[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 23, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10878-10880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02225]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0022; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00395-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).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Trent XWB-75, Trent 
XWB-79, Trent XWB-79B, Trent XWB-84, and Trent XWB-97 model turbofan 
engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the manufacturer revising the 
time limits manual (TLM) to incorporate repairs to the low-pressure 
compressor (LPC) blades and introduce a new fan blade inspection. This 
proposed AD would require revisions to the airworthiness limitations 
section (ALS) of the Rolls-Royce (RR) Trent XWB TLM and the operator's 
existing approved aircraft maintenance program (AMP). 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 April 9, 
2021.

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 plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, 
United Kingdom; phone: +44 (0)1332 242424; fax: +44 (0)1332 249936; 
email: https://www.rolls-royce.com/contact-us/civil-aerospace.aspx; 
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-2021-0022; 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: Scott Stevenson, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7132; 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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0022; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2020-00395-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 proposal 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 NPRM.

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 Scott 
Stevenson, 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 Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has 
issued EASA AD 2020-0066, dated March 23, 2020 (referred to after this 
as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on these products. 
The MCAI states:

    The Airworthiness Limitations Section instructions for Trent XWB 
engines, which are approved by EASA, are defined and published in 
TLM TRENTXWB-K0680-TIME0-01. These instructions have been identified 
as mandatory for continued airworthiness.
    Failure to accomplish these instructions could result in an 
unsafe condition.
    Rolls-Royce recently revised the TLM, introducing new and/or 
more restrictive instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
accomplishment of the instructions specified in the TLM, as defined 
in this AD.

    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-2021-0022.

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 the FAA

[[Page 10879]]

of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information. 
The FAA is issuing this NPRM because the agency 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.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Rolls-Royce Airworthiness Limitations (Mandatory 
Inspections), TRENTXWB-A-05-20-01-00A01-030A-D, Revision 013, dated 
September 1, 2019, of the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB TLM TRENTXWB-K0680-
TIME0-01, and Rolls-Royce Airworthiness Limitations (Mandatory 
Inspections), TRENTXWB-B-05-20-01-00A01-030A-D, Revision 005, dated 
April 1, 2020, of the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB TLM TRENTXWB-K0680-TIME0-
01. These two sections of the TLM specify inspection intervals, 
differentiated by engine model, for critical rotating parts.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require revisions to the ALS of the RR Trent 
XWB TLM, as applicable to each engine model, and to the operator's 
existing approved AMP, to include new or more restrictive sections of 
the applicable RR Trent XWB TLM for each affected engine model.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service 
Information

    EASA AD 2020-0066, dated March 23, 2020, requires that operators 
replace each component before exceeding the applicable life limit and 
that each mandatory inspection is accomplished within the thresholds 
and intervals, as specified in the latest revision of the TLM. This 
proposed AD would not mandate these actions because the manufacturer 
did not revise the life limit for any components with its revision to 
the TLM.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 22 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise the ALS of the RR Trent XWB TLM  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85          $1,870
 and the operator's existing approved    hour = $85.
 AMP.
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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.
    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 Rolls-Royce plc): Docket No. FAA-2021-0022; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2020-00395-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by April 9, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
(Type Certificate previously held by Rolls-Royce plc) Trent XWB-75, 
Trent XWB-79, Trent XWB-79B, Trent XWB-84, and Trent XWB-97 model 
turbofan engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7200, Engine 
Turbine/Turboprop.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the manufacturer revising the time 
limits manual (TLM) to incorporate repairs to the low-pressure 
compressor (LPC) blades and introduce a new fan blade inspection. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the failure of critical 
rotating parts. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result 
in failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and loss 
of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within 120 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
Rolls-Royce (RR) Trent XWB TLM, as applicable to each engine model, 
and the operator's existing approved

[[Page 10880]]

aircraft maintenance program (AMP) by incorporating the following:
    (1) For Trent XWB-75, Trent XWB-79, Trent XWB-79B, and Trent 
XWB-84 model turbofan engines, add Figure 1 to paragraph (g)(1) of 
this AD to the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of RR Trent 
XWB TLM TRENTXWB-K0680-TIME0-01.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP23FE21.000

    (2) For Trent XWB-97 model turbofan engines, add Figure 2 to 
paragraph (g)(2) of this AD to the ALS of RR Trent XWB TLM TRENTXWB-
K0680-TIME0-01.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP23FE21.001

    Note 1 to paragraph (g): Figure 1 to Paragraph (g)(1) and Figure 
2 to Paragraph (g)(2) contain language from the original equipment 
manufacturer's TLM.

(h) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, the operator's existing approved AMP 
is defined as the basis for which the operator or the owner ensures 
the continuing airworthiness of each operated airplane.

(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 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Scott Stevenson, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7132; fax: (781) 238-7199; 
email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2020-0066, 
dated March 23, 2020, 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-2021-0022.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, 
United Kingdom, DE24 8BJ; phone: +44 (0)1332 242424; fax: +44 
(0)1332 249936; email: https://www.rolls-royce.com/contact-us/civil-aerospace.aspx; 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 January 29, 2021.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-02225 Filed 2-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P