[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 5, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39033-39035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16709]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 5, 2011 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 39033]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0684; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-27-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
(RRD) BR700-710 Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation 
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as:

    Analysis of service data carried out by Rolls-Royce Deutschland 
has shown that the effect of touch-and-go and overshoot on life 
cycle counting is higher than anticipated. Therefore, the life cycle 
counting method for touch-and-go and overshoot as defined by the 
Time Limits Manual needs to be changed to reflect this higher effect 
on life.

We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of high-energy, life-
limited parts, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 19, 2011.

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 Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, 
Dahlewitz, 15827 Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; telephone: 49 0 33-7086-
1883; fax: 49 0 33-7086-3276, for the service information identified in 
this proposed AD.

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 (phone (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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Riley, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; phone: (781) 238-7758; fax: (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2011-0684; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-27-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD based on 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).

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2010-0077, dated April 20, 2010 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    Analysis of service data carried out by Rolls-Royce Deutschland 
has shown that the effect of touch-and-go and overshoot on life 
cycle counting is higher than anticipated. Therefore, the life cycle 
counting method for touch-and-go and overshoot as defined by the 
Time Limits Manual needs to be changed to reflect this higher effect 
on life.
    This AD requires a change of the life cycle counting method for 
touch-and-go and overshoot for all critical parts and the Low 
Pressure (LP) compressor blades as specified in the Rolls-Royce 
Deutschland Alert NMSB-BR700-72-A900504 Revision 1. The chapter 05-
00-01 and 05-00-02 of the applicable Time Limits Manuals will be 
revised accordingly.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG has issued Alert Service 
Bulletin SB-BR700-72-A900504, Revision 1, dated February 19, 2010. The 
actions described in this service information are intended to correct 
the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of 
Germany, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, they have notified us of the 
unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information 
referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all 
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

[[Page 39034]]

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    The MCAI requires operators to:
     Within 4 months after the effective date of that AD, the 
calculation of lives for every touch-and-go and overshoot for all 
critical parts and LP compressor blades must be done in accordance with 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Alert NMSB-BR700-72-A900504 Revision 1, 
paragraph 3.A.
     Within 4 months after the effective date of that AD, 
determine the number of touch-and-go's and overshoots that each 
individual critical part (except the fan shaft and LP turbine rotor 
shaft) has experienced since entry into service in accordance with 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Alert NMSB-BR700-72-A900504 Revision 1, 
paragraph 3.B.
    This proposed AD would require operators to:
     Revise their airworthiness limitation section (ALS) of 
their approved maintenance program (Time Limits Manual (TLM), chapters 
05-00-01 and 05-00-02 of the applicable engine manuals (EMs)) within 30 
days to remove the requirement for operators to record each touch-and-
go and overshoot as \1/5\ flight cycle (FC) on engines installed on 
airplanes used for pilot training.
     Revise their ALS of their approved maintenance program 
(TLM chapters 05-00-01 and 05-00-02 of the applicable EMs) within 30 
days to add a requirement to record each touch-and-go and overshoot as 
1 FC on all engines affected by this proposed AD.
     Review their engine maintenance records since entry into 
service to determine the total number of touch-and-go's and overshoots 
that have occurred during Pilot Training.
     To adjust the number of flight cycles used on the critical 
parts if the total number of touch-and-go's and overshoots experienced 
during pilot training is one percent or more of the total number of 
flight cycles.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 1,052 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate 
that it would take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with this 
proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators to be $89,420.

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 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 this 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. 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA 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 AD:

Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Formerly Rolls-Royce 
Deutschland GmbH, formerly BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH): Docket No. FAA-
2011-0684; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-27-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by August 19, 2011.

Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all RRD BR700-710A1-10 and BR700-710A2-20 
turbofan engines, all BR700-710C4-11 model engines that have 
hardware configuration standard 710C4-11 engraved on the engine data 
plate (Service Bulletin SB-BR700-72-101466 standard not 
incorporated), and all BR700-710C4-11 model engines that have 
hardware configuration standard 710C4-11/10 engraved on the engine 
data plate (Service Bulletin SB-BR700-72-101466 standard 
incorporated). These engines are installed on, but not limited to, 
Bombardier BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes and Gulfstream GV 
(G500) and GV-SP (G550) airplanes.

Reason

    (d) This AD results from:

    Analysis of service data carried out by Rolls-Royce Deutschland 
has shown that the effect of touch-and-go and overshoot on life 
cycle counting is higher than anticipated. Therefore, the life cycle 
counting method for touch-and-go and overshoot as defined by the 
Time Limits Manual needs to be changed to reflect this higher effect 
on life.

    We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of high-energy, life-
limited parts, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the 
airplane.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the operators 
approved maintenance program (reference the Time Limits Manual 
(TLM), chapters 05-00-01 and 05-00-02 of the applicable engine 
manuals (EMs) to remove the requirement to record each touch-and-go 
or overshoot as \1/5\ of a flight cycle (FC) on an engine installed 
on an airplane used for Pilot Training.
    (2) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the ALS of the operators approved maintenance program (reference the 
TLM, chapters 05-00-01 and 05-00-02 of the TLM of the applicable 
EMs) to add a requirement to record each touch-and-go or overshoot 
as 1 FC to the life of all critical parts and the fan blades.
    (3) Within 120 days after the effective date of this AD, 
determine the number of touch-and-go's and overshoots that each 
individual critical part except the fan shaft and LP turbine rotor 
shaft has experienced since entry into service for Pilot Training.
    (i) If the number of touch-and-go's and overshoots on an 
individual critical part is less than one percent of the total 
number of flight cycles (FC) on the critical part, no further action 
is required by this AD.

[[Page 39035]]

    (ii) If the number of touch-and-go's and overshoots on an 
individual critical part is one percent or more of the total number 
of FC on the critical part, disregard the previous calculations of 
life on that individual critical part and retrospectively re-
calculate the accumulated FC of that individual critical part by the 
addition of one FC for every touch-and-go and overshoot to the total 
number of FC.

Definitions

    (f) A touch-and-go is a phase of a flight where a landing 
approach of an airplane is continued to the touch-down point and the 
airplane immediately takes off again without stopping.
    (g) An overshoot is a phase of a flight where a landing approach 
of an airplane is not continued to the touchdown point. This 
includes missed approaches due to safety reasons, weather minimums, 
airplane engine configurations, runway incursions, and any other 
undetermined causes.

FAA AD Differences

    (h) This AD differs from the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 
Information (MCAI) and or service information as follows:
    (1) This AD requires within 30 days after the effective date of 
this AD, revising the ALS of the operators approved maintenance 
program (reference the TLM chapters 05-00-01 and 05-00-02 of the 
applicable EMs) to remove the requirement to record each touch-and-
go or overshoot as \1/5\ of a FC on an engine installed on an 
airplane used for Pilot Training, and adding a requirement to record 
each touch-and-go or overshoot as 1 FC to the life of all critical 
parts and the fan blades. The MCAI requires that the revised method 
of life counting for each touch-and-go and overshoot be accomplished 
within 4 months.
    (2) The MCAI requires determining the total number of touch-and-
go's and overshoots that each individual critical part (except the 
fan shaft and LP turbine rotor shaft) has experienced since entry 
into service. This AD only requires determining those numbers for 
touch-and-go's and overshoots that had occurred during Pilot 
Training.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19.

Related Information

    (j) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2010-0077, dated April 20, 2010, and Rolls-Royce 
Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Alert Service Bulletin SB-BR700-72-A900504, 
Revision 1, dated February 19, 2010, for related information. 
Contact Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, 
Dahlewitz, 15827 Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; telephone: 49 0 33-
7086-1883; fax: 49 0 33-7086-3276, for a copy of this service 
information.
    (k) Contact Mark Riley, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification 
Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: [email protected]; 
phone: (781) 238-7758; fax: (781) 238-7199, for more information 
about this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 27, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-16709 Filed 7-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P