[Federal Register: February 5, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 24)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 6638-6640]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05fe08-27]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0169; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-45-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG,
BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by another country
to identify and correct an unsafe condition on Rolls-Royce Deutschland
Ltd & Co KG, BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30
turbofan engines. The MCAI states the following:
The application of most recent 3D FEM modeling has resulted in
the need to reconsider the disc lives as currently shown in the Time
Limits Manual. The current Post Certification Life Statement for the
low pressure (LP) compressor (fan) disc assembly revises the
Declared Safe Cyclic Life (DSCL) from 33,000 flight cycles to 25,000
flight cycles for both the BR715 LP (fan) disc assembly Part No. (P/
N) BRH10048 and BR715 LP compressor (fan) disc assembly P/N
BRH19253, when installed in the BR700-715A1-30 engine model and
operated against the Hawaiian Flight Mission.
The proposed AD would require revising the maximum approved life
limit for both the BR715 LP compressor (fan) disc assembly P/N BRH10048
and BR715 LP compressor (fan) disc assembly P/N BRH19253, from 33,000
flight cycles to 25,000 flight cycles, if ever operated against the
Hawaiian Flight Mission and removing LP compressor (fan) disc
assemblies from service that exceed the maximum approved life limit
before further flight. This condition, if not corrected, could result
in uncontained failure of the LP compressor (fan) disc assembly and
damage to the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 6, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
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 proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is
the same as the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Yang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail:
Jason.yang@faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7747; fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0169;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-45-AD'' at the beginning of
[[Page 6639]]
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this
proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date
and may amend this proposed AD based on those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the European Community, has issued EASA Airworthiness
Directive 2007-0116-E, dated May 4, 2007 (referred to after this as
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
products. The MCAI states:
The application of most recent 3D FEM modeling has resulted in
the need to reconsider the disc lives as currently shown in the Time
Limits Manual. The current Post Certification Life Statement for the
low pressure (LP) compressor (fan) disc assembly revises the
Declared Safe Cyclic Life (DSCL) from 33,000 flight cycles to 25,000
flight cycles for both the BR715 LP (fan) disc assembly P/N BRH10048
and BR715 LP compressor (fan) disc assembly P/N BRH19253, when
installed in the BR700-715A1-30 engine model and operated against
the Hawaiian Flight Mission.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of
Germany, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, they have notified us of the
unsafe condition described in the MCAI AD and service information
referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type
design. This proposed AD would require:
Revising the maximum approved life limit for both the
BR715 LP compressor (fan) disc assembly P/N BRH10048 and BR715 LP
compressor (fan) disc assembly P/N BRH19253, in the Time Limits Manual
No. T-715-3BR; from 33,000 flight cycles to 25,000 flight cycles, if
ever operated against the Hawaiian Flight Mission; and
Removing LP compressor (fan) disc assemblies from service
that exceed the maximum approved life limit before further flight.
Applying the pro rate calculations and completing the Life
Limited Part Tracking Sheet, using the revised Hawaiian Flight Mission
maximum life limit of 25,000 flight cycles and checking if their
consumed life has exceeded maximum approved life of the Flight Mission
currently installed in; and
Before further flight, removing LP compressor disc
assemblies from service that do not pass the check.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 240 engines
installed on aircraft of U.S. registry. This proposed LP compressor
(fan) disc assembly removal does not impose any additional labor costs
if performed at the time of scheduled engine overhaul. We also estimate
that it will take about one work-hour per engine to calculate and re-
establish the achieved cyclic life for an LP compressor (fan) disc
assembly, and that the average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. We
estimate that the prorate cost of the life reduction per engine will be
$33,000. Total cost of this proposed AD is, therefore, $7,939,200.
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 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. 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (formerly BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH,
and BMW Rolls-Royce Aero Engines): Docket No. FAA-2007-0169;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-45-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by March 6, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
(RRD), BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan
engines, with a low pressure (LP) compressor disc assembly, part
number (P/N) BRH10048 or P/N BRH19253, when installed in the BR700-
715A1-30 engine model and operated against the Hawaiian Flight
Mission. These engines are installed on, but not limited to,
McDonnell Douglas Corporation model 717-200 airplanes.
Reason
(d) The mandatory continuous airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
The application of most recent 3D FEM modeling has resulted in
the need to reconsider the disc lives as currently shown in the Time
Limits Manual. The current Post Certification Life Statement for the
low pressure (LP) compressor (fan) disc assembly
[[Page 6640]]
revises the Declared Safe Cyclic Life (DSCL) from 33,000 flight
cycles to 25,000 flight cycles for both the BR715 LP (fan) disc
assembly P/N BRH10048 and BR715 LP compressor (fan) disc assembly P/
N BRH19253, when installed in the BR700-715A1-30 engine model and
operated against the Hawaiian Flight Mission.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in uncontained
failure of the LP compressor (fan) disc assembly and damage to the
airplane.
Actions and Compliance
(e) No later than 100 flight cycles after the effective date of
this AD, do the following actions, unless already done.
BR700-715A1-30 Turbofan Engines
(1) For BR700-715A1-30 turbofan engines, amend the Airworthiness
Limitations Section of the Time Limits Manual SUBTASK 05-10-01-860-
016, (Hawaiian Flight Mission Only) by revising the ``GIVEN LIFE A1-
30 RATING (FLIGHT CYCLES)'' for both the LP compressor (fan) disc
assembly P/N BRH10048 and LP compressor (fan) disc assembly P/N
BRH19253 from 33,000 flight cycles to 25,000 flight cycles.
(2) Amend any other Reference, where the maximum approved life
limit is quoted for the LP compressor (fan) disc assembly P/N
BRH10048 or LP compressor (fan) disc assembly P/N BRH19253, when
installed in the BR700-715A-30 engine model and operated under the
Hawaiian Flight Mission, to the revised maximum approved life limit
of 25,000 flight cycles.
BR700-715B1-30 and BR700-715C1-30 Turbofan Engines
(3) For BR700-715B1-30 and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines:
(i) Check to see if the LP compressor (fan) disc assembly P/N
BRH10048 or LP compressor (fan) disc assembly P/N BRH19253 is
currently, or has previously been, installed in the BR700-715A1-30
engine model and operated under the Hawaiian Flight Mission, by
checking the Life Limited Parts (LLP) Tracking Sheet. Information on
recording and control of the lives of the parts can be found in the
Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Time Limits Manual TASK 05-
00-01-800-001.
(ii) If the LP compressor (fan) disc assembly has not operated,
and is not going to operate in the Hawaiian Flight Mission, no
further action is required.
(iii) If the LP compressor (fan) disc assembly has operated in
the Hawaiian Flight Mission:
(A) Apply the prorate calculations and complete the LLP Tracking
Sheet using the revised Hawaiian Flight Mission maximum approved
life limit of 25,000 flight cycles.
(B) Remove LP compressor (fan) disc assemblies from service
before reaching 25,000 flight cycles.
Other FAA AD Provisions
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance: The Manager, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve alternative
methods of compliance for this AD, if requested using the procedures
found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(g) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness
Directive 2007-0116-E, dated May 4, 2007, for related information.
(h) Contact Jason Yang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification
Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: Jason.yang@faa.gov;
telephone (781) 238-7747; fax (781) 238-7199, for more information
about this AD.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 28, 2008.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-2039 Filed 2-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P