FR Doc E9-3017

[Federal Register: February 12, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 28)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 7004-7006]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12fe09-13]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0045; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-53-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 Turbofan
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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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 an aviation
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as:

We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of front HP compressor
rotors, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage
to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 16, 2009.

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-2009-0045;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-53-AD'' at the beginning of 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
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search
function of the Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any
of our dockets, including, if provided, the name of the individual who
sent the comment (or signed the comment on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy
Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65
FR 19477-78).

Discussion

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2007-0050-E, dated February 26, 2007 (referred
to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:

Repair Scheme BRG3086 Issue 1 instructs the repair of the High
Pressure (HP) Compressor Front Drum Assembly Damping Grooves. This
repair has an impact on the life of the High Pressure (HP)
Compressor Front Drum Assembly. This EAD has been raised to mandate
certain specific CAUTION notes related to specific subtasks of the
BR715 Time Limits Manual (TLM) T-715-3BR instructing a reduced life
for certain Serial Numbers (S/N) of the High Pressure (HP)
Compressor Front Drum Assemblies Part No. BRH20070 after repair
BRG3086 Issue 1 has been applied and Part No. BRR21918 after repair
BRG3086 Issue 1 has been applied. Results for each individual repair
case are listed in the latest revision of Non-Modification Service
Bulletin SB-BR700-72-A900437.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.

Relevant Service Information

Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) has issued Alert Service
Bulletin (ASB) SB-BR700-72-A900437, Revision 1, dated April 18, 2007.
The actions described in this service information are intended to
correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of the
Federal Republic of Germany, and is approved for operation in the
United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the Federal
Republic of Germany, they have notified us of the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. We are
proposing this AD because we evaluated all information provided by the
EASA, and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist
or develop on other products of the same type design. We are proposing
this AD to require removing the affected HPC front drum assemblies from
operation before reaching the new, reduced life limit.

[[Page 7005]]

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

We have found it necessary to differ from the MCAI as follows:
We don't require operators to amend the Time Limits
Manual.
We don't allow the operators to show compliance by using
RRD ASB SB-BR700-72-A900437, initial issue, dated February 26, 2007.
Some of the affected parts are not included in the initial issue of the
ASB.
We have incorporated in this proposed AD, the life
reduction Table for the HPC drum assemblies, by serial number (SN),
that are specified in RRD ASB SB-BR700-72-A900437, Revision 1, dated
April 18, 2007.
HPC drum assembly, P/N BRH20070 is not affected by the
proposed AD; since only certain HPC drums with P/N BRR21918 were
affected in accordance with RRD ASB SB-BR700-72-A900437, Revision 1,
dated April 18, 2007.

Costs of Compliance

Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD
would affect about 14 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that
it would take about 10 work-hours per product to comply with this
proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required
parts would cost about $100,000 per product. Based on these figures, we
estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be
$1,411,200. 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 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-2009-0045;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-53-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) We must receive comments by March 16, 2009.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG model
BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines.
These engines are installed on, but not limited to, McDonnell
Douglas 717-200 airplanes.

Reason

(d) Repair Scheme BRG3086 Issue 1 instructs the repair of the
High Pressure (HP) Compressor Front Drum Assembly Damping Grooves.
This repair has an impact on the life of the High Pressure (HP)
Compressor Front Drum Assembly.

We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of front HP compressor
rotors, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and
damage to the airplane.

Actions and Compliance

(e) Remove the following HPC drum assemblies from operation
before reaching the life limit specified in Table 1 of this AD.

Table 1--Cyclic Life by Part Number and Mission
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High Pressure (HP) Compressor Rotor Front Disc Assembly
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A1-30 B1-30 and C1-30 A1-30 C1-30 Tropical
Part No. Serial No. design designs Hawaiian and derated
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BRR21918............................. 1107 6,600 4,500 6,600 3,800
BRR21918............................. 1120 6,800 4,700 6,800 4,000
BRR21918............................. 1122 7,000 4,900 7,000 4,100
BRR21918............................. 1144 7,300 5,000 7,300 4,200
BRR21918............................. 1154 6,800 4,700 6,800 4,000
BRR21918............................. 1163 6,800 4,700 6,800 4,000
BRR21918............................. 1166 6,500 4,500 6,500 3,800
BRR21918............................. 1194 6,900 4,800 6,900 4,000
BRR21918............................. 1217 7,000 4,900 7,000 4,100
BRR21918............................. 1232 7,200 5,000 7,200 4,200
BRR21918............................. 1255 7,300 5,100 7,300 4,300
BRR21918............................. 1259 7,500 5,200 7,500 4,400
BRR21918............................. 1271 7,300 5,100 7,300 4,300

[[Page 7006]]

BRR21918............................. 1292 7,300 5,100 7,300 4,300
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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 MCAI Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2007-0050-E,
dated February 26, 2007, and Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
Alert Service Bulletin SB-BR700-72-A900437, Revision 1, dated April
18, 2007, for related information. Contact Rolls-Royce Deutschland
Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, 15827 Blankenfelde-Mahlow,
Germany; telephone 49 (0) 33-7086-1768; fax 49 (0) 33-7086-3356, or
go to: http://www.rolls-royce.com/deutschland/en/default.htm, for a
copy of this service 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 21, 2009.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-3017 Filed 2-11-09; 8:45 am]

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