[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 13, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52393-52395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23661]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2009-0057; Directorate Identifier 85-ANE-25-AD;
Amendment 39-16037; AD 2009-20-14]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-535E4 Series
Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive
(AD) for RR RB211-535E4 series turbofan engines. That AD currently
requires initial and repetitive inspections of the outer combustion
case for cracks and possible removal if cracks are found. This AD
requires the same inspections, but requires using RR Mandatory Service
Bulletin (MSB) RB.211-72-7775, Revision 3, dated April 9, 1999. This AD
results from the FAA approving Revision 3 to the MSB, which adds an
alternative eddy current inspection (ECI) method. We are issuing this
AD to prevent an uncontained outer combustion case burst, which could
result in damage to the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective November 17, 2009. The Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain
publications listed in the regulations as of November 17, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD
from Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom;
telephone: 44 (0) 1332-242424; fax: 44 (0) 1332-249936.
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: Ian Dargin, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail:
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7178; fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 by
superseding AD 86-07-01, Amendment 39-5273 (51 FR 12511, April 11,
1986), with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to RR RB211-535E4
series turbofan engines. We published the proposed AD in the Federal
Register on February 12, 2009, (74 FR 7002). Airworthiness directive
86-07-01 requires initial and repetitive inspections of the combustor
case welds using RR MSB RB.211-72-7775, dated June 28, 1985. The NPRM
to supersede AD 86-07-01 proposed to require the same inspections, but
proposed to require using RR Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) RB.211-
72-7775, Revision 3, dated April 9, 1999.
[[Page 52394]]
Special Flight Permits Paragraph Removed
The current AD, AD 86-07-01, contains a paragraph pertaining to
special flight permits. Even though this final rule does not contain a
similar paragraph, we have made no changes with regard to the use of
special flight permits to operate the airplane to a repair facility to
do the work required by this AD. In July 2002, we published a new Part
39 that contains a general authority regarding special flight permits
and airworthiness directives; see Docket No. FAA-2004-8460, Amendment
39-9474 (69 FR 47998, July 22, 2002). Thus, when we now supersede ADs,
we will not include a specific paragraph on special flight permits
unless we want to limit the use of that general authority granted in
section 39.23.
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 (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.
Request To Change the Engine Model Designation
Two commenters (RR and The Boeing Company) state that the engine
model designation listed in the Applicability is incorrect and the
engine models listed are incorrect. The commenters ask us to change
RB211-534E4 to RB211-535E4 and to correctly list the engine models.
We agree. We changed the Applicability to correctly list the engine
model as RB211-535E4 and changed the models affected to: RB211-535E4-
37, RB211-535E4-B-37, and RB211-535E4-B-75.
Request To Clarify That Eddy Current Inspection (ECI) Is Alternative to
Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI)
One commenter (RR) asks us to clarify that the ECI is an
alternative to the FPI and doesn't replace the FPI.
We agree. We changed the AD to state that ECI is an alternative to
FPI.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 300 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1
work-hour per engine to perform the required 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 this AD to U.S.
operators to be $24,000.
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 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 that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD 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, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the Federal Aviation Administration 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 removing Amendment 39-5273 (51 FR
12511, April 11, 1986) and by adding a new airworthiness directive,
Amendment 39-16037, to read as follows:
2009-20-14 Rolls-Royce plc (RR) (Formerly Rolls-Royce Limited):
Amendment 39-16037. Docket No. FAA-2009-0057; Directorate Identifier
85-ANE-25-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective November
17, 2009.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 86-07-01, Amendment 39-5273.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to RR models RB211-535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-
37, and RB211-535E4-B-75 turbofan engines that don't incorporate RR
Service Bulletin (SB) RB.211-72-8045. These engines are installed
on, but not limited to, Boeing 757 and Tupolev Tu204 airplanes.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from the FAA approving Revision 3 to
Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) RB.211-72-7775, which adds an
alternative eddy current inspection (ECI) method. We are issuing
this AD to prevent an uncontained outer combustion case burst, which
could result in 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.
Initial Inspection
(f) Perform an initial inspection of the outer combustion
casing. Use the
[[Page 52395]]
Accomplishment Instructions paragraph 3.B. or paragraph 3.C. of RR
MSB RB.211-72-7775, Revision 3, dated April 9, 1999, and the
following compliance schedules:
(1) For cases with 1,500 or fewer cycles-since-new (CSN) on the
effective date of this AD, inspect before accumulating 1,500 CSN.
(2) For cases with more than 1,500 CSN on the effective date of
this AD, inspect within 50 cycles-in-service (CIS) after the
effective date of this AD.
(3) If you detect any cracks of 1.5 inches or more in length,
replace the case before further flight.
Repetitive Inspections
(g) Thereafter, inspect cases at the following intervals. Use
the Accomplishment Instructions paragraph 3.B. or paragraph 3.C. of
RR MSB RB.211-72-7775, Revision 3, dated April 9, 1999.
(1) Inspect within 500 cycles-since-last inspection (CSLI) if
you detected no cracks during the last inspection.
(2) Inspect within 100 CSLI if you detected cracks less than or
equal to 0.5 inch in length during the last inspection.
(3) Inspect within 50 CSLI if you detected cracks greater than
0.5 inch but less than 1.5 inches in length.
Credit for Previous Inspections
(h) Cases inspected before the effective date of this AD using
RB.211-72-7775, Revision 2, dated February 27, 1998, or earlier
issue, meet the requirements of this AD for the initial or
repetitive inspections specified in paragraphs (f) through (f)(3)
and (g) through (g)(3) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(i) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 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
(j) Civil Aviation Authority airworthiness directive 008-07-85,
dated June 19, 1985, also addresses the subject of this AD.
(k) Contact Ian Dargin, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification
Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: [email protected];
telephone (781) 238-7178; fax (781) 238-7199, for more information
about this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(l) You must use Rolls-Royce plc Mandatory Service Bulletin
RB.211-72-7775, Revision 3, dated April 9, 1999 to perform the
inspections required by this AD. The Director of the Federal
Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service
bulletin in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
Contact Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United
Kingdom; telephone: 44 (0) 1332-242424; fax: 44 (0) 1332-249936, for
a copy of this service information. You may review copies at the
FAA, New England Region, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington,
MA; or 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 September 22, 2009.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-23661 Filed 10-9-09; 8:45 am]
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