[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18758-18760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09011]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0235; Product Identifier 2018-NE-08-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Tay 
620-15 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 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Tay 620-15 turbofan engines. 
This AD limits service life of the low-pressure compressor (LPC) fan 
blades based on the number of dry-film lubricant (DFL) treatments. The 
AD was prompted by reports of LPC fan blade retention lug failures. We 
are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 14, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12 140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Rolls-
Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, 15827 
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; phone: +49 (0) 33-7086-1883; fax: +49 (0) 
33-7086-3276.

[[Page 18759]]

You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-
238-7759.

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-2018-
0235; 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 NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is 
listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, ECO 
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7754; 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 proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2018-0235; 
Product Identifier 2018-NE-08-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM 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 we 
receive about this NPRM.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD 2018-0013, dated January 17, 2018 (referred to after this as the 
MCAI), to address the unsafe condition on these products. The MCAI 
states:

    Fractures of low pressure compressor (LPC) fan blade retention 
lugs were reported on engines subjected to a high number of Dry Film 
Lubrication (DFL) treatments. Subsequent investigation determined 
that, as a consequence, the retention lugs of the affected LPC (fan) 
blades had been exposed to excessive high stress cycles.
    This condition, if not detected or corrected, could lead to 
failure of LPC fan blade retention lug(s), high vibration, reduced 
thrust, or in-flight shut down, possibly resulting in reduced 
control of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Rolls Royce 
Deutschland (RRD) issued Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin 
(NMSB) TAY-72-A1834 (hereafter referred to as `the NMSB') to provide 
identification and replacement instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
determination of number of DFL treatments applied to the LPC fan 
blades and, based on that determination, replacement. This AD also 
introduces a maximum allowable number of DFL treatments applicable 
to the LPC fan blades.

    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-2018-0235.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed RRD ALERT Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) TAY-
72-A1834, dated November 17, 2017. The Alert NMSB describes procedures 
for reviewing the maintenance records and replacing the LPC fan blade 
with a serviceable part. 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.

Other Related Service Information

    We reviewed RRD NMSB TAY-70-1050, Revision 9, dated July 14, 2010. 
This NMSB defines a basic engine life management program suitable for 
Tay engines in aircraft that are engaged in non-airline operations.

FAA's Determination

    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. 
This proposed AD would require reviewing the engine maintenance records 
and replacing the LPC fan blade with a serviceable part if the DFL 
treatment limit is exceeded.

Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This proposed AD would require reviewing the engine maintenance 
records and replacing the LPC fan blade with a serviceable part if the 
DFL treatment limit is exceeded.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 25 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Record search to establish number of    1.5 work-hours x $85 per               0         $127.50       $3,187.50
 LPC blade DFL applications.             hour = $127.50.
Lost life for a LPC blade set and       4.0 work-hours x $85 per          16,550          16,890         422,250
 replacement of blades.                  hour = $340.
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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

[[Page 18760]]

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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and 
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.

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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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

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):

Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG; Docket No. FAA-2018-0235; 
Product Identifier 2018-NE-08-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by June 14, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Tay 
620-15 turbofan engines with low-pressure compressor (LPC) fan 
blades, having part numbers (P/Ns) JR30649, JR31702, JR31983, 
JR33863, or JR33864, installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of LPC fan blade retention lug 
failures. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LPC fan 
blade retention lug. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in 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.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, 
determine the number of DFL treatments that were applied to the LPC 
fan blade by reviewing the maintenance records or using an 
alternative method in steps C or N, as applicable, of the 
Accomplishment Instruction, paragraph 3, of RRD ALERT Non-
Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) TAY-72-A1834, dated November 
17, 2017.
    (2) Depending on the results of the records review, do the 
following, as applicable:
    (i) If the number of DFL treatments is fewer than 13, mark the 
LPC fan blade dovetail root with a suffix code during the next 
scheduled LPC fan blade removal using steps H or R, as applicable, 
of the Accomplishment Instruction, paragraph 3, of RRD ALERT NMSB 
TAY-72-A1834, dated November 17, 2017.
    (ii) If the number of DFL treatments is 13 or more, replace the 
affected LPC fan blade with a part eligible for installation within 
500 flight hours after effective date of this AD.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install an affected 
LPC fan blade on any engine unless it has been determined that the 
LPC fan blade has had fewer than 13 DFL treatments and has been 
marked in accordance with the instructions of RRD ALERT NMSB TAY-72-
A1834, dated November 17, 2017.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
ECO Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. You may email your request to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Robert Green, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2018-
0013, dated January 17, 2018, for more information. You may examine 
the EASA AD in the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2018-0235.
    (3) For service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, 
Dahlewitz, 15827 Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; phone: +49 (0) 33-
7086-1883; fax: +49 (0) 33-7086-3276. You may view this referenced 
service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Standards Branch, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 25, 2018.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-09011 Filed 4-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P