[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 188 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67121-67124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21471]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1892; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00626-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 Trent 1000-AE3, 
Trent 1000-CE3, Trent 1000-D3, Trent 1000-G3, Trent 1000-H3, Trent 
1000-J3, Trent 1000-K3, Trent 1000-L3, Trent 1000-M3, Trent 1000-N3, 
Trent 1000-P3, Trent 1000-Q3, and Trent 1000-R3 engines. This proposed 
AD was prompted by a determination that certain intervals for visual 
inspection of the intermediate-pressure stage 8 (IP8) and high-pressure 
stage 3 (HP3) air transfer tubes and front bearing housing IP8 air feed 
tubes need to be reduced. This proposed AD would require initial and 
repetitive visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes and 
front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes for cracking, damage, or air 
leakage wear, and replacement, if necessary, 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.

[[Page 67122]]


DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by November 13, 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-2023-1892; 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 that is 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-2023-1892.
     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-2023-1892; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2023-00626-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

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2023-0087, dated April 26, 2023 
(EASA AD 2023-0087) (also referred to after this as the MCAI), to 
address an unsafe condition for all RRD Model Trent 1000-AE3, Trent 
1000-CE3, Trent 1000-D3, Trent 1000-G3, Trent 1000-H3, Trent 1000-J3, 
Trent 1000-K3, Trent 1000-L3, Trent 1000-M3, Trent 1000-N3, Trent 1000-
P3, Trent 1000-Q3, and Trent 1000-R3 engines. The MCAI states that the 
RRD engine time limits manual (TLM) provides instructions for visual 
inspection of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes and front bearing 
housing IP8 air feed tubes for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear at 
intervals consistent with critical part life assessments. Also, certain 
inspection intervals mandated by the MCAI, and not previously included 
in the TLM, are shorter than the engine shop visit intervals. Thus, 
more frequent visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes 
and front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes are necessary. The 
manufacturer issued service information that provides instructions for 
visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes and front 
bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes. This condition, if not addressed, 
could affect the engine internal cooling and sealing flows, resulting 
in failure of the IP8 air transfer tubes, HP3 air transfer tubes, and 
front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes, with consequent damage to the 
engine and reduced control of the airplane.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1892.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2023-0087, which specifies procedures for 
performing initial and repetitive visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 
air transfer tubes and front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes for 
cracking, damage, or air leakage wear, and replacement if necessary.
    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 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

[[Page 67123]]

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 2023-0087 in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD 
would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2023-0087 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 2023-0087. Service 
information required by the EASA AD for compliance will be available at 
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2023-1892 
after the FAA final rule is published.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 16 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection of air tubes...............  3 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $255          $4,080
                                         hour = $255.
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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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace IP8 air transfer tubes................  2 work-hours x $85 per hour =             $7,600          $7,770
                                                 $170.
Replace HP3 air transfer tubes................  2 work-hours x $85 per hour =             11,900          12,070
                                                 $170.
Replace front bearing housing IP8 air feed      2 work-hours x $85 per hour =             10,000          10,170
 tubes.                                          $170.
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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 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-2023-1892; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00626-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by November 13, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Model 
Trent 1000-AE3, Trent 1000-CE3, Trent 1000-D3, Trent 1000-G3, Trent 
1000-H3, Trent 1000-J3, Trent 1000-K3, Trent 1000-L3, Trent 1000-M3, 
Trent 1000-N3, Trent 1000-P3, Trent 1000-Q3, and Trent 1000-R3 
engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7500, Engine Bleed 
Air System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a determination that certain intervals 
for visual inspection of the intermediate-pressure stage 8 (IP8) air 
transfer tubes, high-pressure stage 3 (HP3) air transfer tubes, and 
front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes need to be reduced. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the IP8 and HP3 air 
transfer tubes and front bearing

[[Page 67124]]

housing IP8 air feed tubes. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could affect the engine internal cooling and sealing flows, 
resulting in failure of the IP8 air transfer tubes, HP3 air transfer 
tubes, and front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes, with consequent 
damage to the engine 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 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 
2023-0087, dated April 26, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0087).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0087

    (1) Where EASA AD 2023-0087 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 
2023-0087.

(i) 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 AIR-520, Continued 
Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (j) 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.

(j) 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].

(k) 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 2023-0087, 
dated April 26, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2023-0087, 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.
    (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 25, 2023.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-21471 Filed 9-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P