[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 100 (Thursday, May 25, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24033-24035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10438]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0114; Directorate Identifier 2017-NE-03-AD;
Amendment 39-18880; AD 2017-10-06]
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) RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 turbofan
engines. This AD requires fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) of the
compressor intermediate case (CIC) for cracking. This AD was prompted
by CICs that were weld repaired and have a higher probability of
cracking as a result of the weld repair process. We are issuing this AD
to correct the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD becomes effective June 9, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 9,
2017.
We must receive comments on this AD by July 10, 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 W12-140, 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.
[[Page 24034]]
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-2017-0114.
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-2017-
0114; 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-2017-0114; Directorate
Identifier 2017-NE-03-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 2017-0071, dated April 26, 2017 (referred to hereinafter as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
It has been determined that certain compressor intermediate
cases (CIC), repaired by RR Repair FRSC005, have a higher
probability of cracking, due to increased residual stresses which
were applied during the weld repair process. This condition, if not
detected and corrected, could lead to CIC failure, possibly
resulting in damage to, and/or reduced control of, the aeroplane. To
address this potential unsafe condition, RR released Alert Non-
Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) RB.211-72-AH976, later revised,
providing inspection instructions. For the reason described above,
this AD requires a one-time fluorescent-penetrant inspection (FPI)
of each affected CIC and, depending on findings, accomplishment of a
repair.
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-2017-0114.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
RR has issued Alert NMSB RB.211-72-AH976, Revision 2, dated March
16, 2017. The Alert NMSB describes procedures for FPI of the CIC that
have RR Repair FRSC005 applied to them. 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 one-time FPI of each affected
CIC and, depending on findings, accomplishment of a repair.
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 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
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Inspection............................ 2.0 work-hours x $85 per $0 $170.00 $0
hour = $170.00.
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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
[[Page 24035]]
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):
2017-10-06 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-18880; Docket No. FAA-2017-
0114; Directorate Identifier 2017-NE-03-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective June 9, 2017.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 768-60,
RB211 Trent 772-60, and RB211 Trent 772B-60 turbofan engines that
have a compressor intermediate case (CIC) that was repaired using RR
Repair FRSC005.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 7230, Turbine Engine
Compressor Section.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by CICs that were weld repaired and have a
higher probability of cracking due to increased residual stresses as
a result of the weld repair process. We are issuing this AD to
prevent CIC failure, engine separation and loss of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
(1) Inspect repaired CICs during the next shop visit, or within
6,000 engine flight cycles, whichever occurs first, after the
effective date of this AD, using paragraph 3.B.(1)(c) of the
Accomplishment Instructions, of RR Alert Non-Modification Service
Bulletin (NMSB) RB.211-72-AH976, Revision 2, dated March 16, 2017.
(2) If a CIC fails inspection required by paragraph (g)(1) of
this AD, either repair the CIC using paragraph 3.B.(2)(b) of the
Accomplishment Instructions, of RR Alert NMSB RB.211-72-AH976,
Revision 2, dated March 16, 2017, or, replace the CIC with a part
eligible for installation, before next flight.
(h) Definitions
For the purpose of this AD, a shop visit is the induction of an
engine into the shop for maintenance or overhaul that requires the
separation of major mating engine module flanges. The separation of
engine flanges solely for the purpose of transporting the engine
without subsequent engine maintenance does not constitute an engine
shop visit.
(i) Installation Prohibition
After the effective date of this AD, do not install an affected
intermediate module on an engine unless the CIC has passed the
inspection required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.
(j) Credit for Previous Actions
You may take credit for the inspections and corrective action
required by paragraph (g) of this AD, if you performed these actions
before the effective date of this AD using RR Alert NMSB RB.211-72-
AH976, original issue, dated November 3, 2016 or RR Alert NMSB
RB.211-72-AH976, Revision 1, dated November 17, 2016.
(k) 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].
(l) 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 European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), AD
2017-0071, dated April 26, 2017, 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-2017-0114.
(m) 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 Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin
RB.211-72-AH976, Revision 2, dated March 16, 2017.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For Rolls-Royce plc 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 May 4, 2017.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-10438 Filed 5-24-17; 8:45 am]
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