[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 23, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33435-33437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15904]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 99-NE-26-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Tay 620-15, Tay 650-15,
and Tay 651-54 Series Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to Rolls-Royce plc Tay 620-15, Tay
650-15, and Tay 651-54 series turbofan engines. This proposal would
require initial and repetitive visual inspections of the emergency fuel
shutoff cable for broken strands or failed cables, and, if necessary,
replacement with serviceable parts. This proposal is prompted by
reports of broken strands and failed emergency fuel shutoff cables. The
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent emergency
fuel shutoff cable failure, which could result in the non-operation of
the emergency fuel shut-off system in the event of a low pressure shaft
failure.
DATES: Comments must be received by August 23, 1999.
[[Page 33436]]
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NE-26-AD, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299. Comments may also be
submitted to the Rules Docket by using the following Internet address:
``[email protected]''. Comments may be inspected at this location
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Rolls-Royce plc, Technical Publications Department, PO
Box 31, Derby DE24 8BJ England; telephone 1332 242424, fax 1332 37645.
This information may be examined at the FAA, New England Region, Office
of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781)
238-7176, fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 99-NE-26-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NE-26-AD, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA 01803-5299.
Discussion
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness
authority for the United Kingdom (UK), recently notified the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) that an unsafe condition may exist on
Rolls-Royce plc (R-R) Tay 620-15, Tay 650-15, and Tay 651-54 series
turbofan engines. The CAA advises that they have received reports of
broken strands and failed emergency fuel shutoff cables. This
condition, if not corrected, could result in the non-operation of the
emergency fuel shutoff system in the event of a low pressure shaft
failure.
R-R has issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. Tay 76-1434, Revision 1,
dated August 28, 1998, that specifies procedures for visual inspections
of emergency fuel shutoff cables for broken strands or failed cables.
The CAA classified this SB as mandatory and issued Airworthiness
Directive (AD) 003-03-98 in order to assure the airworthiness of these
engines in the UK.
This engine model is manufactured in the UK and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the CAA has kept the FAA informed of
the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the
CAA, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action
is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other engines of the same type design registered in
the United States, the proposed AD would require initial and repetitive
visual inspections of the emergency fuel shutoff cable for broken
strands or failed cables, and, if necessary, replacement with
serviceable parts. The actions would be required to be accomplished in
accordance with the SB described previously.
There are approximately 900 engines of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 451 engines installed on
aircraft of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that
it would take approximately 0.25 work hours to accomplish the
inspections, 3 to 28 work hours per engine to remove and replace an
unacceptable emergency fuel shutoff cable, depending on engine aircraft
installation and position, and that the average labor rate is $60 per
work hour. Required parts would cost approximately $86 per engine. The
total cost for inspections is estimated to be $6,750. The total cost
for replacing parts on the Fokker F70 and Fokker F100 aircraft is
estimated to be $75,125. The total cost for replacing parts on the No.1
position engine on Boeing 727 aircraft is estimated to be $14,918. The
total cost for replacing parts on the No. 2 and No. 3 position engines
on Boeing 727 aircraft, since engine removal is required for these two
engine positions, is $197,837. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$294,630.
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
regulation (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) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part
[[Page 33437]]
39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Rolls-Royce plc: Docket No. 99-NE-26-AD.
Applicability: Rolls-Royce plc (R-R) Tay 620-15, Tay 650-15, and
Tay 651-54 series turbofan engines, installed on but not limited to
Fokker F.28 Mark 0070 series, Fokker F.28 Mark 0100 series, and
Boeing 727 series aircraft.
Note 1: This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to each engine
identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of
whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area
subject to the requirements of this AD. For engines that have been
modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the
requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request
approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with
paragraph (b) of this AD. The request should include an assessment
of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the
unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition
has not been eliminated, the request should include specific
proposed actions to address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent emergency fuel shutoff cable failure, which could
result in the non-operation of the emergency fuel shut-off system in
the event of a low pressure shaft failure, accomplish the following:
(a) Perform initial and repetitive visual inspections of the
emergency fuel shutoff cable for broken strands or failed cables as
follows:
(1) Initially inspect the emergency fuel shutoff cable within
1,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this
AD.
(i) If the emergency fuel shutoff cable has no strands broken,
re-inspect within 1000 hours TIS after the inspection.
(ii) If the emergency fuel shutoff cable has 1, 2, or 3 strands
broken, re-inspect within 800 hours TIS after the inspection.
(iii) If the emergency fuel shutoff cable has 4, 5, or 6 strands
broken, replace the cable within 100 hours TIS after the inspection.
(iv) If the emergency fuel shutoff cable has 7 or more strands
broken, or the cable has failed, replace the cable within 25 hours
TIS after the inspection.
(2) Thereafter, perform inspections of the emergency fuel
shutoff cable and replace the emergency fuel shutoff cable as
provided in paragraph (a)(1) of this AD.
Note 2: Information on inspection of the emergency fuel shutoff
cable and replacement of cables may be found in R-R Service Bulletin
(SB) No. Tay 76-1434, Revision 1, dated August 28, 1998, and
Maintenance Manual 76-23-00.
(b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Engine Certification Office.
Operators shall submit their request through an appropriate FAA
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send
it to the Manager, Engine Certification Office.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive,
if any, may be obtained from the Engine Certification Office.
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Sec. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR
21.197 and 21.199) to operate the aircraft to a location where the
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 15, 1999.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-15904 Filed 6-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U