[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 240 (Thursday, December 13, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 74123-74125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30065]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-1167; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-36-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
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
certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) models Tay 620-15 and
Tay 650-15 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by RRD
recalculating the Declared Safe Cyclic Life (DSCL) for certain low-
pressure compressor (LPC) rotor disc assemblies operating to the Plan D
Flight Mission. This proposed AD would require removing the affected
LPC rotor disc assemblies at a new lower recalculated DSCL. We are
proposing this AD to prevent failure of the LPC rotor disc assembly,
uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 11,
2013.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, 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, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
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 proposed AD, contact
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11-15827 Dahlewitz,
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; phone: +49 0 33-7086-1944; fax: +49 0 33-
7086-3276. You may view this 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 proposed 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: Frederick Zink, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7779;
fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 74124]]
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-2012-1167;
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-36-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 aviation
authority for the Member States of the European Community, has issued
EASA AD 2012-0204, dated October 1, 2012 (referred to hereinafter as
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
products. The MCAI states:
The Tay 650-15 and Tay 650-15/10 engine Time Limits Manual
Chapter 05-10-01 contains maximum approved life limitations,
identified as Declared Safe Cyclic Life (DSCL) for Low Pressure
Compressor (LPC) rotor disc assemblies Part Number (P/N) JR31198A
and P/N JR34563A operated to the Plan D Flight Mission, which has
been recalculated to a lower value.
Decreased DSCL of LPC rotor disc assemblies P/N JR31198A and P/N
JR34563A may affect these disc assemblies installed in Tay 650-15
and Tay 650-15/10 engines as well as in Tay 620-15 and Tay 620-15/20
engines.
Failure to take decreased DSCL of affected LPC rotor disc
assemblies into account could lead to affected part failure and
consequent release of high energy debris potentially resulting in
damage to, and/or reduced control of, the aeroplane.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
RRD has issued Alert Service Bulletin TAY-72-A1772 dated August 9,
2012. 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
Germany, 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 proposing 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. This proposed AD requires removing the affected
LPC rotor disc assemblies at the new lower recalculated DSCL.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 4 engines installed
on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would require 4
hours to perform the actions required by this AD. The average labor
rate is $85 per hour. Prorated life for the disc assembly is
approximately $650 per disc. Based on these figures, we estimate the
cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $3,960.
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, Incorporation by
reference, 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 (RRD) (formerly Rolls-Royce
plc): Docket No. FAA-2012-1167; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-36-
AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by February 11, 2013.
(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD)
models Tay 620-15 and Tay 650-15 turbofan engines with a low-
pressure compressor (LPC) rotor disc assembly, part number (P/N)
JR31198A or P/N JR34563A installed.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by RRD recalculating the Declared Safe
Cyclic Life for certain LPC rotor disc assemblies operating to the
Plan D Flight Mission. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of
the LPC rotor disc assembly, uncontained engine failure, and loss of
the airplane.
[[Page 74125]]
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following. For engines that have
operated to the Plan D Flight Mission configuration, remove the LPC
rotor disc assembly from service before accumulating 18,700 engine
flight cycles. Do not return to service nor approve for return to
service any engine with the affected discs installed that exceeds
18,700 engine flight cycles.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your
request.
(g) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Frederick Zink,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803; email: [email protected]; phone: 781-238-7779; fax: 781-
238-7199.
(2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2012-0204, dated
October 1, 2012, and RRD Alert Service Bulletin TAY-72-A1772, dated
August 9, 2012, for related information.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11 Dahlewitz 15827,
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; phone: +49 0 33-7086-1944; fax: +49 0
33-7086-3276.
(4) You may view this 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.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 6, 2012.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-30065 Filed 12-12-12; 8:45 am]
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