[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 179 (Monday, September 18, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63888-63890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19784]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1878; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01582-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 supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2021-25-03, which applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
(RRD) Model Trent 7000-72 and Trent 7000-72C engines. AD 2021-25-03
requires operators to revise the airworthiness limitation section (ALS)
of their existing approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program
by incorporating the revised tasks of the applicable time limits manual
(TLM) for each affected model turbofan engine. Since the FAA issued AD
2021-25-03, the manufacturer again revised the TLM to introduce new or
more restrictive tasks and limitations and associated thresholds and
intervals for life-limited parts, which prompted this proposed AD. This
proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the operator's existing
approved engine maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to
incorporate new or more restrictive tasks and limitations and
associated thresholds and intervals for life-limited parts, 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 2, 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-2023-1878; 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 service information identified in this NPRM, contact
EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221
8999 000; email: [email protected]; website: easa.europa.eu. 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-2023-1878.
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, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 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-2023-1878; Project Identifier
MCAI-2022-01582-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, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des
Moines, WA 98198. 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 2021-25-03, Amendment 39-21846 (86 FR 71135,
December 15, 2021) (AD 2021-25-03), for all RRD Model Trent 7000-72 and
Trent 7000-72C engines. AD 2021-25-03 was prompted by an MCAI
originated
[[Page 63889]]
by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union. EASA issued EASA AD 2020-0244, dated November 5, 2020
(EASA AD 2020-0244), to address the manufacturer revising the engine
TLM life limits of certain critical rotating parts and updating certain
maintenance tasks.
AD 2021-25-03 requires operators to revise the ALS of their
existing approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program by
incorporating the revised tasks of the applicable TLM for each affected
model turbofan engine, as specified in EASA AD 2020-0244. The FAA
issued AD 2021-25-03 to prevent the failure of critical rotating parts,
which could result in failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust
control, and loss of the airplane.
Actions Since AD 2021-25-03 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 2021-25-03, EASA superseded EASA AD 2020-
0244 with EASA AD 2022-0248, dated December 14, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-
0248) (also referred to after this as the MCAI). The MCAI states that
the manufacturer published a revised engine TLM to introduce new or
more restrictive tasks and limitations and associated thresholds and
intervals for life-limited parts.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1878.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2022-0248, which specifies procedures for
operators to revise the ALS of the existing approved engine maintenance
or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more
restrictive tasks and limitations and associated thresholds and
intervals for life-limited parts.
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.
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 referenced 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 revising the ALS of the operator's
existing approved engine maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive tasks and
limitations and associated thresholds and intervals for life-limited
parts, which are specified in EASA AD 2022-0248, described previously,
except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory
text of this proposed AD and as discussed under ``Differences Between
this Proposed AD and the MCAI.''
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI
Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0248 specifies revising the
approved Aircraft Maintenance Programme within 12 months after the
effective date of EASA AD 2022-0248, this proposed AD would require
revising the ALS of the existing approved engine maintenance or
inspection program, as applicable, within 90 days after the effective
date of this AD.
This proposed AD would not require compliance with paragraphs (1),
(2), (4), and (5) of EASA AD 2022-0248.
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 2022-0248
in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require
compliance with EASA AD 2022-0248 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
compliance times,'' compliance with this AD requirement is not limited
to the section titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in
EASA AD 2022-0248. Service information required by the EASA AD for
compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-
2023-1878 after the FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 40 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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Revise the ALS...................... 1 work-hour x $85 per $0 $85 $3,400
hour = $85.
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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
[[Page 63890]]
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 that the 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2021-25-03, Amendment 39-21846 (86
FR 71135, December 15, 2021); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Docket No. FAA-2023-1878;
Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01582-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by November 2, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2021-25-03, Amendment 39-21846 (86 FR 71135,
December 15, 2021).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Model
Trent 7000-72 and Trent 7000-72C 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 engine
time limits manual (TLM) life limits of certain critical rotating
parts and updating certain maintenance tasks. 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
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Perform all
required actions within the compliance times specified in, and in
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD
2022-0248, dated December 14, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0248).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0248
(1) Where EASA AD 2022-0248 defines the AMP as the approved
Aircraft Maintenance Programme containing the tasks on the basis of
which the scheduled maintenance is conducted to ensure the
continuing airworthiness of each operated engine, this AD defines
the AMP as the aircraft maintenance program containing the tasks on
the basis of which the scheduled maintenance is conducted to ensure
the continuing airworthiness of each operated airplane.
(2) Where EASA AD 2022-0248 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(3) This AD does not require compliance with paragraphs (1),
(2), (4), and (5) of EASA AD 2022-0248.
(4) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0248 specifies revising
the approved AMP within 12 months after the effective date of EASA
AD 2022-0248, this AD requires revising the airworthiness
limitations section of the existing approved engine maintenance or
inspection program, as applicable, within 90 days after the
effective date of this AD.
(5) This AD does not adopt the Remarks paragraph of EASA AD
2022-0248.
(i) Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals
After performing the actions required by paragraph (g) of this
AD, no alternative actions and associated thresholds and intervals,
including life limits, are allowed unless they are approved as
specified in the provisions of the ``Ref. Publications'' section of
EASA AD 2022-0248.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety 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 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, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198;
phone: (781) 238-7241; email: [email protected].
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) 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 (EASA) AD 2022-0248,
dated December 14, 2022.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA AD 2022-0248, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3,
50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email:
[email protected]; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA
AD 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 September 7, 2023.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-19784 Filed 9-15-23; 8:45 am]
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