[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 220 (Friday, November 13, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72608-72610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25014]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-1025; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00757-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG
(Type Certificate Previously Held by BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH and BMW
Rolls-Royce Aero Engines) Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG (RRD) BR700-715A1-30,
BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 model turbofan engines. This
proposed AD was prompted by reports of HPT stage 1 blades failing in
service due to sulphidation and subsequent crack initiation. This
proposed AD would require removal and replacement of the HPT stage 1
blade and HPT stage 1 blade damper. 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 December
28, 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; website: https://www.rolls-royce.com/contact-us.aspx. You may view this service information at the
FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1025; 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803;
phone: (781) 238-7146; 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 AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-1025; Project
Identifier MCAI-2020-00757-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The
most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal,
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting
data. 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 (CBI) 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 agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this proposal.
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
Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety 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.
Background
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD 2018-0194, dated September 4, 2018 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on these products. The MCAI
states:
Occurrences have been reported on RRD BR700-715 engines where
certain HP turbine stage 1 blades failed in service. Investigation
of these events showed that these were caused by sulphidation and
subsequent crack initiation, due to contamination of the blade shank
passing by the blade damper.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to further HP
turbine stage 1 blade failures, possibly resulting in engine in-
flight shut-down and consequent reduced control of the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, RRD published the
NMSB to provide instructions to replace the affected assembly.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
determination of the engine configuration and, depending on
findings, removal of the engine from service to replace the affected
assembly.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2020-1025.
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. The FAA is issuing this NPRM because
the agency evaluated all the relevant information provided by EASA and
has determined that the unsafe condition described previously is likely
to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
[[Page 72609]]
Related Service Information under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed RRD BR700 Series Alert Non-Modification Service
Bulletin (NMSB) SB-BR700-72-A900640, dated August 31, 2018. The Alert
NMSB describes procedures for removing and replacing the HPT stage 1
blade and HPT stage 1 blade damper. 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
ADDRESSES.
Other Related Service Information
The FAA reviewed RRD Service Bulletin (SB) SB-BR700-72-102005,
dated March 20, 2018; RRD NMSB SB-BR700-72-900118, dated June 6, 2017;
and RRD SB SB-BR700-72-101671, dated January 29, 2010. RRD SB SB-BR700-
72-102005, dated March 20, 2018, introduces a new HPT stage 1 blade
damper with a front restrictor that reduces the average airflow into
the blade shank cavity, thereby reducing deposition of particles in the
cavity. RRD NMSB SB-BR700-72-900118, dated June 6, 2017, describes
procedures for recording of the serial numbers of the cleaned, crack
tested, and examined HPT stage 1 blades. RRD SB SB-BR700-72-101671,
dated January 29, 2010, introduces a redesigned HPT stage 1 blade that
improves robustness and stress characteristics.
Proposed AD Requirements in this NPRM
This proposed AD would require removal and replacement of the HPT
stage 1 blade and HPT stage 1 blade damper.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 222 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. The agency
estimates that the service life of both the HPT stage 1 blade and HPT
stage 1 blade damper are 5.5 years. Based on this life estimate, the
agency is providing an estimated annual cost to replace these parts.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
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Annualized cost
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per on U.S.
product operators
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Replace HPT stage 1 blade and HPT 20 work-hours x $85 per $692,000 $693,700 $28,000,524
stage 1 blade damper. hour = $1,700.
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The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, all of the costs of this
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost
impact on affected operators.
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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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:
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG (Type Certificate
previously held by BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH and BMW Rolls-Royce Aero
Engines): Docket No. FAA-2020-1025; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-
00757-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by December 28, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG
(Type Certificate previously held by BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH and BMW
Rolls-Royce Aero Engines) BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-
715C1-30 model turbofan engines with high-pressure turbine (HPT)
stage 1 blade, part number (P/N) BRH17133, BRH19984, BRH20011,
BRH20237, BRH20351, FW35594, FW45914, FW64379, or FW75735, and with
HPT stage 1 blade damper, P/N BRH10943, BRH20353, or FW45770,
installed.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine
Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of HPT stage 1 blades failing in
service due to sulphidation and subsequent crack initiation. The FAA
is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPT stage 1 blade. The
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in the release of
the HPT stage 1 blade, failure of the engine, in-flight shutdown,
and loss of the airplane.
[[Page 72610]]
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
(1) For affected engines that have not operated exclusively
under the Hawaiian Flight Mission:
(i) Before exceeding 10,000 flight cycles (FCs) since the first
installation of an affected HPT stage 1 blade, or within 50 FCs
after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, remove
the affected HPT stage 1 blade and the affected HPT stage 1 blade
damper from service and replace with parts eligible for installation
using the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.R. to T., of RRD
Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) SB-BR700-72-A900640,
dated August 31, 2018 (``NMSB SB-BR700-72-A900640'').
(ii) If an HPT stage 1 blade has been cleaned and examined
before the effective date of this AD using RRD NMSB SB-BR700-72-
900118, dated June 6, 2017, within 1,500 FCs from the last cleaning
and examination, or within 10 FCs after the effective date of this
AD, whichever occurs later, remove the affected HPT stage 1 blade
and affected HPT stage 1 blade damper from service and replace with
parts eligible for installation using Accomplishment Instructions,
paragraph 3.R. to T., of RRD NMSB SB-BR700-72-A900640.
(2) For affected engines operated exclusively under the Hawaiian
Flight Mission:
(i) At the next change of the flight mission after the effective
date of this AD, replace the affected HPT stage 1 blade and affected
HPT stage 1 blade damper in accordance with paragraphs (g)(1)(i) and
(ii) of this AD.
(ii) [Reserved]
(h) Installation Prohibition
After the effective date of this AD, do not install any HPT
stage 1 blade, P/N BRH17133, BRH19984, BRH20011, BRH20237, BRH20351,
FW35594, FW45914, FW64379, or FW75735, with any HPT stage 1 blade
damper, P/N BRH10943, BRH20353, or FW45770, in any engine.
(i) Definitions
(1) For the purpose of this AD, ``parts eligible for
installation'' are an HPT stage 1 blade, P/N FW75735, installed with
HPT stage 1 blade damper, P/N KH82098.
(2) For the purpose of this AD, the ``Hawaiian Flight Mission''
are flights operated by Hawaiian Airlines.
(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
certification office, send it to the attention of the person
identified in Related Information. 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 Barbara
Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7146; fax: (781) 238-
7199; email: [email protected].
(2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2018-
0194, dated September 4, 2018, for more information. You may examine
the EASA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2020-1025.
(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; website:
https://www.rolls-royce.com/contact-us.aspx. You may view this
referenced service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products
Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (781) 238-7759.
Issued on November 6, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-25014 Filed 11-12-20; 8:45 am]
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