[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9869-9871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3864]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0224; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-44-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); rescission.

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SUMMARY: We propose to rescind an airworthiness directive (AD) for RRD 
BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines. 
The existing AD resulted from the need to reduce the published life 
limits of high-pressure (HP) turbine stage 1 discs, part numbers (P/Ns) 
BRH20130 and BRH20131, and HP turbine stage 2 discs, P/Ns BRH19423 and 
BRH19427.

[[Page 9870]]

    Since we issued the existing AD, RRD has revised the approved 
published life limits of these parts to the same or higher limits as 
originally certified.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 23, 2012.

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.

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; phone: 781-238-7758; fax: 
781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD rescission. Send your comments to an 
address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-
2008-0224; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-44-AD'' at the beginning of 
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
proposed AD rescission. We will consider all comments received by the 
closing date and may amend this proposed AD rescission 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 rescission. 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

    On March 17, 2009, we issued AD 2009-07-01 (74 FR 12086, March 23, 
2009). That AD requires reducing the published life limits of BR700-715 
turbofan engine HP turbine stage 1 discs, P/Ns BRH20130 and BRH20131, 
and HP turbine stage 2 discs, P/Ns BRH19423 and BRH19427.
    Since we issued AD 2009-07-01 (74 FR 12086, March 23, 2009), RRD 
has revised the approved published life limits of these HP turbine 
stage 1 discs to the same or higher limits as originally certified. The 
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent 
for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive Cancellation Notice 2007-0152-CN, dated 
December 22, 2011. EASA stated in that Cancellation Notice that they 
have approved published life limits for the affected parts that are 
increased to the same or higher value as originally certified. We have 
evaluated the information provided by RRD and EASA and have determined 
that an unsafe condition no longer exists in these HP turbine stage 1 
and stage 2 discs.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD Rescission

    We are proposing this AD rescission of AD 2009-07-01 (74 FR 12086, 
March 23, 2009) because we evaluated all information and determined 
that allowing the increase in the published part life limits is 
acceptable. This proposed AD would rescind AD 2009-07-01.

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 a practice, method, or 
procedure necessary for safety in air commerce.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this proposed AD rescission would not have 
federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 
rescission 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 rescission 
of a 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 rescission 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 rescinding airworthiness directive 
(AD) 2009-07-01, Amendment 39-15860 (74 FR 12086, March 23, 2009):

Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (formerly BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH, 
formerly BMW Rolls-Royce Aero Engines): Docket No. FAA-2008-0224; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-44-AD.

[[Page 9871]]

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by April 23, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD rescinds AD 2009-07-01 (74 FR 12086, March 23, 2009).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG BR700-
715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 10, 2012.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-3864 Filed 2-17-12; 8:45 am]
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