[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 80575-80577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25521]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1637; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00184-E; 
Amendment 39-22588; AD 2023-22-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent 1000-A2, Trent 
1000-AE2, Trent 1000-C2, Trent 1000-CE2, Trent 1000-D2, Trent 1000-E2, 
Trent 1000-G2, Trent 1000-H2, Trent 1000-J2, Trent 1000-K2, and Trent 
1000-L2 engines. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking and 
separation of certain low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage 1 blade 
assemblies. This AD requires initial and repetitive inspections of 
affected LPT stage 1 blade assemblies for cracking or separation and, 
depending on the results of the inspections, reduction of the 
inspection interval or replacement of the LPT stage 1 blade set and 
disk, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 26, 2023.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 26, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1637; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For service information identified in this final rule, 
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.
     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. It is 
also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1637.

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: 

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all RRD Model Trent 
1000-A2, Trent 1000-AE2, Trent 1000-C2, Trent 1000-CE2, Trent 1000-D2, 
Trent 1000-E2, Trent 1000-G2, Trent 1000-H2, Trent 1000-J2, Trent 1000-
K2, and Trent 1000-L2 engines. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on July 31, 2023 (88 FR 49361). The NPRM was prompted by EASA 
AD 2023-0027, dated January 31, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0027) (also referred 
to as the MCAI) issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the 
Member States of the European Union. The MCAI states that manufacturer 
inspections detected cracking and separation of blade pairs in the weld 
region of certain LPT stage 1 blade assemblies. A blade assembly 
consists of a pair of blades welded together at the outer shroud. There 
are 85 LPT stage 1 blade assemblies in one set. Such cracking and 
separation could cause failure of affected parts and damage to the LPT 
module.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1637.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require initial and repetitive 
inspections of affected LPT stage 1 blade assemblies for cracking or 
separation and, depending on the results of the inspections, reduction 
of the inspection interval or replacement of the LPT stage 1 blade set 
and disk. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received one comment from The Boeing Company (Boeing). 
Boeing supported the NPRM without change.

Conclusion

    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 reviewed the relevant data, 
considered the comment received, and determined that air safety 
requires adopting the AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for 
minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2023-0027, which specifies procedures for 
inspection of affected LPT stage 1 blade assemblies and replacement of 
the LPT stage 1 blade set and disk. EASA AD 2023-0027 also specifies a 
reduction of the repetitive inspection intervals if cracking or 
separation is detected and meets certain criteria.
    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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 26 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 80576]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection LPT stage 1 blade          4 work-hours x $85 per               $0             $340           $8,840
 assemblies.                           hour = $340.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that are required based on the results of the inspection. 
The agency has no way of determining the number of engines that might 
need these replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace LPT stage 1 blade set and disk.......  4 work-hours x $85 per hour =          $720,000         $720,340
                                                $340.
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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

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Will 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 Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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:

2023-22-04 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Amendment 39-22588; 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1637; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00184-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 26, 
2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
Model Trent 1000-A2, Trent 1000-AE2, Trent 1000-C2, Trent 1000-CE2, 
Trent 1000-D2, Trent 1000-E2, Trent 1000-G2, Trent 1000-H2, Trent 
1000-J2, Trent 1000-K2, and Trent 1000-L2 engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine 
Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of cracking and separation of 
certain low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage 1 blade assemblies. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LPT stage 1 blades. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in high energy 
debris release, damage to the airplane, 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 AD 
2023-0027, dated January 31, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0027).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0027

    (1) Where EASA AD 2023-0027 specifies compliance from 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 
2023-0027.
    (3) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-
0027 specifies discarding the removed LP turbine stage 1 blade set, 
this AD requires removing the affected part from service.
    (4) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-
0027 specifies to quarantine the removed LP turbine stage 1 rotor 
disc, this AD requires removing the affected part from service.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-0027 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not include that requirement.

(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 AIR-520 Continued 
Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (k) of this AD and email to: [email protected].

[[Page 80577]]

    (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 2023-0027, 
dated January 31, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2023-0027, 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 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 material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on October 27, 2023.
Caitlin Locke,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25521 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P