[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 12, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53610-53612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15049]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25272; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-16-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
(Formerly Rolls-Royce plc) Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 Series 
Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (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 (formerly Rolls-Royce plc) 
(RRD) Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 series turbofan engines. 
This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of high pressure 
turbine (HPT) blade platforms and shrouds, and reworking the engines if 
the inspections reveal excessive gaps between blade shrouds. This 
proposed AD results from reports of HPT disk rim failures. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent HPT disk rim failures resulting in the 
release of portions of the HPT disk, uncontained engine failure, and 
damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by November 13, 
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 send us any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2006-25272; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-16-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

[[Page 53611]]

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 552 turbofan engines. The LBA 
advises that they received reports of HPT disk rim failures, some of 
which resulted in release of portions of the HPT disk. These failures 
resulted from high stress levels in the HPT disk bucket groove due to 
blade vibration. Excessive gaps between the blade shroud and platform 
induced the damaging HPT blade vibration. The gaps can increase if wear 
occurs between the blade shroud and platform abutment faces. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent HPT disk rim failures resulting in the 
release of portions of the HPT disk, an uncontained engine failure, and 
damage to the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of RRD DART 
Service Bulletin (SB) Da72-543, dated July 11, 2003, and RRD Repair 
Instruction, ``Restoration of HPT Blade Platform and Shroud, DRS 611,'' 
dated January 20, 2005, that describe procedures for a dimensional 
inspection and rework, if necessary, of the HPT blade platform and 
shroud. The LBA classified this SB as mandatory and issued 
airworthiness directive 2003-217, dated August 7, 2003, in order to 
ensure the airworthiness of these engines in Germany.

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

    This proposed AD shortens the initial inspection of the HPT blade 
platform and shroud to no more than 1,500 flight hours from the date of 
issue of this AD, if the engine has not been inspected or reworked to 
the DRS 611 standard.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    These engines, manufactured in the United Kingdom and transferred 
to Germany, 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 repetitive inspections of HPT blade platforms 
and shrouds, and reworking the engines if the inspections reveal 
excessive gaps between blade shrouds. 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 about 30 RRD Dart 
528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 series turbofan engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 
22 work-hours per engine to perform the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. No parts are required. Based 
on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. 
operators to be $52,800.

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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

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.

[[Page 53612]]

FAA-2006-25272; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-16-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by November 13, 
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 552 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 high pressure turbine (HPT) 
disk rim failures. We are issuing this AD to prevent HPT disk rim 
failures resulting in the release of portions of the HPT disk, 
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.
    (f) Using RRD DART Service Bulletin (SB) Da72-543, dated July 
11, 2003, and the scheme detailed in RRD Repair Instruction, 
``Restoration of HPT Blade Platform and Shroud, DRS 611,'' dated 
January 20, 2005, inspect and repair HPT blade platforms and shroud 
abutment faces by weld build-up:
    (1) After no more than 1,500 flight hours from the date of issue 
of this AD, if the engine has not been previously inspected or 
reworked to the DRS 611 standard;
    (2) Each time new blades are installed; and
    (3) Before exceeding 7,400 hours since last HPT blade rework.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (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.

Related Information

    (h) LBA airworthiness directive 2003-217, dated August 7, 2003, 
also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 6, 2006.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-15049 Filed 9-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P