[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66771-66772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27108]



[[Page 66771]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1100; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-29-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
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 
certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-710 series 
turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by service experience 
that demonstrated premature wear of the splined coupling on the fuel 
pump. This proposed AD would require replacement of the affected fuel 
pump splined couplings. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of 
the engine and loss of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 7, 2013.

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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, 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. You may review copies of the referenced service 
information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.

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: Frederick Zink, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; email: 
[email protected]; phone: 781-238-7779; 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-2012-1100; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-29-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 No. 2012-0161, dated August 24, 2012 (referred 
to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

In-service experience of RRD BR700-710 fuel pump installed on the 
rear face of the accessory gearbox identified premature wear of the 
splined coupling, which caused damage to the splined coupling.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to failure of engine 
fuel supply, likely resulting in an uncommanded in-flight shutdown 
and consequently reduced control of the aeroplane.

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

Relevant Service Information

    RRD has issued Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin SB-BR700-72-
A900509, Revision 3, dated August 2, 2012. 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 EASA and is approved for 
operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement 
with the European Community, EASA has 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 1,040 engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would 
take about 6 work-hours per engine to comply with this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $1,035 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost 
of this proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $1,606,800.

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

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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, Incorporation by 
reference, 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, and BMW Rolls-Royce plc): Docket No. FAA-2012-
1100; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-29-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by January 7, 2013.

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
BR700-710A1-10 and BR700-710A2-20 turbofan engines, all serial 
numbers, and BR700-710C4-11 turbofan engines that have either of the 
following hardware configuration standards engraved on the engine 
data plate:
    (1) standard 710C4-11, RRD Alert Non-Modification Service 
Bulletin (NMSB) SB-BR700-72-101466 standard not incorporated, or
    (2) standard 710C4-11/10, RRD Alert NMSB SB-BR700-72-101466 
standard incorporated.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by service experience that demonstrated 
premature wear of the splined coupling on the fuel pump. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the engine and loss of the 
airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following.
    (1) After the effective date of this AD, replace the fuel pump 
splined coupling as follows and every 4,000 hours time in service 
(TIS) thereafter:
    (i) If the engine has 3,750 hours TIS or more, within 250 hours 
TIS.
    (ii) If the engine has less than 3,750 hours TIS, before 
reaching 4,000 hours TIS.
    (2) If you replaced the engine fuel pump splined coupling before 
the effective date of this AD, replace the fuel pump splined 
coupling before reaching 4,000 hours TIS since last replacement, or 
before further flight, whichever comes later.

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not approve for return 
to service any engine with a fuel pump with an affected splined 
coupling that has accumulated 4,000 hours TIS, or any airplane with 
an engine with an affected fuel pump splined coupling installed that 
has accumulated 4,000 hours TIS.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
to this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request.

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Frederick Zink, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; email: [email protected]; phone: 781-238-7779; fax: 781-
238-7199.
    (2) Refer to MCAI Airworthiness Directive No. 2012-0161, dated 
August 24, 2012, and RRD Alert NMSB SB-BR700-72-A900509, Revision 3, 
dated August 2, 2012, for related information.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, 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. You may review copies of the referenced service 
information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 26, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-27108 Filed 11-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P