[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 16, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48084-48085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16167]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-NE-31-AD]


Airworthiness Directives: Rolls-Royce plc RB211-535 Turbofan 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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

SUMMARY: The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). 
That NPRM proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to 
certain Rolls-Royce plc (RR) models RB211-535C-37, RB211-535E4-37, 
RB211-535E4-B-37, and RB211-535E4-B-75 turbofan engines. The NPRM had 
applied to those engines with radial drive steady bearing part number 
(P/N) LK76084 installed, with fewer than 3,000 engine operating hours 
on the bearing. That proposed action would have required initial and 
repetitive visual inspections of the engine oil scavenge filter for 
evidence of radial drive steady bearing failure. If after finding 
evidence, the proposed action would have required a visual inspection 
of the radial drive steady bearing for damage and evidence of bearing 
debris. Since we issued that NPRM, RR notified us that all at-risk 
radial drive steady bearings are removed from service. RR also notified 
us that remaining bearings in service are now well over the 3,000-
engine-operating-hour threshold and are no longer at risk. Accordingly, 
we withdraw the proposed rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ian Dargin, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-
7178; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed airworthiness directive (AD). The proposed AD applies 
to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) models RB211-535C-37, RB211-535E4-37, RB211-
535E4-B-37, and RB211-535E4-B-75 turbofan engines. The proposed AD 
would have applied to those engines with radial drive steady bearing, 
P/N LK76084 installed, with fewer than 3,000 engine-operating-hours on 
the bearing. We published the proposed AD in the Federal Register on 
October 9, 2003, (68 FR 58291). That proposed action would have 
required initial and repetitive visual inspections of the engine oil 
scavenge filter for evidence of radial drive steady bearing failure. If 
evidence was found, that proposed action would have required a visual 
inspection of the radial drive steady bearing for damage and evidence 
of bearing debris. That proposed action was prompted by notification 
from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for the U.K. The CAA notified us that an unsafe condition may 
exist on RR models RB211-535C-37, RB211-535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-37, and 
RB211-535E4-B-75 turbofan engines. The unsafe condition had applied to 
those engines with radial drive steady bearing P/N LK76084 installed 
with fewer than 3,000 engine operating hours on the bearing. The CAA 
received reports of seven low time failures of radial drive steady 
bearings within a four-month period. These failures were not detected 
through routine magnetic chip detector monitoring because the failed 
bronze bearing cages are nonmagnetic, and the cage failure mode is 
rapid. The proposed actions intended to prevent a possible dual-engine 
in-flight shutdown caused by radial drive steady bearing failure.
    Since the issuance of that NPRM, RR notified us that all at-risk 
radial drive steady bearings are removed from service. RR also notified 
us that the remaining bearings in service are now well over the 3,000-
engine-operating-hour threshold and are no longer at risk.
    Upon further consideration, we hereby withdraw the proposed rule 
for the following reasons:
     After RR notifying us of the removal from service and 
bearing threshold information, stated previously.

[[Page 48085]]

     AD 2000-09-14 (65 FR 30527, May 12, 2000) and AD 2001-19-
05 (66 FR 49099, September 26, 2001) currently address the same radial 
drive steady bearing, P/N LK76084.
     AD 2000-09-14 and AD 2001-19-05 mandate replacing low-time 
bearings that are at risk.
    Withdrawal of this notice of proposed rulemaking constitutes only 
such action, and does not preclude the agency from issuing another 
notice in the future, nor does it commit the agency to any course of 
action in the future.
    Since this action only withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking, 
it is neither a proposed nor a final rule. Therefore, Executive Order 
12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979) do not cover this 
withdrawal.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Withdrawal

    Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket 2003-NE-31-
AD, published in the Federal Register on October 9, 2003, (68 FR 
58291), is withdrawn.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 9, 2005.
Francis A. Favara,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-16167 Filed 8-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P