[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 28, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 83043-83044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26090]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 227 / Tuesday, November 28, 2023 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 83043]]



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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
that proposed to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would 
have applied to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model 
BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 engines. The NPRM 
would have required 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. 
Since the NPRM was issued, the FAA issued AD 2023-17-11, which 
addresses the unsafe condition identified in the NPRM. Accordingly, the 
NPRM is withdrawn.

DATES: As of November 28, 2023, the proposed rule which was published 
in the Federal Register on June 14, 2023 (88 FR 38762), is withdrawn.

ADDRESSES: 
    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 the NPRM, this AD action (withdrawal), the mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and 
other information. The street 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.

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:

Background

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, had issued EASA AD 2022-0252 dated December 16, 2022 
(later revised to EASA AD 2022-0252R1, dated April 28, 2023 (EASA AD 
2022-0252R1)) to correct an unsafe condition for all RRD Model BR700-
715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 engines. EASA later issued 
EASA AD 2023-0152, dated July 25, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0152) (also 
referred to as the MCAI), which supersedes EASA AD 2022-0252R1.
    The FAA issued an NPRM that proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 by 
adding an AD for all RRD Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and 
BR700-715C1-30 engines, which was published in the Federal Register on 
June 14, 2023 (88 FR 38762). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2022-
0252, which stated that occurrences have been reported of finding 
malformed scallop edge geometry and surface conditions at the front 
flange scallops of certain LPC booster rotors. The NPRM proposed to 
require repetitive 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.

Actions Since the NPRM Was Issued

    Since the NPRM was issued, the FAA has reviewed the MCAI, which 
supersedes EASA AD 2022-0252R1. The MCAI discusses the reported 
occurrences of finding malformed scallop edge geometry and surface 
conditions at the front flange of scallops of certain LPC booster 
rotors, which were also discussed in EASA AD 2022-0252R1. The MCAI 
includes both more restrictive compliance times for certain engines and 
extended compliance times for certain other engines. The MCAI also 
refers to the updated service information referenced by the commenters, 
specifies repetitive 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.
    Additionally, the FAA received comments on the NPRM from four 
commenters. Commenters included Hawaiian Airlines (Hawaiian), Delta Air 
Lines (Delta), The Boeing Company, and Air Line Pilots Association, 
International (ALPA). Boeing and ALPA supported the NPRM without 
change. However, comments from Hawaiian and Delta identified concerns 
with the NPRM. These comments requested a revision to the NPRM to refer 
to the updated manufacturer service information and the inclusion of 
suitable materials required to perform the required actions.
    Consequently, the FAA issued AD 2023-17-11, Amendment 39-22537 (88 
FR 60566, September 5, 2023), which was prompted by EASA AD 2023-0152. 
AD 2023-17-11 incorporates the specifications of EASA AD 2023-0152 to 
correct an unsafe condition for all RRD Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700-
715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 engines; refers to the revised service 
information (which addresses the concerns of both Delta and Hawaiian 
commenters); addresses the unsafe condition and negates the need for 
this proposed AD.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA has determined that the proposed AD is not necessary to 
address the identified safety concern. Accordingly, the NPRM is 
withdrawn.

Regulatory Findings

    Since this action only withdraws an NPRM, it is neither a proposed 
nor a final rule and therefore is not covered under Executive Order 
12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

[[Page 83044]]

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Withdrawal

0
Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket No. FAA-2023-
1211; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01598-E, which was published in the 
Federal Register on June 14, 2023 (88 FR 38762), is withdrawn.

    Issued on November 20, 2023.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-26090 Filed 11-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P