[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 9, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52201-52203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20212]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-28059; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-13-AD;
Amendment 39-15665; AD 2008-18-08]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 500,
700, and 800 Series Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:
This action is necessary following the discovery of IP
Compressor Rotor rear balance land cracking on an in-service Trent
800 engine. Stress analysis of the damaged rotor has shown a
possible threat to the rotor integrity, the cracking therefore
presents a potential unsafe condition.
We are issuing this AD to detect cracking on the intermediate pressure
(IP) compressor rotor rear balance land. IP compressor rotor rear
balance land cracking can lead to uncontained failure of the rotor and
damage to the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective October 14, 2008. The Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain
publications listed in this AD as of October 14, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail:
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7176; fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would
[[Page 52202]]
apply to the specified products. That NPRM was published in the Federal
Register on October 15, 2007 (72 FR 58267). That NPRM proposed to
correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states
that:
This Airworthiness Directive requires inspections for cracks in
the rear balance land of the IP Compressor Rotor. The inspections
comprise an on-wing one-off inspection by borescope for RR Trent 800
engines which must be completed within a short timescale, and in-
shop inspections to be completed at each opportunity for RR Trent
500, 700 and 800 engines (the in-shop inspection may be carried out
in lieu of the on-wing inspection for the Trent 800 engines if it is
accomplished within the timescale applicable to the on-wing
inspection). This action is necessary following the discovery of IP
Compressor Rotor rear balance land cracking on an in-service Trent
800 engine. Stress analysis of the damaged rotor has shown a
possible threat to the rotor integrity, the cracking therefore
presents a potential unsafe condition. The cause of the cracking is
currently not fully understood but evidence suggests it relates to
an unusual balance weight condition.
You may obtain further information by examining the EASA AD in the AD
docket.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the comment received. The commenter supports the
NPRM.
Editorial Addition of a New Revision to Alert Service Bulletin RB.211-
72-AF260
We received Alert Service Bulletin RB.211-72-AF260, Revision 2,
dated July 4, 2007, after we issued the NPRM. We reviewed Revision 2
and determined that no changes to the NPRM were necessary. We updated
the revision number from Revision 1 to Revision 2 in this AD.
Conclusion
We reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect about 110 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about
3.5 work-hours per engine to perform the proposed actions and that the
average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we
estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be
$30,800. Our cost estimate is exclusive of possible warranty coverage.
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.
We are 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
We determined that 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 this AD:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
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 AD:
2008-18-08 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-15665. Docket No. FAA-2007-
28059; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-13-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective October
14, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc RB211 Trent 553-61,
553A2-61, 556-61, 556A2-61, 556B-61, 560-61, 560A2-61, 768-60, 772-
60, 772B-60, 875-17, 877-17, 884-17, 884B-17, 892-17, 892B-17, and
895-17 turbofan engines. These engines are installed on, but not
limited to, Airbus A330, A340-500, A340-600, and Boeing 777 series
airplanes.
Reason
(d) This action is necessary following the discovery of IP
Compressor Rotor rear balance land cracking on an in-service Trent
800 engine. Stress analysis of the damaged rotor has shown a
possible threat to the rotor integrity, the cracking therefore
presents a potential unsafe condition. The proposed AD would require
actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described
in the MCAI.
We are issuing this AD to detect cracking on the intermediate
pressure (IP) compressor rotor rear balance land. IP compressor
rotor rear balance land cracking can lead to uncontained failure of
the rotor and damage to the airplane.
Actions and Compliance
(e) Unless already done, do the following actions:
Inspection--On-Wing
(1) Applicable to RR Trent 800 engines not previously inspected
per Rolls-Royce RB211 Propulsion System Alert Non Modification
Service Bulletin RB.211-72-AF260, Revision 2, dated July 4, 2007; or
earlier issue: Within 400 flight cycles of the Effective Date of
this AD inspect the IP Compressor rotor rear
[[Page 52203]]
balance land for cracks in accordance with Rolls-Royce RB211
Propulsion System Alert Non Modification Service Bulletin RB.211-72-
AF313, dated February 22, 2007 section 3 Accomplishment
Instructions. Engines on which cracking is found should be rejected
from service.
Inspection--In-Shop
(2) Applicable to RR Trent 500, 700 and 800 engines at each shop
visit in which the engine is sufficiently disassembled to access the
IP Compressor Module rear face: Inspect the IP Compressor rotor rear
balance land for cracks in accordance with Rolls-Royce RB211
Propulsion System Alert Non Modification Service Bulletin RB.211-72-
AF260, Revision 2, dated July 4, 2007; or earlier issue section 3
Accomplishment Instructions.
Other FAA AD Provisions
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR
39.19.
Related Information
(g) Refer to EASA Airworthiness Directive 2007-0052, dated
February 23, 2007, for related information.
(h) Contact James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail:
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7176; fax (781) 238-
7199, for more information about this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use the service information specified in Table 1 of
this AD to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD
specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom;
telephone: 44 (0) 1332-242424; fax: 44 (0) 1332-249936.
(3) You may review copies at the FAA, New England Region, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the National Archives
and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the
availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go
to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Table 1--Material Incorporated by Reference
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Alert Service Bulletin No. Page Revision Date
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RB.211-72-AF260; Total pages--11.. ALL.................. Original............. October 17, 2006.
RB.211-72-AF260; Total pages--11.. ALL.................. 1.................... January 17, 2007.
RB.211-72-AF260; Total pages--11.. ALL.................. 2.................... July 4, 2007.
RB.211-72-AF313; Total pages--11.. ALL.................. Original............. February 22, 2007.
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Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 25, 2008.
Mark A. Rumizen,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-20212 Filed 9-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P