[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 61 (Monday, March 30, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17513-17515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06412]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0265; Project Identifier MCAI-2019-00131-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
(Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) Turbofan Engines.
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG Trent XWB-75, Trent XWB-
79, Trent XWB-79B, and Trent XWB-84 model turbofan engines. This
proposed AD was prompted by reports of a lack of weld fusion on the
resistance welding during manufacturing, which could result in air
leakage through the low-pressure turbine (LPT) rear support seal panel
assembly (``LPT seal panel''). This proposed AD would require
replacement of the LPT seal panel. The FAA is proposing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 14,
2020.
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 https://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, 15827 Blankenfelde-
Mahlow, Germany; phone: +49 (0) 33 708 6 0; email: https://www.rolls-royce.com/contact-us.aspx. 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.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0265; 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),
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD
docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Elwin, Aerospace Engineer, ECO
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803; phone: 781-
238-7236; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites 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-2020-0265;
Project Identifier MCAI-2019-00131-E'' at the beginning of your
comments. The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM.
The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend this NPRM because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information as described in the
following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive
verbal contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552),
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to
this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is
customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and
that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you
clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page
of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat
such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will
not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing
CBI should be sent to Stephen Elwin, Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch,
FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. Any commentary that
the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be
placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
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 2019-0071, dated March 28, 2019 (referred to after this
as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on these products.
The MCAI states:
The affected parts, as defined in this [EASA] AD, are static
parts, located behind the intermediate pressure (IP) turbine 2 disc,
forming a seal between the IP and LP cavities through an interface
with the rotating IP
[[Page 17514]]
flying seal. It was recently determined that, on certain affected
parts, insufficient fusion was achieved on the resistance welding
during manufacturing.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to air leakage
through the LP seal panel, affecting the service lives of the IP
turbine 2 and LP turbine 1 discs, possibly resulting in premature
disc failure and high energy uncontained debris release from the
engine, with consequent damage to, and reduced control of, the
aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Rolls-Royce
identified the affected parts and published the NMSB, providing
instructions to replace these affected parts.
For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires
replacement of affected parts during a qualified shop visit.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0265.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Rolls-Royce plc Alert Non-Modification Service
Bulletin (NMSB) Trent XWB 72-AJ994, Revision 2, dated August 29, 2019.
The Alert NMSB describes procedures for removing and replacing the LPT
seal panel. 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. The FAA is 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 replacement of the LPT seal panel.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 26 engines
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace the LPT seal panel............ 1 work-hour x $85 per $282,890 $282,975 $7,357,350
hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to the manufacturer, all of the costs of this proposed AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for
affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all costs in
our cost estimate.
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.
The FAA is 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
The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) 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-2020-0265;
Project Identifier MCAI-2019-00131-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments by May 14, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG
(Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) Trent XWB-75,
Trent XWB-79, Trent XWB-79B, and Trent XWB-84 model turbofan
engines.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine
Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of a lack of weld fusion on the
resistance welding during manufacturing, which could result in air
leakage through the low-pressure turbine (LPT) rear support seal
panel assembly (``LPT seal panel'') causing a life reduction to the
intermediate pressure turbine (IPT) 2 and LPT 1 disks. The FAA is
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the IPT 2 and LPT 1 disks. The
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained
debris release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.
[[Page 17515]]
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
During the next qualified shop visit after the effective date of
this AD, or during the current shop visit, if, on the effective date
of this AD, the engine or module 51 is in a qualified shop visit,
remove the affected LPT seal panel from service and replace it with
a part eligible for installation in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.A., of Rolls-Royce plc
Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) Trent XWB 72-AJ994,
Revision 2, dated August 29, 2019.
(h) Definitions
(1) For the purpose of this AD, a ``qualified shop visit'' is a
Level 4 (Overhaul) or Level 3 (Refurbishment) shop visit of an
affected engine with an affected LPT seal panel installed, or Level
2 shop visit (Check and Repair) of module 51 with an affected LPT
seal panel installed.
(2) For the purpose of this AD, ``module 51'' is the
intermediate pressure low-pressure turbine assembly.
(3) For the purpose of this AD, an ``affected LPT seal panel''
is LPT rear support seal panel assembly, identified as catalogue
serial number (CSN) 72512301890, with a serial number (S/N) listed
in Appendix 1 of RR Alert NMSB Trent XWB 72-AJ994, Revision 2, dated
August 29, 2019. This appendix additionally lists the module 51 S/N
and engine S/N in which these panels were originally installed.
(4) For the purpose of this AD, a ``part eligible for
installation'' is a LPT seal panel, CSN 72512301890, with a S/N not
listed in Appendix 1 of RR Alert NMSB Trent XWB 72-AJ994, Revision
2, dated August 29, 2019.
(i) Credit for Previous Actions
You may take credit for replacement of the LPT seal panel
requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD if you performed the
replacement before the effective date of this AD using RR Alert NMSB
Trent XWB 72-AJ994, Revision 1, dated November 15, 2018, or Initial
Issue, dated September 5, 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 Stephen Elwin,
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA, 01803; phone: 781-238-7236; fax: 781-238-7199;
email: [email protected].
(2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD
2019-0071, dated March 28, 2019, for more information. You may
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No.
FAA-2020-0265.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, 15827
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; phone: +49 (0) 33 708 6 0; email:
https://www.rolls-royce.com/contact-us.aspx. You may view this
referenced 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.
Issued on March 24, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-06412 Filed 3-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P