[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20229-20231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-8469]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-0233; Directorate Identifier 98-ANE-10-AD;
Amendment 39-16660; AD 2011-08-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 768-60
and Trent 772-60 Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD)
for RR RB211-Trent 700 series turbofan engines. That AD currently
requires, for the step aside gearbox (SAGB), repositioning of the oil
metering jet up into the oil distributor within the bevel gearshaft,
followed by initial and repetitive visual inspections of the magnetic
chip detector (MCD). Since we issued that AD, RR has demonstrated that
the repositioning of the oil metering jet eliminates the need for the
repetitive inspections. This AD changes the applicability from RB211-
Trent 700 series turbofan engines, to RB211-Trent 768-60 and Trent 772-
60 turbofan engines. This AD also eliminates the visual inspections of
the MCD from the AD requirements. This AD was prompted by RR
demonstrating that the repositioning of the oil metering jet eliminates
the need for the repetitive inspections, by the need to correct the AD
applicability, and by the need to eliminate the visual inspections of
the MCD. We are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight engine shutdowns
caused by SAGB driving bevel gearshaft ball bearing failure.
DATES: This AD is effective April 27, 2011.
The Director of the Federal Register previously approved the
incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD
as of October 1, 1998 (63 FR 49416, September 16, 1998).
We must receive any comments on this AD by May 27, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Rolls-Royce
plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom; telephone 44 1332
242424; fax 44 1332 249936; e-mail: royce.com">tech.help@rolls-royce.com. You may
review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Engine
& Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
781-238-7125.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
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 Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone 781-238-7143;
fax 781-238-7199; e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On September 8, 1998, we issued AD 98-19-12, Amendment 39-10754 (63
FR 49416, September 16, 1998), for RR RB211-Trent 700 series turbofan
engines. That AD requires, for the SAGB, repositioning of the oil
metering jet up into the oil distributor within the bevel gearshaft,
followed by initial and repetitive visual inspections of the MCD. That
AD resulted from reports of uncommanded engine shutdowns caused by
failure of the SAGB driving bevel gearshaft ball bearing due to oil
starvation. We issued that AD to prevent in-flight engine shutdowns
caused by SAGB driving bevel gearshaft ball bearing failure.
Actions Since AD Was Issued
Since we issued AD 98-19-12, RR has demonstrated that the
repositioning of the oil metering jet eliminates the need for the
repetitive inspections. Also, since we issued that AD, Rolls Royce put
into service, its RB211-Trent 772B-
[[Page 20230]]
60 model turbofan engine, which does not have the unsafe condition that
AD sought to correct. Since the AD applicability states that it is for
RB211-Trent 700 series turbofan engines, that applicability includes
the RB211-Trent 772B-60 engines, and it shouldn't.
FAA's Determination
We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
AD Requirements
This AD retains the oil metering jet repositioning requirements of
AD 98-19-12. This AD also eliminates the initial and repetitive visual
inspections of the MCD, required by AD 98-19-12. This AD also corrects
the applicability from RB211-Trent 700 series turbofan engines, to,
RB211-Trent 768-60 turbofan engines prior to serial No. 41052, and
RB211-Trent 772-60 turbofan engines prior to serial No. 41052.
FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date
Since no domestic operators use RB211-Trent 768-60 or RB211-Trent
772-60 turbofan engines, we find that notice and opportunity for prior
public comment are unnecessary and that good cause exists for making
this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include
the docket number FAA-2011-0233 and Directorate Identifier 98-ANE-10-AD
at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on
the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of
this AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and
may amend this AD because of 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 AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects no engines installed on airplanes
of U.S. registry. The elimination of visual inspection requirements by
this AD, adds no additional economic burden.
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
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),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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.
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 FAA amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation
Regulations (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 removing airworthiness directive (AD)
98-19-12, Amendment 39-10754 (63 FR 49416, September 16, 1998), and
adding the following new AD:
2011-08-10 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-16660; Docket No. FAA-2011-
0233; Directorate Identifier 98-ANE-10-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD is effective April 27, 2011.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 98-19-12, Amendment 39-10754.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 768-60
turbofan engines prior to serial No. 41052, and RB211-Trent 772-60
turbofan engines prior to serial No. 41052.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by RR demonstrating that the
repositioning of the oil metering jet eliminates the need for the
repetitive inspections, by the need to correct the AD applicability,
and by the need to eliminate the visual inspections of the MCD. We
are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight engine shutdowns caused by
step aside gearbox (SAGB) driving bevel gearshaft ball bearing
failure.
Compliance
(e) Comply with this AD before further flight, unless already
done.
Repositioning of the Oil Metering Jet
(f) Reposition the oil metering jet up into the oil distributor
within the bevel gearshaft, using RR Service Bulletin No. RB.211 72-
C270, dated June 1, 1997.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g) 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
(h) For more information about this AD, contact Alan Strom,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803; telephone 781-238-7143; fax 781-238-7199; e-mail:
[email protected].
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Rolls-Royce plc Service Bulletin No. RB.211 72-
C270, dated June 1, 1997, to do the actions required by this AD.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register previously approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
[[Page 20231]]
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51, as of October 1, 1998 (63 FR 49416,
September 16, 1998).
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom;
telephone 44 1332 242424; fax 44 1332 249936; e-mail:
royce.com">tech.help@rolls-royce.com.
(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. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
781-238-7125.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 5, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-8469 Filed 4-11-11; 8:45 am]
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