[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12277-12278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4831]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0960; Directorate Identifier 98-ANE-09-AD;
Amendment 39-16620; AD 98-09-27R1]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 768, 772,
and 772B Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are rescinding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for
the products listed above. The existing AD, AD 98-09-27, resulted from
aircraft certification testing which revealed that stresses on the
thrust reverser hinge were higher than had been anticipated during
engine certification, and the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority,
issuing AD 008-03-97. Since we issued AD 98-09-27, we discovered that
its requirements were duplicated in airplane-level AD 2001-09-14,
issued by the FAA Transport Airplane Directorate. We proposed to
rescind the engine-level AD.
DATES: This AD becomes effective April 11, 2011.
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: Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail:
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7143; fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 12278]]
Discussion
On April 23, 1998, the FAA Engine & Propeller Directorate issued
engine AD 98-09-27 (63 FR 24911, May 6, 1998). On April 30, 2001, the
FAA Transport Airplane Directorate issued airplane AD 2001-09-14 (66 FR
23838, May 10, 2001). Those ADs both require the same initial and
repetitive visual inspections of Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 768 and
772 series turbofan engine thrust reverser hinge lugs and attachment
ribs for cracks, and, if necessary, removal from service and
replacement with serviceable parts.
Since we issued engine AD 98-09-27 and airplane AD 2001-09-14, we
determined that duplicate ADs to address the same unsafe condition were
unnecessary. 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 November
15, 2010 (75 FR 69611), and proposed to rescind AD 98-09-27, Amendment
39-10508 (63 FR 24911, May 6, 1998).
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.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We received no comments on the proposal.
Conclusion
We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
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 have 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 that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD and
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the
address listed under ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration 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 rescinding airworthiness directive
(AD) 98-09-27, Amendment 39-10508 (63 FR 24911, May 6, 1998):
98-09-27R1 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-16620. Docket No. FAA-2010-
0960; Directorate Identifier 98-ANE-09-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective April 11, 2011.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD rescinds AD 98-09-27.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 768, 772, and
772B turbofan engines. These engines are installed on, but not
limited to, Airbus A330-341 and A330-342 series airplanes.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 24, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-4831 Filed 3-4-11; 8:45 am]
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