[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 5, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7832-7834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03642]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 43 / Tuesday, March 5, 2019 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 7832]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0993; Product Identifier 2018-NE-18-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG TAY 
650-15 and TAY 651-54 Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) TAY 650-15 and TAY 651-54 
turbofan engines with low-pressure compressor (LPC) fan blade module 
M01300AA or M01300AB, installed. This proposed AD was prompted by 
reports of LPC fan blade retention lug fractures on engines with a high 
number of dry-film lubrication (DFL) treatments. This proposed AD would 
require determining the number of DFL treatments applied on each LPC 
fan blade, and removing from service and replacing the affected LPC fan 
blades if the DFL treatment limit is exceeded. We are proposing this AD 
to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 19, 2019.

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 RRD 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) 
33-086-3276. 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-
0993; 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 NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), 
the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street 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: Wego Wang, Aerospace Engineer, ECO 
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7134; 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-2018-0993; 
Product Identifier 2018-NE-18-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 Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has 
issued EASA AD 2018-0079, dated April 11, 2018 (referred to after this 
as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on these products. 
The MCAI states:

    Fractures of LPC fan blade retention lugs were reported on 
engines that had been subjected to a high number of Dry Film 
Lubrication (DFL) treatments. Subsequent investigation determined 
that this had exposed the retention lugs of the affected LPC (fan) 
blades to excessively high stress cycles.
    This condition, if not detected and 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, RRD issued original 
issue of Alert NMSB TAY-72-A1833 to provide identification and 
replacement instructions and EASA issued AD 2017-0217 to require 
determination of the number of DFL treatments applied to the LPC fan 
blades and, based on that determination, fan blade(s) replacement. 
That AD also introduced the maximum allowable number of DFL 
treatments applicable to the LPC fan blades.
    Since that AD was issued, RRD issued the NMSB to update the 
calculation methodology which was provided to determine the number 
of DFL treatments, in case that number could not be identified from 
the engine maintenance records. The new calculation methodology, 
compared with the methodology provided in the original issue of the 
RRD Alert NMSB TAY-72-A1833 can lead, in some cases of LPC fan 
blades with TAY 651-54 operation history, to earlier replacement of 
blades.
    For the reasons described above, this AD retains the 
requirements of EASA AD 2017-0217, which is superseded, but refers 
to an updated alternative method to determine the number of DFL 
treatments.

    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-2018-0993.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed RRD Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) TAY-
72-A1833, Revision 1, dated

[[Page 7833]]

January 8, 2018. The Alert NMSB describes procedures for determining 
the number of DFL treatments on each LPC fan blade by reviewing the 
engine maintenance records or using an alternative method of counting, 
and replacing the LPC fan blade with a part eligible for installation 
if the DFL treatment limit is exceeded. 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

    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 the relevant 
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition 
described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of 
the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require reviewing engine maintenance records 
or using an alternative method of counting and replacing the LPC fan 
blade with a part eligible for installation if the DFL treatment limit 
is exceeded.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 76 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect LPC fan blades................  11 work-hours x $85 per               $0            $935         $71,060
                                         hour = $935.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacement of 
a single LPC fan blade that would be required based on the results of 
the proposed inspection. We have no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need replacement of the LPC fan blades.

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                   Action                                 Labor cost                Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace LPC fan blade......................  16 work-hours x $85 per hour =              $10,750         $12,110
                                              $1,360.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    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-2018-0993; 
Product Identifier 2018-NE-18-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by April 19, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

[[Page 7834]]

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) TAY 
650-15 and TAY 651-54 turbofan engines with low-pressure compressor 
(LPC) fan blade module M01300AA or M01300AB, 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 
fractures on engines with a high number of dry-film lubrication 
(DFL) treatments. 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 whether the engine is a Group 1 or Group 2 engine as 
follows:
    (i) A Group 1 engine is an affected RRD TAY 650-15 or TAY 651-54 
turbofan engine with a LPC fan blade, part number (P/N) JR31911, P/N 
JR33865, or P/N JR33866, and with a serial number (S/N) listed in 
Appendix 1 of RRD Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) 
TAY-72-A1833, Revision 1, dated January 8, 2018.
    (ii) A Group 2 engine is any other RRD TAY 650-15 or TAY 651-54 
turbofan engine with LPC fan blade module M01300AA or M01300AB, 
installed.
    (2) For Group 1 and 2 engines: Within 30 days after the 
effective date of this AD, determine the number of DFL treatments on 
each affected LPC fan blade by reviewing the maintenance records or 
using the alternative method specified in the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraph 3.D. or 3.Q., of RRD Alert NMSB TAY-72-
A1833, Revision 1, dated January 8, 2018.
    (3) Depending on the results of the maintenance record review or 
the alternative method specified above, do the following, as 
applicable:
    (i) For Group 1 and 2 engines: If the number of LPC fan blades 
with 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 the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.J. 
or 3.U., of RRD Alert NMSB TAY-72-A1833, Revision 1, dated January 
8, 2018.
    (ii) For Group 1 engines: If LPC fan blades with 13 to 20 DFL 
treatments are installed on more than one engine on the same 
airplane, within 500 flight hours after the effective date of this 
AD, use one of the three options in the Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraph 3.F., of RRD Alert NMSB TAY-72-A1833, Revision 1, dated 
January 8, 2018, to ensure that no LPC fan blade with 13 to 20 DFL 
treatments is installed on more than one engine on the same 
airplane.
    (iii) For Group 1 and 2 engines: If it is determined that the 
number of DFL treatments is equal to or more than the value defined 
in Table 1 of paragraph (g) of this AD, remove the LPC fan blade 
from service and replace with a part eligible for installation 
within the compliance times specified in Table 1 of paragraph (g) of 
this AD.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP05MR19.001

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install an affected 
LPC fan blade or LPC module M01300AA or M01300AB, onto any engine or 
install any engine with an affected LPC fan blade or LPC module 
M01300AA or M01300AB, onto any airplane unless it has been first 
determined that the LPC fan blades have had less than 13 DFL 
treatments, and have been marked in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.J. or 3.U, of RRD Alert 
NMSB TAY-72-A1833, Revision 1, dated January 8, 2018.

(i) Definitions

    (1) A part eligible for installation is a LPC fan blade that has 
had 12 or fewer DFL treatments and is marked on the LPC fan blade 
dovetail root with a suffix code depicting the number of DFL 
treatments.
    (2) An affected fan blade is an LPC fan blade, P/N JR31911, P/N 
JR33865, or P/N JR33866, and with an S/N listed in Appendix 1 of RRD 
Alert NMSB TAY-72-A1833, Revision 1, dated January 8, 2018.

(j) 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 (k)(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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Wego Wang, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7134; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), AD 
2018-0079, dated April 11, 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-2018-0993.
    (3) For service information identified in this 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 February 21, 2019.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-03642 Filed 3-4-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P