors. We are issuing
this AD to prevent failure of the LP compressor booster rotor,
uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following actions.
(1) At the applicable compliance time in Table 1 to paragraph
(e) of this AD, perform an initial fluorescent penetrant inspection
(FPI) of the LP compressor booster rotor, in accordance with
paragraphs 3.D. through 3.H.(1) (except paragraphs 3.G.(1) and
3.G.(2)) of Accomplishment Instructions of RRD Alert Non-
Modification Service Bulletin No. ALERT SB-BR700-72-A900503,
Revision 4, dated June 16, 2011.
Table 1 to Paragraph (e)--Compliance Times
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repetitive FPI
Engine type of operation Initial FPI (whichever interval (not
occurs later) to exceed)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Hawaiian'' Flight Mission Before accumulating 6,000 EC
only. 36,000 engine cycles
(EC) or within 500 EC
after the effective
date of this AD.
Any other rating, or Before accumulating 4,000 EC
combination of ratings. 18,000 EC, or within
500 EC after the
effective date of
this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed the applicable
compliance time in Table 1 of this AD, perform repetitive FPIs of
the LP compressor booster rotor, in accordance with paragraphs 3.D.
through 3.H.(1) (except paragraphs 3.G.(1) and 3.G.(2)) of
Accomplishment Instructions of RRD Alert Non-Modification Service
Bulletin No. ALERT SB-BR700-72-A900503, Revision 4, dated June 16,
2011.
(3) Remove cracked LP compressor booster rotors before further
flight.
(4) At the next piece part exposure of the LP compressor booster
rotor during shop visit, remove the LP compressor booster rotor and
either:
(i) Rework the LP compressor booster rotor in accordance with
paragraph 3.D. of Accomplishment Instructions of RRD Service
Bulletin (SB) No. SB-BR700-72-101683, dated September 20, 2010; or
(ii) Replace the LP compressor booster rotor with one that is
eligible for installation.
(f) Definitions
(1) For the purpose of this AD, an LP compressor booster rotor
that is eligible for installation is one that is not listed in
applicability paragraph (c) of this AD.
(2) The Hawaiian Flight Mission referenced in Table 1 to
paragraph (e) is shown in Figure 1 to paragraph (f)(2):
[[Page 56759]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR14SE12.054
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Engine Certification Office, may approve AMOCs for
this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your
request.
(h) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Mark Riley,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803; phone: 781-238-7758; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
mark.riley@faa.gov.
(2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness
Directive 2011-0232, dated December 13, 2011, for related
information.
(i) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the following service
information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use the following service information to do the
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise:
(i) Rolls-Royce Deutschland (RRD) Ltd & Co KG Alert Non-
Modification Service Bulletin No. ALERT SB-BR700-72-A900503,
Revision 4, dated June 16, 2011.
(ii) RRD Ltd & Co KG Service Bulletin No. SB-BR700-72-101683,
dated September 20, 2010.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, 15827
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany, telephone: +49 (0) 33-7086-1883, fax:
+49 (0) 33-7086-3276.
(4) You may review this service information at the FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington,
MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call 781-238-7125.
(5) You may also review the service information that is
incorporated by reference 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 June 25, 2012.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-22533 Filed 9-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P