[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56205-56207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14945]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-0043; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00985-E; 
Amendment 39-22760; AD 2024-10-14]
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) Trent 1000-A, Trent 1000-AE, 
Trent 1000-C, Trent 1000-CE, Trent 1000-D, Trent 1000-E, Trent 1000-G, 
and Trent 1000-H engines. This AD is 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. This AD also prohibits the installation of an LPT disk or blade 
set assembly unless it is considered 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 August 13, 2024.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 13, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-0043; 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 EASA service information, 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-2024-0043.

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-A, Trent 1000-AE, Trent 1000-C, Trent 1000-CE, Trent 1000-D, Trent 
1000-E, Trent 1000-G, and Trent 1000-H engines. The NPRM published in 
the Federal Register on February 01, 2024 (89 FR 6450). The NPRM was 
prompted by EASA AD 2023-0165, dated August 22, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-
0165) (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.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require accomplishing the actions 
specified in EASA AD 2023-0165, except for any differences identified 
as exceptions in the regulatory text. 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-2024-0043.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received one comment from Boeing, which supported the NPRM 
without change.

Additional Change Made to This Final Rule

    Since the NPRM published, the FAA determined that paragraph (c) of 
the proposed AD incorrectly included ``Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co 
KG Trent 1000.'' Therefore, the FAA has revised the applicability of 
this AD to remove that text. Since there are no additional engines on 
the U.S. registry, no changes have been made to the Costs of Compliance 
paragraph in this final rule.

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 this 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. 
None of the changes increase the economic burden on any operator.

[[Page 56206]]

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2023-0165, which specifies procedures for 
inspection of affected LPT stage 1 blade assembly outer shrouds and 
replacement of the LPT stage 1 blade set and disk. EASA AD 2023-0165 
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 28 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
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Inspect LPT stage 1 blade outer       4 work-hours x $85 per               $0             $340           $9,520
 shroud.                               hour = $340.
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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 
inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of engines 
that might need these replacements.

                                               On-Condition Costs
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                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace LPT stage 1 blade set.................  10 work-hours x $85 per hour =          $466,480        $467,330
                                                 $850.
Replace LPT stage 1 disk......................  10 work-hours x $85 per hour =           256,908         257,758
                                                 $850.
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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:

2024-10-14 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Amendment 39-22760; 
Docket No. FAA-2024-0043; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00985-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 13, 2024.

(b) Affected Ads

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Trent 
1000-A, Trent 1000-AE, Trent 1000-C, Trent 1000-CE, Trent 1000-D, 
Trent 1000-E, Trent 1000-G, and Trent 1000-H engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System 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 
(EASA) AD 2023-0165, dated August 22, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0165).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0165

    (1) Where EASA AD 2023-0165 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.

[[Page 56207]]

    (2) This AD does not adopt the Remarks paragraph of EASA AD 
2023-0165.
    (3) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-
0165 specifies discarding the removed low pressure (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-
0165 specifies to quarantine the removed LP turbine stage 1 rotor 
disk, this AD requires removing the affected part from service.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-0165 
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].
    (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 2023-0165, 
dated August 22, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2023-0165, 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 material 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 May 16, 2024.
Suzanne Masterson,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.

    Editorial Note: This document was received for publication by 
the Office of the Federal Register on July 2, 2024.
[FR Doc. 2024-14945 Filed 7-8-24; 8:45 am]
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