[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12277-12278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4831]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0960; Directorate Identifier 98-ANE-09-AD; 
Amendment 39-16620; AD 98-09-27R1]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 768, 772, 
and 772B Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are rescinding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for 
the products listed above. The existing AD, AD 98-09-27, resulted from 
aircraft certification testing which revealed that stresses on the 
thrust reverser hinge were higher than had been anticipated during 
engine certification, and the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority, 
issuing AD 008-03-97. Since we issued AD 98-09-27, we discovered that 
its requirements were duplicated in airplane-level AD 2001-09-14, 
issued by the FAA Transport Airplane Directorate. We proposed to 
rescind the engine-level AD.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 11, 2011.

ADDRESSES: 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: Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7143; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 12278]]

Discussion

    On April 23, 1998, the FAA Engine & Propeller Directorate issued 
engine AD 98-09-27 (63 FR 24911, May 6, 1998). On April 30, 2001, the 
FAA Transport Airplane Directorate issued airplane AD 2001-09-14 (66 FR 
23838, May 10, 2001). Those ADs both require the same initial and 
repetitive visual inspections of Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 768 and 
772 series turbofan engine thrust reverser hinge lugs and attachment 
ribs for cracks, and, if necessary, removal from service and 
replacement with serviceable parts.
    Since we issued engine AD 98-09-27 and airplane AD 2001-09-14, we 
determined that duplicate ADs to address the same unsafe condition were 
unnecessary. We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 
14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified 
products. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 
15, 2010 (75 FR 69611), and proposed to rescind AD 98-09-27, Amendment 
39-10508 (63 FR 24911, May 6, 1998).

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 received no comments on the proposal.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

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 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 rescinding airworthiness directive 
(AD) 98-09-27, Amendment 39-10508 (63 FR 24911, May 6, 1998):

98-09-27R1 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-16620. Docket No. FAA-2010-
0960; Directorate Identifier 98-ANE-09-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 11, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD rescinds AD 98-09-27.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 768, 772, and 
772B turbofan engines. These engines are installed on, but not 
limited to, Airbus A330-341 and A330-342 series airplanes.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 24, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-4831 Filed 3-4-11; 8:45 am]
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