[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 19, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64791-64793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26885]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0684; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-27-AD; 
Amendment 39-16842; AD 2011-22-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This 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 issuing this AD to prevent failure of high-energy, life-limited 
parts, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 23, 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: 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: 

Discussion

    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 July 5, 2011 (76 FR 
39033). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states that:

    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.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM.

Conclusion

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

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have required different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow our FAA policies. Any such differences 
are described in a separate paragraph of the AD, and take precedence 
over the actions copied from the MCAI.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this 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 AD. The 
average labor rate is $85

[[Page 64792]]

per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the 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 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 this AD:
    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 AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is provided in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

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 FAA 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 adding the following new AD:

2011-22-01 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Formerly Rolls-Royce 
Deutschland GmbH, formerly BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH)]: Amendment 39-
16842; Docket No. FAA-2011-0684; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-27-
AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective November 
23, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland 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 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 FCs on the critical part, no further action is required by 
this AD.
    (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 FCs on the critical part, disregard the previous calculations of 
life on that individual critical part and retrospectively re-
calculate the accumulated FCs of that individual critical part by 
the addition of one FC for every touch-and-go and overshoot to the 
total number of FCs.

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 touch-down 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

[[Page 64793]]

(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.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i) 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; phone: 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) None.


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 7, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-26885 Filed 10-18-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P