[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 189 (Friday, September 30, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59347-59350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21102]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1244; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00872-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 supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2020-12-01, which applies to certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co 
KG (RRD) Trent XWB-75, Trent XWB-79, Trent XWB-79B, and Trent XWB-84 
model turbofan engines. AD 2020-12-01 requires initial and repetitive 
inspections of the low-pressure compressor (LPC) outlet guide vane 
(OGV) outer mount ring assembly and, depending on the results of the 
inspections, possible replacement of the LPC OGV outer mount ring 
assembly. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-12-01, it was determined that 
these inspections are also necessary for RRD Trent XWB-97 model 
turbofan engines. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive 
inspections of the LPC OGV outer mount ring assembly and, depending on 
the results of the

[[Page 59348]]

inspections, replacement of the LPC OGV outer mount ring assembly, as 
specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which 
is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by November 14, 2022.

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 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1244; 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 EASA AD, any comments received, and 
other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed 
above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For material that is proposed for IBR in this AD, contact 
EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 
8999 000; email: [email protected]. You may find this material on the 
EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
     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 (817) 222-5110.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sungmo Cho, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
(781) 238-7241; 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-2022-1244; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2022-00872-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 
the 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 
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 
Sungmo Cho, 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 FAA issued AD 2020-12-01, Amendment 39-21135 (85 FR 34959, June 
8, 2020) (AD 2020-12-01), for certain RRD Trent XWB-75, Trent XWB-79, 
Trent XWB-79B, and Trent XWB-84 model turbofan engines. AD 2020-12-01 
was prompted by analysis by the manufacturer of the LPC OGV assembly 
and LPC OGV outer mount ring assembly. The analysis predicted that when 
the front engine mount is in the fail-safe condition, the most highly 
stressed LPC OGV outer mount ring assembly has a life that could be 
substantially less than one shop visit interval. AD 2020-12-01 requires 
initial and repetitive inspections of the LPC OGV outer mount ring 
assembly, and depending on the results of the inspections, possible 
replacement of the OGV outer mount ring assembly. The agency issued AD 
2020-12-01 to prevent failure of the front engine mount support 
structure.

Actions Since AD 2020-12-01 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 2020-12-01, EASA, which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
2022-0129, dated June 30, 2022 (the MCAI) to address an unsafe 
condition for all RRD Trent XWB-75, Trent XWB-79, Trent XWB-79B, Trent 
XWB-84, and Trent XWB-97 model turbofan engines. The MCAI states that 
EASA AD 2022-0129 superseded EASA AD 2019-0234. EASA AD 2019-0234 
specified that operators perform repetitive inspections (on-wing or in-
shop) of the OGV outer mount ring assembly lug fillet area in 
accordance with RRD Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) 
Trent XWB 72-AK188, Initial Issue, dated August 13, 2019. The 
manufacturer subsequently revised the NMSB and determined that the 
inspections of the LPC OGV outer mount ring assembly are also necessary 
for RRD Trent XWB-97 model turbofan engines. In addition, manufacturer 
analysis indicated that the on-wing inspections, previously specified 
in RRD NMSB Trent XWB 72-AK188, original issue, dated August 13, 2019, 
could be discontinued, and the interval of the in-shop inspection could 
coincide with a qualified shop visit, as outlined in RRD NMSB Trent XWB 
72-AK188, Revision 3, dated May 9, 2022. As a result, EASA issued EASA 
AD 2022-0129 to discontinue the on-wing inspections, allow the in-shop 
inspection interval to be adjusted, and expand the applicability to 
include Trent XWB-97 model turbofan engines.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1244.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2022-0129. This EASA AD specifies 
instructions for performing fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) of 
the LPC OGV outer mount ring assembly.
    This material 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 Alert NMSB Trent XWB 72-AK188, Revision 3, 
dated May 9, 2022. This service information specifies procedures for

[[Page 59349]]

performing FPIs of the LPC OGV outer mount ring assembly.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to the FAA's bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, 
the FAA has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the EASA 
AD. The FAA is issuing this AD after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other 
products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would retain none of the requirements of AD 2020-
12-01. This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions 
specified in EASA AD 2022-0129, described previously, as incorporated 
by reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in 
the regulatory text of this proposed AD and except as discussed under 
``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the EASA AD.''

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

    In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD 
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation 
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance 
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has since 
coordinated with other manufacturers and CAAs to use this process. As a 
result, the FAA proposes to incorporate by reference EASA AD 2022-0129 
in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require 
compliance with EASA AD 2022-0129 in its entirety through that 
incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in 
the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Using common terms that are 
the same as the heading of a particular section in the EASA AD does not 
mean that operators need comply only with that section. For example, 
where the AD requirement refers to ``all required actions and 
compliance times,'' compliance with this AD requirement is not limited 
to the section titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in 
EASA AD 2022-0129. Service information required by the EASA AD for 
compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-
2022-1244 after the FAA final rule is published.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    Where EASA AD 2022-0129 requires compliance from its effective 
date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    The ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2022-0129 is not incorporated by 
reference in this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 60 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. Registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FPI the LPC OGV outer mount ring        3 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $255         $15,300
 assembly.                               hour = $255.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repair LPC OGV outer mount ring assembly......  .5 work-hours x $85 per hour =                $0          $42.50
                                                 $42.50.
Replace the LPC OGV outer mount ring assembly.  8 work-hours x $85 per hour =          2,418,121       2,418,801
                                                 $680.
Replace the OGV outer mount ring only.........  8 work-hours x $85 per hour =            894,319         894,999
                                                 $680.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[[Page 59350]]

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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2020-12-01, Amendment 39-21135 (85 
FR 34959, June 8, 2020); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG (Type Certificate previously 
held by Rolls-Royce plc) Turbofan Engines: Docket No. FAA-2022-1244; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00872-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by November 14, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2020-12-01, Amendment 39-21135 (85 FR 34959, 
June 8, 2020) (AD 2020-12-01).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to 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 as identified in European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0129, dated June 30, 2022. 
(EASA AD 2022-0129).

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code 7120, Engine Mount 
Sector.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by analysis by the manufacturer of the low-
pressure compressor (LPC) outlet guide vane (OGV) assembly and LPC 
OGV outer mount ring assembly. The analysis predicted that when the 
front engine mount is in the fail-safe condition, the most highly 
stressed LPC OGV outer mount ring assembly has a life that could be 
substantially less than one shop visit interval. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to prevent failure of the front engine mount support 
structure. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
engine separation, reduced control of the airplane, and loss of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Perform all required actions within the compliance times 
specified in, and in accordance with, EASA AD 2022-0129.

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0129

    (1) Where EASA AD 2022-0129 requires compliance from its 
effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this 
AD.
    (2) The ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2022-0129 is not 
incorporated by reference in this AD.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0129 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not include that requirement.

(j) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in Sec.  39.19. 
In accordance with Sec.  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 
paragraph (l) of this AD or email to: [email protected]. 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.

(l) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Sungmo Cho, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, 
MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7241; email: [email protected].

 (m) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2022-0129, dated 
June 30, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2022-0129, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 
50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: 
[email protected]. You may find this EASA AD on the EASA website at 
ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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 (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, email: [email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on September 23, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-21102 Filed 9-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P