[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 102 (Friday, May 28, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28716-28719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11158]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0381; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01656-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 certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Trent XWB-75, 
Trent XWB-79, Trent XWB-79B, and Trent XWB-84 model turbofan engines. 
This proposed AD was prompted by reports

[[Page 28717]]

of cracks in the intermediate-pressure compressor (IPC) rotor 1 (R1) 
blades installed on certain Trent XWB model turbofan engines. This 
proposed AD would require initial and repetitive borescope inspections 
(BSIs) of the affected IPC R1 blades and, depending on the results of 
the inspections, replacement of all 34 IPC R1 blades. 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 July 12, 
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-2021-0381; 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: Kevin Clark, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
(781) 238-7088; 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-2021-0381; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01656-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 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 Kevin 
Clark, 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 2020-0277, dated December 11, 2020 (referred to after 
this as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on these 
products. The MCAI states:

    Occurrences have been reported of finding cracked IPC R1 blades 
on certain Trent XWB engines that were close to their first planned 
refurbishment shop visit.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to blade failure 
and consequent engine in-flight shut-down (IFSD), possibly resulting 
in reduced control of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition and avoid dual engine 
IFSD, Rolls-Royce issued the inspection NMSB to provide inspection 
instructions and the NMSB to provide information on threshold and 
intervals.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
repetitive inspections of the affected parts and, depending on 
findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s).

    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-2021-0381.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by EASA and is approved for 
operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral 
agreement with the European Community, EASA has notified the FAA 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 Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Rolls-Royce Non-Modification Service Bulletin 
(NMSB) Trent XWB 72-K633, Initial Issue, dated August 7, 2020. This 
service information specifies procedures for performing initial and 
repetitive BSIs of the Trent XWB-75, XWB-79, XWB-79B, and XWB-84 IPC R1 
blades. 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 Rolls-Royce Alert NMSB Trent XWB 72-AK612, Initial 
Issue, dated July 9, 2020; Rolls-Royce Alert NMSB Trent XWB 72-AK613, 
Initial Issue, dated July 17, 2020; and Rolls-Royce Alert NMSB Trent 
XWB 72-AK632, Initial Issue, dated August 7, 2020.
    Rolls-Royce Alert NMSB Trent XWB 72-AK612 describes procedures for 
performing a BSI of the Trent XWB-84 IPC R1 blades. Rolls-Royce Alert 
NMSB Trent XWB 72-AK613 describes procedures for performing a BSI of 
the

[[Page 28718]]

Trent XWB-75, XWB-79, XWB-79B, and XWB-84 IPC R1 blades. Rolls-Royce 
Alert NMSB Trent XWB 72-AK632 defines the initial inspection threshold 
and repeat inspection intervals for Trent XWB-75, XWB-79, XWB-79B, and 
XWB-84 IPC R1 blades.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive BSIs of the 
affected IPC R1 blades and, depending on the results of the 
inspections, replacement of all 34 IPC R1 blades with parts eligible 
for installation.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service 
Information

    EASA AD 2020-0277, dated December 11, 2020, and Rolls-Royce NMSB 
Trent XWB 72-K633, Initial Issue, dated August 7, 2020, instruct 
operators to contact and provide information to Rolls-Royce if any IPC 
R1 blade is found cracked during the inspection, while this proposed AD 
requires operators to remove and replace all 34 IPC R1 blades if a 
crack is found during the inspection.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 15 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSI affected IPC R1 blades............  6 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $510          $7,650
                                         hour = $510.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. The FAA has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need this replacement.

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace all 34 IPC R1 blades..................  100 work-hours x $85 per hour =         $187,408        $195,908
                                                 $8,500.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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-2021-0381; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2020-01656-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by July 12, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to 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 with 
an installed intermediate-pressure compressor (IPC) rotor 1 (R1) 
blade, part number (P/N) KH21559.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of cracks in the IPC R1 blades 
installed on certain Trent XWB model turbofan engines. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the IPC R1 blades. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the engine, 
in-flight shutdown of the engine, and loss of the airplane.

[[Page 28719]]

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within the compliance time specified in Figure 1 to 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, perform an initial borescope inspection 
(BSI) of the affected IPC R1 blades using the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraphs 3.A.(3)(b) and (c) (on-wing) or 3.B.(2)(b) 
and (c) (in-shop), as applicable, of Rolls-Royce Non-Modification 
Service Bulletin Trent XWB 72-K633, Initial Issue, dated August 7, 
2020.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP28MY21.000

    (2) Thereafter, repeat the BSI of the affected IPC R1 blades 
required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD before exceeding 200 engine 
FCs since the last BSI of the affected IPC R1 blades.
    (3) If, during any inspection required by paragraph (g)(1) or 
(2) of this AD, any affected IPC R1 blade is found cracked, remove 
all 34 IPC R1 blades from service and replace with parts eligible 
for installation.
    Note 1 to paragraph (g): The FCs specified in Figure 1 to 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD are those accumulated by the affected 
IPC R1 blade having the highest flight cycles in the IPC R1 blade 
set since the first installation of the affected blade on an engine. 
When the FCs of the affected IPC R1 blade set cannot be established, 
use the FCs accumulated by the engine since new.

(h) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, a part eligible for installation is 
any IPC R1 blade having P/N KH21559 with zero engine FCs since new, 
any IPC R1 blade having P/N KH21559 that has been inspected in 
accordance with paragraph (g)(1) of this AD and a crack was not 
found, or any IPC R1 blade having a P/N not listed in this AD.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for the initial BSI required by paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD if you performed the initial BSI before the 
effective date of this AD using Rolls-Royce Alert Non-Modification 
Service Bulletin (NMSB) Trent XWB 72-AK612, Initial Issue, dated 
July 9, 2020, or Rolls-Royce Alert NMSB Trent XWB 72-AK613, Initial 
Issue, dated July 17, 2020, as applicable.

(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 Kevin Clark, ECO 
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
(781) 238-7088; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2020-0277, dated December 11, 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-2021-0381.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, 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 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 May 21, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-11158 Filed 5-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P