[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 11, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39023-39025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10772]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24825; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-17-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
(Formerly Rolls-Royce, plc.) Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 555 
Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 
542, and 555 series turbofan engines. This proposed AD would require a 
dimensional inspection of the intermediate pressure turbine (IPT) disk 
or an ultrasonic inspection of the seal arm contact between the high 
pressure turbine (HPT) and the IPT disk seal arm and rework or 
replacement of the IPT disk if wear outside acceptable limits is found. 
This proposed AD results from reports of a number of HPT disk failures, 
some of which resulted in portions of the HPT disk being released. We 
are proposing this AD to prevent HPT disk failure, which can result in 
an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by September 
11, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Contact Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, D-15827 
Dahlewitz, Germany; telephone 49 (0) 33-7086-1768; fax 49 (0) 33-7086-
3356 for the service information identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Yang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-7747; 
fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2006-24825; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-17-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of the 
DMS Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposal, any comments 
received, and any final disposition in person at the DMS Docket Offices 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is on the plaza 
level of the Department of Transportation Nassif Building at the street 
address stated in ADDRESSES. Comments will be available in the AD 
docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority 
for Germany, recently notified us that an unsafe condition may exist on 
RRD Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 555 turbofan engines. The LBA 
advises that since 1972, there have been a number of HPT disk failures 
on in-service engines, three of which resulted in release of the HPT 
turbine disk. Fretting between the HPT disk and the IPT disk seal arms 
caused the release. We are proposing this AD to prevent HPT disk 
failure, which can result in an uncontained engine failure and damage 
to the airplane.
    We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of RRD DART 
Service Bulletin (SB) Da72-536, Revision 1, dated August 25, 2003, and 
SB Da72-538, dated June 10, 2005. SB Da72-536 describes procedures for 
conducting an ultrasonic inspection to determine if a gap exists 
between the HPT and IPT disk seal arms. SB Da72-538 describes 
procedures for a dimensional inspection of the IPT disk and rework or 
replacement of the IPT disk if wear

[[Page 39024]]

outside acceptable limits is found. The LBA classified this SB as 
mandatory and issued airworthiness directive D-2005-197, dated June 30, 
2005, in order to ensure the airworthiness of these engines in Germany.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Manufacturer's Service 
Information

    Because the service information was developed before the proposed 
AD, the compliance times permitted to conduct the inspections differ.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    These engines, manufactured in the United Kingdom, are 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. In keeping with this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the LBA kept us informed of the 
situation described above. We have examined the LBA's findings, 
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. We are proposing this AD, that would 
require a dimensional inspection of the IPT disk or an ultrasonic 
inspection of seal arm contact between the HPT and the IPT disk seal 
arm, and rework or replacement of the IPT disk, if wear outside 
acceptable limits is found. The proposed AD would require you to use 
the service information described previously to perform these actions.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 30 RRD Dart 528, 
529, 532, 535, 542, and 555 series turbofan engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 
50 work-hours per engine to perform the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $50,000 per IPT disk. We estimate that 25 percent, or eight 
engines, would require IPT disk replacement. Based on these figures, we 
estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be 
$500,000.

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 proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 the 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. Would 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 proposal 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.

The Proposed Amendment

    Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the 
Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (formerly Rolls-Royce, PLc.): 
Docket No. FAA-2006-24825; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-17-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by September 
11, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 555 series turbofan engines. These 
engines are installed on, but not limited to, Hawker Siddeley, 
Argosy AW.650, Fairchild Hiller F-27, F-27A, F-27B, F-27F, F-27G, F-
27J, FH-227, FH-227B, FH-227C, FH-227D, FH-227E, Fokker F.27 all 
marks; British Aircraft Corporation Viscount 744, 745D and 810; and 
Gulfstream G-159 airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of a number of high pressure 
turbine (HPT) disk failures, some of which resulted in portions of 
the HPT disk being released. We are issuing this AD to prevent HPT 
disk failure, which can result in an uncontained engine failure and 
damage to the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the 
actions have already been done.

Intermediate Pressure Turbine (IPT) Disk and HPT/IPT Disk Seal Arm 
Inspections

    (f) Within 60 days after the effective date of the AD, do either 
of the following:
    (1) Perform a dimensional inspection of the IPT disk and repair 
or replace the IPT disk, if necessary using paragraph 3 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of RRD Service Bulletin (SB) Da72-538, 
dated June 10, 2005; Or
    (2) Perform an ultrasonic inspection of the disk seal arm 
contact between the HPT and the IPT using paragraph 3 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of RRD SB Da72-536, Revision 1, dated 
August 25, 2003.
    (i) If wear is outside allowable limits, before December 31, 
2006, perform a dimensional inspection and repair or replace the IPT 
disk, if necessary. Use paragraph 3 of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of RRD SB Da72-538, dated June 10, 2005.
    (ii) If wear is within allowable limits, perform a dimensional 
inspection of the IPT disk at the next engine shop visit or at next 
overhaul, whichever occurs first and repair or replace the IPT disk, 
if necessary, Use paragraph 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
RRD SB Da72-538, dated June 10, 2005.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, Engine 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.

[[Page 39025]]

Related Information

    (h) LBA airworthiness directive D-2005-197, dated June 30, 2005, 
also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on July 5, 2006.
Francis A. Favara,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-10772 Filed 7-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P