[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56760-56761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21286]
[[Page 56760]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0848; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-20-AD;
Amendment 39-17167; AD 2012-17-04]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 800 series turbofan engines. This AD
requires removing from service certain intermediate pressure (IP)
turbine discs that have a serial number listed in this AD. This AD was
prompted by RR performing an evaluation that determined that the
current lives for certain IP turbine discs with a steel inclusion may
fail before they reach their current mandatory life limits. We are
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the IP turbine disc, which could
result in uncontained failure of the engine and damage to the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective October 1, 2012.
We must receive comments on this AD by October 29, 2012.
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: 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.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Rolls-Royce
plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, England, DE248BJ;
phone: 011-44-1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332-245418 or email from http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp, or download the
publication from https://www.aeromanager.com. You may review copies of
the referenced service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. 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 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 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: Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7143; fax:
781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD 2012-0120, dated July 4, 2012 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
The inspection of several IP turbine discs at past engine
overhauls identified the presence of steel inclusions in these
parts. Further investigation concluded that all affected parts were
manufactured from Waspalloy billets produced before 1997 at a
certain supplier who also melted steel in the same furnaces. Initial
engineering evaluation concluded that the lives of the parts would
not be affected by the presence of the said steel inclusions. This
evaluation has been recently repeated, utilising improved structural
analysis, and it is now concluded that the currently published lives
of the components cannot be supported for some discs with a steel
inclusion.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to an uncontained
IP turbine disc failure, possibly resulting in damage to, and
reduced control of, the aeroplane.
The current life limit of the Trent 800 IP turbine disc is 11,610
standard duty cycles. Analysis shows that discs that could have steel
inclusions in them must be removed earlier than the current life to
prevent uncontained disc failure. We are issuing this AD to prevent
failure of the IP turbine disc, which could result in uncontained
failure of the engine and damage to the airplane. You may obtain
further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD
This product has been approved by the United Kingdom and is
approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral
agreement with the European Community, EASA has notified us of the
unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information
referenced above. We are issuing 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.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because no
affected IP turbine discs are installed in engines that are used on
U.S.-registered airplanes. Therefore, we determined that notice and
opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are unnecessary
and that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in fewer
than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0848; Directorate
Identifier 2012-NE-20-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
with FAA personnel concerning this 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
[[Page 56761]]
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
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:
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.
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 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:
2012-17-04 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-17167; Docket No. FAA-2012-
0848; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-20-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective October 1,
2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 875-17, 877-
17, 884-17, 884B-17, 892-17, 892B-17, and 895-17 turbofan engines
that have an intermediate pressure (IP) turbine disc with a serial
number listed in Table 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD, installed.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by RR performing an evaluation that
determined that the current lives for certain IP turbine discs with
a steel inclusion may fail before they reach their current mandatory
life limits. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the IP
turbine disc, which could result in uncontained failure of the
engine and damage to the airplane.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following. Remove disc serial
numbers (S/Ns) listed in Table 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD within
9,700 standard duty cycles since new.
Table 1 to Paragraph (e)--Affected IP Turbine Discs
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IP Turbine Disc S/N
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ADREB 73
ADREB 79
ADREB 80
ADREB 81
ADREB 82
ADREB 83
ADREB 84
ADREB 85
ADREB 86
ADREB 87
ADREB 88
ADREB 89
ADREB 90
ADREB 91
ADREB 92
ADREB 94
ADREB 96
ADREB 102
ADREB 103
ADREB 104
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(f) Installation Prohibition
After the effective date of this AD, do not install any IP and
Low Pressure (LP) turbine module on any engine with an IP turbine
disc with an S/N listed in Table 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD if
the life of the disc is equal to or greater than 9,700 standard duty
cycles since new. After the effective date of this AD, do not
install any IP turbine disk listed in Table 1 to paragraph (e) of
this AD if the life of the disk is equal to or greater than 9,700
standard duty cycles since new.
(g) Definitions
For the purposes of this AD, a shop visit is one where the IP
and LP turbine module has been removed from the engine.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs
to this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your
request.
(i) Related Information
(1) You may find additional information on replacing the IP
turbine disc, in RB211 Trent 800 Propulsion Systems Non-Modification
Service Bulletin No. RB.211-72-AG795, dated October 28, 2011.
(2) 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; phone: 781-238-7143; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
[email protected].
(3) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness
Directive 2012-0120, dated July 4, 2012, for related information.
(4) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Rolls-Royce plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby,
England, DE248BJ; phone: 011-44-1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332-245418
or email from http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 15, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21286 Filed 9-13-12; 8:45 am]
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