[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 27, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66314-66316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21082]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1888; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00298-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Proposed rule; correction.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is correcting a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
that published in the Federal Register. The NPRM proposed to issue an
airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to all Rolls-Royce
Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model RB211-Trent 800 engines. As
published, the docket number referenced throughout the NPRM is
incorrect. This document corrects that error. In all other respects,
the original document remains the same; however, for clarity, the FAA
is republishing the entire proposed rule in the Federal Register.
DATES: The last date for submitting comments to the NPRM (88 FR 63539,
September 15, 2023) remains October 30, 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-2023-1888; 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
the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (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-2023-1888.
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-2023-1888; Project Identifier
MCAI-2023-00298-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, 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 an NPRM (88 FR 63539, September 15, 2023) that would
apply to all RRD Model RB211-Trent 800 engines. The NPRM proposed to
require initial and repetitive on-wing or in-shop borescope inspections
(BSIs) of certain intermediate-pressure compressor (IPC) rotor shaft
balance lands for cracks, dents, and nicks, and replacement of the IPC
rotor shaft if necessary, and proposed to prohibit the installation of
a certain IPC rotor shaft on any engine, as specified in EASA AD 2023-
0040, dated February 16, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0040) (also referred to
after this as the MCAI), which is proposed for incorporation by
reference.
[[Page 66315]]
The NPRM was prompted by reports of cracks on certain IPC rotor shaft
balance lands. This condition, if not addressed, could lead to IPC
rotor shaft failure and consequent uncontained high-energy debris,
resulting in damage to the airplane.
Need for the Correction
As published, the docket number referenced throughout the NPRM is
incorrect. The NPRM incorrectly references ``Docket No. FAA-2023-1880''
instead of ``Docket No. FAA-2023-1888.''
Although no other part of the preamble or regulatory information
has been corrected, for clarity, the FAA is publishing the entire
proposed rule in the Federal Register.
The comment due date of the NPRM remains October 30, 2023.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2023-0040, which specifies procedures for
performing initial and repetitive on-wing or in-shop BSIs of the IPC
rotor shaft balance land for cracks, dents, and nicks, and replacing
the IPC rotor shaft if necessary. The MCAI also specifies prohibiting
the installation of a certain IPC rotor shaft on any engine and that
accomplishing an in-shop EC inspection of the IPC rotor shaft balance
land or replacing the IPC rotor shaft constitutes as terminating action
for the repetitive BSIs.
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 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 described previously, except for any differences identified
as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed 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 2023-0040
in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require
compliance with EASA AD 2023-0040 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 2023-0040. Service information required by the EASA AD for
compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-
2023-1888 after the FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 194 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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BSI of IPC rotor shaft balance land. 4.5 work-hours x $85 $0 $382.50 $74,205
per hour = $382.50.
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
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 replacements:
On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
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Replace IPC rotor shaft...................... 50 work-hours x $85 per hour = $2,123,908 $2,128,158
$4,250.
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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
[[Page 66316]]
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 [Corrected]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Docket No. FAA-2023-1888;
Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00298-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by October 30, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD)
Model RB211-Trent 875-17, RB211-Trent 877-17, RB211-Trent 884-17,
RB211-Trent 884B-17, RB211-Trent 892-17, RB211-Trent 892B-17, and
RB211-Trent 895-17 engines.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine
Compressor Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of cracks on the intermediate-
pressure compressor (IPC) rotor shaft balance land. The FAA is
issuing this AD to detect cracks on the IPC rotor shaft balance
land. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to IPC
rotor shaft failure and consequent uncontained high-energy debris,
resulting in damage to 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 2023-0040, dated February 16, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0040).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0040
(1) Where EASA AD 2023-0040 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) This AD does not adopt the Remarks paragraph of EASA AD
2023-0040.
(3) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-
0040 specifies to use certain tooling, equivalent tooling may be
used.
(i) No Reporting Requirement
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-0040
specifies to notify the manufacturer or supply pictures to the
manufacturer of any cracks, dents, or nicks, this AD does not
include that requirement.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
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 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 2023-0040,
dated February 16, 2023.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA AD 2023-0040, 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.
(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. This
material may be found in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1888.
(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 22, 2023.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-21082 Filed 9-25-23; 4:15 pm]
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