[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 200 (Monday, October 18, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63727-63730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-26115]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0162; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-19-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-524 Series 
Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); reopening of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: This action revises an earlier proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD), applicable to certain RR RB211-524 series turbofan 
engines. That proposal would have required initial and repetitive 
borescope inspections of the head section and meterpanel assembly of 
the combustion liner, and replacement if necessary with serviceable 
parts. That proposal was prompted by an inquiry submitted by an 
operator, which resulted in RR performing a complete review of the 
affected front combustion liner part numbers (P/Ns). This action 
revises the proposed rule by clarifying the applicability paragraph (c) 
of the proposed AD. We are proposing this AD to prevent deterioration 
of the engine combustion liner, which can result in combustion liner 
breakup, case burn-through, engine fire, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 17, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    Contact Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United 
Kingdom; telephone: 011-44-1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332-249936 for the 
service information identified in this proposed AD.
    The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility,

[[Page 63728]]

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 and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7178; 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-2009-0162; Directorate 
Identifier 2004-NE-19-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://www.regulations.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 Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any 
of our dockets, including, if provided, 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).

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 proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
the same as the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

Discussion

    The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 with a proposed AD. The 
proposed AD applies to certain RB211-524 series turbofan engines. We 
published the proposed AD in the Federal Register on March 2, 2009 (74 
FR 9050). That action proposed to require:
     Initial and repetitive borescope inspections of the 
combustion liner head section and meterpanel assembly of the combustion 
liner and, if necessary, replacement.
     Reduction of the inspection intervals of certain RB211-524 
engine models that have not been repaired to RR Field Repair Scheme 
FRS5367/B, and
     A mandatory terminating action to the repetitive 
inspections.
    Since we issued that NPRM, we determined that we need to remove the 
P/Ns of the combustion chamber cases from paragraph (c) of the proposed 
AD. Because this proposed AD expands the population of engines affected 
by the proposed AD, this supplemental NPRM reopens the comment period.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD would affect 18 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2 
work-hours per engine to perform the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. No parts are required, so 
parts would cost $0. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost 
of the AD to U.S. operators would be $3,060.

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

    Accordingly, 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 removing Amendment 39-13917 (70 FR 
680, January 5, 2005), and by adding a new airworthiness directive to 
read as follows:

Rolls-Royce plc: Docket No. FAA-2009-0162; Directorate Identifier 
2004-NE-19-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by December 17, 
2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2004-26-05, Amendment 39-13917.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) engine models RB211-
524B-02, -524B3-02 engines and RB211-524B2, -524B4, -524C2, and -
524D4 series engines with a front combustion liner assembly that 
incorporates RR Service Bulletin (SB) No. RB.211-72-7221 or RR SB 
No. RB.211-72-7998, but doesn't incorporate RR SB No. RB.211-72-9670 
or RR SB No. RB.211-72-9764, and engine models RB211-524G and -524H

[[Page 63729]]

series engines with a front combustion liner assembly that doesn't 
incorporate RR SB No. RB.211-72-9764. These engines are installed 
on, but not limited to, Boeing 747 and Lockheed L1011 series 
airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from an inquiry submitted by an operator 
which resulted in RR performing a complete review of the affected 
front combustion liner part numbers. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent deterioration of the engine combustion liner, which can 
result in combustion liner breakup, case burn-through, engine fire, 
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.

Credit for Previous Inspections

    (f) Engine inspections previously made to RR Service Bulletin 
No. RB.211-72-B482, Revision 8, dated November 15, 2001, meet the 
requirements of this AD for the initial or repetitive inspections 
specified in paragraphs (g) through (g)(2) and (h) through (h)(4) of 
this AD.

Inspections of Combustion Liner Head Sections--Not Previously Repaired

    (g) Borescope-inspect combustion liner head sections that have 
not been previously repaired. Use paragraphs 3.A.(1) through 3.A.(5) 
of the Accomplishment Instructions of RR Alert Service Bulletin 
(ASB) No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 9, dated July 28, 2003, and the 
cycles-since-new (CSN), cycles-since-last inspection (CSLI), and 
cycles-in-service (CIS) compliance thresholds in Table 1 of this AD.

                         Table 1--Combustion Liner Head Section--Not Previously Repaired
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                                                                                         Parts exceeding initial
            Engine series                 Initial inspection     Repetitive inspection      inspection cycles
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(1) RB211-524C2, -524D4, -524G, and -  Within 1,400 to 1,600    Within 200 CSLI........  Within 100 CIS after
 524H.                                  CSN.                                              the effective date of
                                                                                          this AD.
(2) RB211-524B-02, -524B2, -524B3-02,  Within 3,000 to 3,200    Within 200 CSLI........  Within 200 CIS after
 and -524B4.                            CSN.                                              the effective date of
                                                                                          this AD.
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Inspections of Combustion Liner Head Sections--Previously Repaired 
Using RR Field Repair Scheme FRS5367/B

    (h) If the combustion liner head section was previously repaired 
using RR Field Repair Scheme FRS5367/B, do the following:
    (1) Borescope-inspect combustion liner head sections. Use 
paragraphs 3.A.(1) through 3.A.(5) of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of RR ASB No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 9, dated July 
28, 2003, and the cycles-since-last repair (CSLR), CSLI, and CIS 
compliance thresholds in Table 2 of this AD.
    (2) If all 18 struts on a combustion liner that is subject to RR 
ASB No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 9, dated July 28, 2003, were 
repaired using the nicrobraze repair specified in RR Field Repair 
Scheme FRS5367, that repair is equivalent to compliance with RR 
Field Repair Scheme FRS5367/B. Borescope-inspect the combustion 
liner as specified in paragraph (h)(1) of this AD.

       Table 2--Combustion Liner Head Section--Previously Repaired Using RR Field Repair Scheme FRS5367/B
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                                                                                         Parts exceeding initial
            Engine series                 Initial inspection     Repetitive inspection      inspection cycles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) RB211-524C2, -524D4, -524G, and -  Within 1,800 to 2,200    Within 400 CSLI........  Within 200 CIS after
 524H.                                  CSLR.                                             the effective date of
                                                                                          this AD.
(4) RB211-524B-02, -524B2, -524B3-02,  Within 3,000 to 3,200    Within 400 CSLI........  Within 200 CIS after
 and -524B4.                            CSLR.                                             the effective date of
                                                                                          this AD.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inspections of Combustion Liner Head Sections That Have Been Repaired 
But Did Not Use RR Field Repair Scheme FRS5367/B

    (i) For engines that have a combustion liner head section 
repaired using a method other than RR Field Repair Scheme FRS5367/B, 
do the following:
    (1) Borescope-inspect combustion liner head section. Use 
paragraphs 3.A.(1) through 3.A.(5) of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of RR ASB No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 9, dated July 
28, 2003, and the CSLR, CSLI, and CIS compliance thresholds in Table 
3 of this AD.

       Table 3--Combustion Liner Head Section--Repaired, But Did Not Use RR Field Repair Scheme FRS5367/B
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Parts exceeding initial
            Engine series                 Initial inspection     Repetitive inspection      inspection cycles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) RB211-524C2, -524D4, -524G, and -  Within 500 to 700 CSLR.  Within 200 CSLI........  Within 100 CIS after
 524H.                                                                                    the effective date of
                                                                                          this AD.
(3) RB211-524B-02, -524B2, -524B3-02,  Within 2,000 to 2,200    Within 200 CSLI........  Within 200 CIS after
 and -524B4.                            CSLR.                                             the effective date of
                                                                                          this AD.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (4) Head sections repaired by replacement of all 18 struts 
using RR Field Repair Scheme FRS6548 are considered as equivalent to 
fitting a new head section for inspection purposes. Borescope-
inspect the combustion liner as specified in paragraph (h)(1) of 
this AD.

Inspections of Meterpanel Assemblies--Not Repaired

    (j) Borescope-inspect meterpanel assemblies that incorporate SB 
No. RB.211-72-7998, that have not been previously repaired. Use 
paragraphs 3.B.(1) through 3.B.(7) of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of RR ASB No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 9, dated July 
28, 2003, and the CSN, CSLI, and CIS compliance thresholds in Table 
4 of this AD.

[[Page 63730]]



                                   Table 4--Meterpanel Assembly--Not Repaired
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Parts exceeding initial
            Engine series                 Initial inspection     Repetitive inspection      inspection cycles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) RB211-524D4, -524G, and -524H....  Within 1,000 to 1,200    Within 400 CSLI........  Within 50 CIS after the
                                        CSN.                                              effective date of this
                                                                                          AD.
(2) RB211-524D4, -524G, and -524H      Within 1,800 to 2,000    Within 400 CSLI........  Within 50 CIS after the
 that have not used RB211-524H          CSN.                                              effective date of this
 ratings at any time.                                                                     AD.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inspections of Meterpanel Assemblies--Repaired

    (k) For meterpanel assemblies that incorporate SB No. RB.211-72-
7998, and have been repaired previously, do the following:
    (1) Borescope-inspect meterpanel assemblies that have been 
previously repaired. Use paragraphs 3.B.(1) through 3.B.(7) of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of RR ASB No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 
9, dated July 28, 2003, and the CSLR, CSLI, and CIS compliance 
thresholds in Table 5 of this AD.

                                     Table 5--Meterpanel Assembly--Repaired
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Parts exceeding initial
            Engine series                 Initial inspection     Repetitive inspection      inspection cycles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) RB211-524D4, -524G, and -524H....  Within 500 to 700 CSLR.  Within 400 CSLI........  Within 50 CIS after the
                                                                                          effective date of this
                                                                                          AD.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reject Parts

    (l) Replace parts that exceed the acceptance criteria. 
Information about the acceptance criteria can be found in the 
Aircraft Maintenance Manual, 72-00-00, Inspection/Check.

Mandatory Terminating Action

    (m) Replace the front combustion liner assembly with a front 
combustion liner not affected by this AD at the next shop visit.
    (n) For RB211-524B02, -524B2, -524B3-02, -524B4-02, -524C2 and -
524D4 engines, replacing the front combustion liner assembly with a 
front combustion liner assembly that incorporates the modifications 
in RR SB No. RB.211-72-9670, Original Issue, dated August 27, 1993; 
or RR SB No. RB.211-72-9764, Revision 3, dated January 16, 1998, 
constitutes terminating action to the repetitive inspections in 
paragraphs (g), (h), (i), (j), and (k), of this AD.
    (o) For RB211-524G and -524H engines, replacing the front 
combustion liner assembly with a front combustion liner assembly 
that incorporates the modifications in RR SB No. RB.211-72-9764, 
Revision 3, dated January 16, 1998, constitutes terminating action 
to the repetitive inspections in paragraphs (g), (h), (i), (j), and 
(k) of this AD.

Definition of Shop Visit

    (p) For the purpose of this AD, a shop visit is any time that 
the 04 module is removed for repair or overhaul.

Related Information

    (q) Contact Ian Dargin, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification 
Office, FAA, Engine and 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.
    (r) Rolls-Royce ASB No. RB.211-72-AB482, Revision 9, dated July 
28, 2003; SB No. RB.211-72-9764, Revision 3, dated January 16, 1998; 
and SB No. RB.211-72-9670, Original Issue, dated August 27, 1993, 
pertain to the subject of this AD. Contact Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 
31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom; telephone: 011-44-1332-242424; 
fax: 011-44-1332-249936, for a copy of this service information.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 6, 2010.
Diane S. Romanosky,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-26115 Filed 10-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P