[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 111 (Monday, June 10, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34550-34552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13012]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1331; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-44-AD; 
Amendment 39-17473; AD 2013-11-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbojet Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Viper Mk. 601-22 turbojet engines. This AD 
requires reducing the life of certain critical parts. This AD was 
prompted by a review carried out by RR of the lives of these parts. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent failure of life-limited parts, damage to 
the engine, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective July 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Defence Aerospace Communications at Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 3, Gypsy 
Patch Lane, Filton, Bristol, BS347QE, United Kingdom; phone: 011-44-
117-9791234; or email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/defence_team.jsp. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803. 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for

[[Page 34551]]

the Docket Operations office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document 
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7754; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

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 February 22, 2013 
(78 FR 12255). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for 
the specified products. The mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information states:

    A review, carried out by Rolls-Royce, of the lives of critical 
parts of the Viper Mk. 601-22 engine, has resulted in reduced cyclic 
life limits for certain critical parts.
    Operation of critical parts beyond these reduced cyclic life 
limits may result in part failure, possibly resulting in the release 
of high-energy debris, which may cause damage to the aeroplane and/
or injury to the occupants.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires implementation 
of the reduced cyclic life limits for the affected critical parts, 
i.e., replacement of each part before the applicable reduced life 
limit is exceeded, and replacement of those critical parts that have 
already exceeded the reduced cyclic life limits.

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

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comments received.

Request To Change the Identity of the Type Certificate (TC) Holder

    Roll-Royce plc requested that we identify the TC holder as Rolls-
Royce plc rather than Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited, Bristol Engine 
Division.
    We agree. We changed the AD to identify the TC holder as Rolls-
Royce plc.

Request To Change the Contact Information for the TC Holder

    Rolls-Royce plc requested that we change the contact information 
used to request service information for Viper Mk. 601-22 turbojet 
engines.
    We agree. We changed the contact information for requesting service 
information related to this AD to: Defence Aerospace Communications at 
Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 3, Gypsy Patch Lane, Filton, Bristol, 
BS347QE, United Kingdom; phone: 011-44-117-9791234; or email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/defence_team.jsp.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data, including the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the AD with the changes described previously. We determined that these 
changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or 
increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 32 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take 0 hours 
per product to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per 
hour. We are not requiring parts replacement, so parts cost is $0. 
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. 
operators to be $0.

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 affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, and
    (4) 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.

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:

2013-11-13 Rolls-Royce plc (formerly Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited, 
Bristol Engine Division): Amendment 39-17473; Docket No. FAA-2012-
1331; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-44-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective July 15, 
2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Viper Mk. 601-22 
turbojet engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a review carried out by RR of the lives 
of certain critical parts. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure 
of life-limited parts, damage to the engine, and damage to the 
airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) After the effective date of this AD, remove the following 
parts before they reach their specified new, lower, life limits: 
compressor shaft, part number (P/N) V900766: 20,720 flight cycles 
since new

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(CSN); compressor rear stubshaft (center bearing hub), P/Ns V900007 
and V900994: 9,600 flight CSN; combustion chamber outer casing, P/Ns 
V950013 and V950331: 32,000 flight CSN.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any part 
identified in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD into any engine, nor 
return any engine to service with the parts identified in paragraph 
(e)(1) of this AD installed, if the part exceeds the new, lower, 
life limit specified in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(g) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Robert Green, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2012-0243 (Correction: November 13, 2012), dated November 
12, 2012, and RR Alert Service Bulletin 72-A206, dated November 
2012, for related information.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Defence Aerospace Communications at Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 3, 
Gypsy Patch Lane, Filton, Bristol, BS347QE, United Kingdom; phone: 
011-44-117-9791234; or email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/defence_team.jsp. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 28, 2013.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-13012 Filed 6-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P