[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40961-40963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17704]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0259; Product Identifier 2018-NE-09-AD; Amendment 
39-19358; AD 2018-17-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE 2100D2A and AE 2100D3 model turboprop 
engines and AE 3007A2 model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by 
the possibility of a low-cycle fatigue failure on certain turbine 
wheels. This AD requires removing the affected turbine wheels at the 
next engine shop visit or before reaching the new reduced life limit, 
whichever occurs first, and replacing them with parts eligible for 
installation. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 21, 2018.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference

[[Page 40962]]

of certain publications listed in this AD as of September 21, 2018.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Rolls-Royce Corporation, 450 South Meridian Street, 
Indianapolis, IN 46225; phone: 317-230-3774. You may view this service 
information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759. It is also 
available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0259.

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-
0259; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Docket Operations, 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: Kyri Zaroyiannis, Aerospace Engineer, 
Chicago ACO Branch, FAA, 2300 E. Devon Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60018; 
phone: 847-294-7836; fax: 847-294-7834; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain RRC AE 2100D2A and 
AE 2100D3 model turboprop engines and AE 3007A2 model turbofan engines. 
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2018 (83 FR 
18751). The NPRM was prompted by the possibility of a low-cycle fatigue 
failure on certain turbine wheels. The affected turbine wheels include 
1st-stage gas generator turbine wheels, installed on AE 2100D2A and AE 
2100D3 model turboprop engines, and 1st-stage high-pressure turbine 
(HPT) wheels, installed on AE 3007A2 turbofan engines. The NPRM 
proposed to require removing the affected turbine wheels at the next 
engine shop visit or before reaching the new reduced life limit, 
whichever occurs first, and replacing them with parts eligible for 
installation. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this final rule. We have considered the comment received. RRC supported 
the NPRM.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this final rule as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed RRC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) AE 2100D2-A-72-090, 
Revision 1, dated July 11, 2014, and RRC ASB AE 2100D3-A-72-286, 
Revision 1, dated July 11, 2014 (one document, referred to herein as 
``RRC ASB AE 2100D2-A-72-090/AE 2100D3-A-72-286''), and RRC ASB AE 
3007A-A-72-419, Revision 2, dated December 4, 2017. RRC ASB AE 2100D2-
A-72-090/AE 2100D3-A-72-286 provides removal and replacement 
instructions and a new life limit for the affected 1st-stage gas 
generator turbine wheels installed on RRC AE 2100D2A and AE 2100D3 
model turboprop engines. ASB AE 3007A-A-72-419 provides removal and 
replacement instructions and a new life limit for 1st-stage HPT wheels 
installed on RRC AE 3007A2 model turbofan engines. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects nine 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace turbine wheels.............  0 work-hours x $85 per hour        $160,829        $160,829      $1,447,461
                                      = $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.
    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

    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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

[[Page 40963]]

    (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):

2018-17-04 Roll-Royce Corporation (Type Certificate previously held 
by Allison Engine Company): Amendment 39-19358; Docket No. FAA-2018-
0259; Product Identifier 2018-NE-09-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective September 21, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to:
    (1) Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE 2100D2A turboprop engines 
with 1st-stage gas generator turbine wheels, part number (P/N) 
23089692, with serial numbers (S/Ns) MW65898 or MW68310, installed.
    (2) RRC AE 2100D3 turboprop engines with 1st-stage gas generator 
turbine wheels, P/N 23088906, with S/Ns MW65895, MW65896, MW65900, 
MW65901, MW65903, MW68305, MW68306, MW68307, MW68312, MW68314, 
MW68316, MW68318, or MW68319, installed.
    (3) RRC AE 3007A2 turbofan engines with 1st-stage high-pressure 
turbine (HPT) wheels, P/N 23088906, with S/Ns MW65894, MW68303, or 
MW68315, installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine 
section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the possibility of steel inclusions in 
the turbine wheel forging. We are proposing this AD to prevent a 
low-cycle fatigue failure of a 1st-stage gas generator turbine wheel 
or 1st-stage HPT wheel. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could result in uncontained turbine wheel release, damage to the 
engine, and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Remove the affected 1st-stage gas generator turbine wheel 
and replace with a part eligible for installation at the next engine 
shop visit or before exceeding the life limit of 4,800 engine 
cycles, whichever occurs first, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, Paragraph 2, of RRC Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) AE 2100D2-A-72-090, Revision 1, dated July 11, 2014, 
and RRC ASB AE 2100D3-A-72-286, Revision 1, dated July 11, 2014 (co-
published as one document).
    (2) Remove the affected 1st-stage HPT wheel and replace with a 
part eligible for installation at the next engine shop visit or 
before exceeding the life limit of 5,600 engine cycles, whichever 
occurs first, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, 
Paragraph 2, of RRC ASB AE 3007A-A-72-419, Revision 2, dated 
December 4, 2017.

(h) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, an ``engine shop visit'' is the 
induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the 
separation of pairs of major mating engine flanges, except that the 
separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of 
transportation without subsequent engine maintenance is not an 
engine shop visit.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Chicago ACO 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 certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD.
    (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

    For more information about this AD, contact Kyri Zaroyiannis, 
Aerospace Engineer, Chicago ACO Branch, FAA, 2300 E. Devon Ave., Des 
Plaines, IL, 60018; phone: 847-294-7836; fax: 847-294-7834; email: 
[email protected].

(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 Corporation (RRC) Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 
AE 2100D2-A-72-090, Revision 1, dated July 11, 2014, and RRC ASB AE 
2100D3-A-72-286, Revision 1, dated July 11, 2014 (co-published as 
one document).
    (ii) RRC ASB AE 3007A-A-72-419, Revision 2, dated December 4, 
2017.
    (3) For RRC service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce Corporation, 450 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis, 
IN, 46225; phone: 317-230-3774.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine and 
Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 
01803. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 781-238-7759.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference 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 August 13, 2018.
Karen M. Grant,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-17704 Filed 8-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P