[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 14, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38762-38765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12697]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1211; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01598-E]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
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) Model BR700-715A1-30, 
BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 engines. This proposed AD was 
prompted by reports of malformed scallop edge geometry and surface 
conditions at the front flange scallops of affected low-pressure 
compressor (LPC) booster rotors. This proposed AD would require 
repetitive fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) of the front flange 
scallops of the LPC booster rotor for any cracks, replacement or repair 
of the LPC booster rotor if necessary and, as an optional terminating 
action to the repetitive FPIs, a visual inspection for malformed 
scallop edge geometry and malformed surface conditions, 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 July 31, 2023.

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-2023-1211; 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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For EASA service information that is proposed for IBR in 
this NPRM, 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. It is also 
available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1211.
     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, 
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 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-2023-1211; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2022-01598-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 
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, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 
410, Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is 
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket 
for this rulemaking.

Background

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2022-0252, dated December 16, 2022 
(EASA AD 2022-0252) (referred to after this as the MCAI), to correct an 
unsafe condition

[[Page 38763]]

for all RRD Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 
engines. The MCAI states that occurrences have been reported of finding 
malformed scallop edge geometry and surface conditions at the front 
flange scallops of certain LPC booster rotors. To address this unsafe 
condition, the manufacturer published service information that 
specifies procedures for inspecting the front flange scallops of the 
LPC booster rotors with accept and reject criteria. This condition, if 
not addressed, could lead to failure of the LPC booster rotor, 
resulting in release of high-energy debris, with consequent engine in-
flight shutdown, and reduced control of the airplane.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1211.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2022-0252, which specifies procedures for 
accomplishing repetitive FPIs (on-wing or in-shop) of the front flange 
scallops of the affected part and, if any cracks are detected, removing 
the engine from service and contacting the manufacturer for approved 
corrective actions. EASA AD 2022-0252 also specifies procedures for 
performing a visual inspection, taking photographs, and submitting 
photograph documentation of the LPC booster rotor front flange scallops 
for malformed scallop edge geometry and malformed surface conditions, 
including validation of the results from the manufacturer, as 
terminating action for the repetitive FPIs.
    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.

FAA's Determination

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

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the MCAI, except as discussed under ``Differences Between this 
Proposed AD and the MCAI,'' and under Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0252.

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 2022-0252 
in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require 
compliance with EASA AD 2022-0252 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 within the 
compliance times,'' compliance with this AD requirement is not limited 
to the section titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in 
EASA AD 2022-0252. Service information required by the EASA AD for 
compliance will be available at regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2023-1211 after the FAA final rule is 
published.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

    Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2022-0252 specifies to contact RRD 
for approved corrective action(s) and accomplish those actions 
accordingly, this proposed AD would require replacement or repair of 
the LPC booster rotor.
    Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0252 specifies to contact RRD 
for approved corrective action(s) and accomplish those actions 
accordingly, this proposed AD would require replacement or repair of 
the LPC booster rotor.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 148 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
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FPI front flange scallops of the LPC  5 work-hours x $85 per               $0             $425          $62,900
 booster rotor.                        hour = $425.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacement, repair, or visual inspection that would be required based 
on the results of the proposed inspection. Operators have the option of 
performing a visual inspection of the affected LPC booster rotor as an 
optional terminating action for the repetitive FPIs. The agency has no 
way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this 
replacement, repair, or visual inspection:

                                               On-Condition Costs
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                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace the LPC booster rotor.................  10 work-hours x $85 per hour =          $461,897        $462,747
                                                 $850.
Repair the LPC booster rotor..................  10 work-hours x $85 per hour =           185,000         185,850
                                                 $850.
Visual inspection and photograph documentation  7 work-hours x $85 per hour =                  0             595
 of the LPC booster rotor front flange           $595.
 scallops.

[[Page 38764]]

 
Send Accomplishment Form (Part C) and           1 hour x $85 per hour = $85.....               0              85
 photographs to RRD.
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Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public 
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to take 
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory if operators elect to perform the optional 
terminating action. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any 
other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions 
for reducing this burden, to: Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 
76177-1524.

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: Docket No. FAA-2023-1211; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01598-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by July 31, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 engines.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of malformed scallop edge 
geometry and surface conditions at the front flange scallops of 
affected low-pressure compressor (LPC) booster rotors. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LPC booster rotor. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in release of high-
energy debris, with consequent engine in-flight shutdown, and 
reduced control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: 
Perform all required actions within the compliance times specified 
in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency 
(EASA) AD 2022-0252, dated December 16, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0252).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0252

    (1) Where EASA AD 2022-0252 requires compliance from its 
effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this 
AD.
    (2) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2022-0252 specifies to 
contact RRD for approved corrective action(s) and accomplish those 
actions accordingly, this AD requires replacement of the LPC booster 
rotor. In lieu of replacement of the affected LPC booster rotor, 
operators may repair the affected LPC booster rotor using a method 
approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or 
EASA; or RRD's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved 
by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
    (3) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0252 specifies to 
contact RRD for approved corrective action(s) and accomplish those 
actions accordingly, this AD requires replacement of the LPC booster 
rotor. In lieu of replacement of the affected LPC booster rotor, 
operators may repair the affected LPC booster rotor using a method 
approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or 
EASA; or RRD's EASA DOA. If approved by the DOA, the approval must 
include the DOA-authorized signature.
    (4) This AD does not adopt the Remarks paragraph of EASA AD 
2022-0252.
    (5) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-
0252 specifies to reject the engine if a crack is found, this AD 
requires replacement or repair of the LPC booster rotor.

[[Page 38765]]

(i) Reporting Requirement

    Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0252 
specifies to submit the Accomplishment Forms, Parts A and B, to the 
manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement. If 
operators elect to perform the optional terminating action specified 
in Part C of the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-
0252, this AD requires submission of the Part C Accomplishment Form 
and photographic information to the manufacturer.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation 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 International Validation Branch, send 
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of 
this AD and email 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) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Sungmo Cho, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 
11590; phone: (781) 238-7241; email: [email protected].

(l) 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 2022-0252, dated 
December 16, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2022-0252, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 
50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: 
[email protected]. You may find EASA AD 2022-0252 on the EASA 
website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (4) 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.
    (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 June 8, 2023.
Michael Linegang,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-12697 Filed 6-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P