[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 150 (Thursday, August 7, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38078-38080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-14965]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-1730; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01122-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 7000-72
and Trent 7000-72C engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the
manufacturer's determination that certain intervals for visual
inspection of the intermediate pressure 8 (IP8) and high pressure 3
(HP3) air tubes need to be reduced for certain engines, and
instructions for visual inspection of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes were
not available for certain other engines. This proposed AD would require
initial and repetitive visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes
for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear, and replacement if
necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by September 22,
2025.
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-2025-1730; 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 European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material
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.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone:
(781) 238-7146; 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 using a method listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-1730; Project Identifier
MCAI-2023-01122-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.
[[Page 38079]]
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 Barbara Caufield, 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 2023-0186, dated October 27, 2023
(EASA AD 2023-0186) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an
unsafe condition on RRD Model Trent 7000-72 and Trent 7000-72C engines.
The MCAI states that the manufacturer's normal engine maintenance
instructions for visual inspection to determine the integrity of the
IP8 and HP3 air tubes at intervals consistent with exposure assumptions
used in critical part life assessments may result in the fracture of an
affected part to remain undetected for a longer period than assumed.
Thus, more frequent visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes are
necessary. Also, instructions for visual inspection of the IP8 and HP3
air tubes were not available for certain other engines. The
manufacturer issued service material that provides instructions for
visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes for all affected
engines. The FAA is proposing this AD to prevent failure of the IP8 and
HP3 air tubes.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-1730.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2023-0186, which specifies procedures for
performing initial and repetitive visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3
air tubes for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear, and replacement if
necessary. This material is reasonably available because the interested
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by
the mean identified in the ADDRESSES section.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the civil 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, that authority 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 ADs. The FAA has been
coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the
FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2023-0186 by reference in the FAA
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with
EASA AD 2023-0186 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 EASA AD 2023-0186 does not mean that
operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD
requirement refers to ``all required actions and 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-
0186. Material required by EASA AD 2023-0186 for compliance will be
available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-1730 after the
FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 100 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
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 the IP8 and HP3 air tubes..... 3 work-hours x $85 per $0 $255 $25,500
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
engines that might need these replacements:
On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
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Replace air tube.............................. 3 work-hours x $85 per hour = $1,000 $1,255
$255.
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[[Page 38080]]
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-2025-1730;
Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01122-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by September 22, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Model
Trent 7000-72 and Trent 7000-72C engines.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7500, Engine Bleed
Air System.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by the manufacturer's determination that
certain intervals for visual inspection of the intermediate pressure
8 (IP8) and high pressure 3 (HP3) air tubes need to be reduced for
certain engines, and instructions for visual inspection of the IP8
and HP3 air tubes were not available for certain other engines. The
FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the IP8 and HP3 air
tubes. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in
reduced efficiency of internal cooling and sealing flows, failure of
the IP8 air tubes and HP3 air tubes, 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 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
2023-0186, dated October 27, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0186).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0186
(1) Where EASA AD 2023-0186 requires compliance from its
effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this
AD.
(2) Where paragraph (6) of EASA AD 2023-0186 states ``any damage
is detected'', this AD requires replacing that text with ``any
cracking or sign of air leakage is detected''.
(3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' paragraph of EASA AD
2023-0186.
(i) No Reporting Requirement
Although the service material referenced in EASA AD 2023-0186
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 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 Barbara Caufield,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines,
WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7146; email: [email protected].
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0186,
dated October 27, 2023.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA material identified in this AD, 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 August 4, 2025.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-14965 Filed 8-6-25; 8:45 am]
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