[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 37 (Monday, February 27, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11801-11803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03739]



[[Page 11801]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9510; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-28-AD; 
Amendment 39-18780; AD 2017-02-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Trent 1000-A, Trent 1000-C, Trent 1000-D, Trent 
1000-E, Trent 1000-G, and Trent 1000-H turbofan engines. This AD 
requires initial and repetitive inspections of affected high-pressure 
turbine (HPT) blades for cracks. This AD was prompted by high engine 
vibration due to HPT blade deterioration resulting in operational 
disruptions. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 14, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 14, 
2017.
    We must receive comments on this AD by April 13, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-40, 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 AD, contact Rolls-Royce 
plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, England, DE24 8BJ; 
phone: 011-44-1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332-249936; email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp; Internet: https://customers.rolls-royce.com/public/rollsroycecare. You may view this 
service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. It is also 
available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9510.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9510; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI), regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is 
in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7754; fax: 781-
238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2016-9510; Directorate 
Identifier 2016-NE-28-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
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 AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD 2016-0215, dated October 27, 2016 (referred to hereinafter as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    Occurrences were reported involving high engine vibration 
indication experienced during climb. Subsequent investigation of 
affected engines identified damage to some high pressure turbine 
(HPT) blades. These events have been attributed to cracks, which 
originated at the tip of the leading edge, and at the mid-height 
pressure surface, of the HPT blades. Investigation also determined 
that HPT blades Part Number (P/N) FW63853 (corresponding to RR 
Service Bulletin (SB) SB 72-G275 modification standard) are affected 
by this phenomenon. Four occurrences have been reported within the 
last two years.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
high vibration indication and commanded in-flight shut-down, 
possibly resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9510.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    RR has issued Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) Trent 1000 
72-J039, Revision 3, dated October 14, 2016. The NMSB describes 
procedures to conduct a borescope inspection for cracks on the leading 
edge of the HPT blade. This service information is reasonably available 
because the interested parties have access to it through their normal 
course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of the 
United Kingdom, 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 issuing 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. This AD requires initial and repetitive 
inspections of affected HPT blades for cracks.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    No domestic operators use this product. Therefore, we find that 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and 
that good

[[Page 11802]]

cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 0 engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Cost per        Cost on U.S.
             Action                      Labor cost            Parts cost        product           operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection of the HPT blades....  1.5 work-hours x $85 per              $0             $127   $0 per inspection
                                   hour = $127 per
                                   inspection.
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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),
    (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.

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2017-02-01 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-18780; Docket No. FAA-2016-
9510; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-28-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective March 14, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Trent 1000-A, Trent 
1000-C, Trent 1000-D, Trent 1000-E, Trent 1000-G, and Trent 1000-H 
turbofan engines with high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades, part 
number (P/N) FW63853, installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 7250, Turbine/Turboprop 
Engine/Turbine Section.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by high engine vibration due to HPT blade 
deterioration resulting in operational disruptions. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent HPT blade failure, loss of engine thrust control, 
and reduced control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Perform an initial inspection of each HPT blade before 
exceeding the following, whichever occurs later:
    (i) 1,750 engine flight cycles (FCs) since new or 11,000 engine 
flight hours (FHs) since new, whichever occurs first; or
    (ii) 30 days after the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Thereafter, perform repetitive inspections of the HPT blades 
at intervals not to exceed 250 engine FCs or 1,125 engine FHs, 
whichever occurs first.
    (3) Use the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3, of RR Non-
Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) Trent 1000 72-J039, Revision 3, 
dated October 14, 2016, to perform the inspections.
    (4) If any crack is found during any inspection, follow the 
applicable corrective action and reduced follow-on inspection 
interval as defined in the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 
3.A.(3), of RR NMSB Trent 1000 72-J039, Revision 3, dated October 
14, 2016.

(g) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install an HPT 
blade, P/N FW63853, on any engine.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for inspections and corrective action that 
are required by paragraph (f) of this AD, if you performed these 
actions and corrective action before the effective date of this AD, 
using RR NMSB Trent 1000 72-J039, Revision 2, or earlier versions.

(i) 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. You may email your request to: [email protected].

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Robert Green, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2016-0215, dated October 27, 2016, for 
more information. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
it in Docket No. FAA-2016-9510.

[[Page 11803]]

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Non-Modification Service Bulletin Trent 
1000 72-J039, Revision 3, dated October 14, 2016.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For RR service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, 
England, DE24 8BJ; phone: 011-44-1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332-
249936; email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp; 
Internet: https://customers.rolls-royce.com/public/rollsroycecare.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 781-238-7125.
    (5) You may view this service information at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: 
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 11, 2017.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03739 Filed 2-24-17; 8:45 am]
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