[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 5, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61343-61344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24607]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0301; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-22-AD; 
Amendment 39-16457; AD 2010-20-22]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
(RRD) Models Tay 620-15, Tay 650-15, and Tay 651-54 Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

    Following a review of operational data of the Tay 651-54 engine, 
it has been found that the actual stress levels in the Tay 651-54 
engine High Pressure Compressor (HPC) stages 1, 3, 6, 7 and 12 discs 
were higher than those originally assumed and therefore the approved 
lives needed to be reduced.

We are issuing this AD to prevent HPC stages 1, 3, 6, 7, and 12 discs 
from exceeding the approved reduced life limits, which could result in 
an uncontained failure of a disc and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 9, 2010. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in this AD as of November 9, 2010.

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: Tara Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7773; 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 apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2010 (75 
FR 14379). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states that:

    Following a review of operational data of the Tay 651-54 engine, 
it has been found that the actual stress levels in the Tay 651-54 
engine High Pressure Compressor (HPC) stages 1, 3, 6, 7 and 12 discs 
were higher than those originally assumed and therefore the approved 
lives needed to be reduced.
    As Tay 651-54 service run HPC discs may be installed on Tay 620-
15 and Tay 650-15 engine models, it is necessary to reduce the 
maximum approved lives of the affected HPC disc serial numbers 
installed on Tay 620-15 and Tay 650-15 engines as well.
    The approved lives of the affected HPC stages 1, 3, 6, 7 and 12 
discs specified in this Airworthiness Directive supersede the 
approved lives given in the Time Limits Manuals, Chapter 05-10-01.
    Exceeding of the approved life limits could potentially result 
in non-contained disc failure.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this AD would 
affect about 10 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it 
would take about 1 work-hours per product to comply with this AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $100,000 per product. Based on these figures, we estimate the 
cost of the AD on U.S. operators to be $1,000,850.

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:

[[Page 61344]]

    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 (phone (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:

2010-20-22 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Formerly Rolls-Royce 
plc): Amendment 39-16457. Docket No. FAA-2010-0301; Directorate 
Identifier 2009-NE-22-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective November 
9, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
models Tay 620-15, Tay 650-15, and Tay 651-54 turbofan engines. 
These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Fokker F28 Mark 
0070 and Mark 0100 airplanes and Boeing 727 series airplanes.

Reason

    (d) Following a review of operational data of the Tay 651-54 
engine, it has been found that the actual stress levels in the Tay 
651-54 engine High Pressure Compressor (HPC) stages 1, 3, 6, 7 and 
12 discs were higher than those originally assumed and therefore the 
approved lives needed to be reduced.

We are issuing this AD to prevent HPC stages 1, 3, 6, 7, and 12 
discs from exceeding the approved reduced life limits, which could 
result in an uncontained failure of a disc and damage to the 
airplane.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, within 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD, amend the approved Airworthiness Limitation Section to 
incorporate the new, reduced life limits as follows:

For Tay 651-54 Engines

    (1) The maximum approved lives (MAL) of the High Pressure 
Compressor (HPC) rotor discs are reduced to the MALs specified in 
the following Table 1 of this AD:

                           Table 1--Tay 651-54 Engine Reduced Disc MAL by Part Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 For                                Part No.                             The MAL is
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) HPC Stage 1 Disc................  JR18049.............................  18,800 cycles.
(ii) HPC Stage 3 Disc...............  JR18743.............................  18,100 cycles.
(iii) HPC Stage 6 Disc..............  JR18748.............................  19,300 cycles.
(iv) HPC Stage 7 Disc...............  JR17365.............................  17,300 cycles.
(v) HPC Stage 12 Disc...............  JR31928.............................  18,900 cycles.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For Tay 620-15 and Tay 650-15 Engines

    (2) The MAL of certain HPC rotor discs are reduced. The affected 
disc serial numbers and the reduced MAL are defined in Rolls-Royce 
Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin TAY-
72-A1740, dated February 11, 2009.
    (3) Thereafter, except as provided in paragraph (f) of this AD, 
no alternative replacement times may be approved for these parts.

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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness Directive 2009-0092, 
dated April 17, 2009, for related information.
    (h) Contact Tara Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7773; fax (781) 238-7199, 
for more information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Alert Non-
Modification Service Bulletin TAY-72-A1740, dated February 11, 2009, 
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 Deutschland Ltd & Co KG; Eschenweg 11, D-15827 
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; telephone +49 (0) 33 7086 1768; fax 
+49 (0) 33 7086 3356.
    (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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 24, 2010.
Francis A. Favara,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-24607 Filed 10-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P