[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 17, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27363-27365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08083]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-2233; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00755-E; 
Amendment 39-22704; AD 2024-05-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG

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-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 AD is prompted by 
reports of wear in the combining spill-valve (CSV) assembly of certain 
hydro-mechanical units (HMUs). This AD requires removing certain HMUs 
from service and replacing with a serviceable part or modifying the HMU 
by replacing the CSV assembly, which is an optional terminating action; 
and prohibits installing certain HMUs unless the HMU is a serviceable 
part, 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 May 22, 2024.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference

[[Page 27364]]

of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 22, 2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No.FAA-2023-2233; 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]. 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-2023-2233.

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-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 NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on December 6, 2023 (88 FR 84759). 
The NPRM was prompted by AD 2023-0119, dated June 12, 2023 (EASA AD 
2023-0119) (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 occurrences have been reported of finding wear in the CSV 
assembly of the HMU. This wear can reduce the fuel flow output when the 
engine is operated at high-power conditions. To address this unsafe 
condition, the manufacturer published service information that 
specifies procedures to remove certain HMUs from service and replace 
with a serviceable part or modify the HMU by replacing the CSV 
assembly. The MCAI also specifies an implementation schedule of engine 
flight-hour limits for replacement of each affected part with a 
serviceable part and prohibits installation or reinstallation of 
affected HMUs that have exceeded the allowable engine flight-hour limit 
unless the HMU is a serviceable part.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require removing certain HMUs from 
service and replacing with a serviceable part or modifying the HMU by 
replacing the CSV assembly, which is an optional terminating action; 
and prohibited installing certain HMUs unless the HMU is a serviceable 
part. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-2233.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received one comment from Boeing, which 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 2023-0119, which specifies procedures for 
removing certain part-numbered HMUs from service and replacing with a 
serviceable part or modifying the HMU by replacing the CSV assembly. 
The EASA AD also specifies prohibiting installation or reinstallation 
of an affected HMU on any engine unless the HMU is a serviceable part.
    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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 14 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace the HMU.....................  7 work-hours x $85 per         $560,000         $560,595       $7,848,330
                                       hour = $595.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Operators may modify the HMU to comply with this AD. For 
modification of the HMU, the FAA estimates the following costs:

                                                 Optional costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modify the HMU...............................  7 work-hours x $85 per hour =          $168,000         $168,595
                                                $595.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 27365]]

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:

Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Amendment 39-22704; Docket 
No.FAA-2023-2233; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00755-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 22, 2024.

(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 7300, Engine Fuel 
and Control.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of wear in the combining spill-
valve assembly of certain hydro-mechanical units. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to prevent thrust reduction. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in 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 
2023-0119, dated June 12, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0119).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0119

    (1) Where EASA AD 2023-0119 requires compliance from its 
effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this 
AD.
    (2) Where Table 1 of EASA AD 2023-0119 specifies ``26 June 
2023;'' replace that text with ``As of the effective date of this 
AD.''
    (3) Where Table 1 of EASA AD 2023-0119 specifies ``01 October 
2024;'' replace that text with ``Within 4 months after the effective 
date of this AD or October 1, 2024, whichever occurs later.''
    (4) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-
0019 specifies to discard certain parts, this AD requires those 
parts to be removed from service.
    (5) This AD does not adopt the Remarks paragraph of EASA AD 
2023-0119.

(i) Definitions

    For the purposes of this AD, the ``implementation date'' is 
defined as the date the applicable engine flight hours (EFH) limit 
takes effect.

(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].
    (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 2023-0119, 
dated June 12, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2023-0119, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 
50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: 
[email protected]. You may find EASA AD 2023-0119 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 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 March 8, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-08083 Filed 4-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P