[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 20 (Wednesday, January 30, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6206-6208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01361]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0030; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-42-AD;
Amendment 39-17325; AD 2013-02-04]
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 RB211-Trent 970-84, RB211-Trent 970B-84, RB211-Trent
972-84, RB211-Trent 972B-84, RB211-Trent 977-84, RB211-Trent 977B-84
and RB211-Trent 980-84 turbofan engines. This AD requires on-wing
inspections of low-pressure turbine (LPT) disk seal fins and interstage
seals when post-flight review indicates Engine Health Monitoring (EHM)
vibratory maintenance-alert limits were exceeded in flight. The AD also
requires in-shop inspections of the LPT disk seal fins and interstage
seals to detect cracks or damage and, depending on the findings,
accomplishment of corrective action. This AD is prompted by a Trent 900
engine experiencing LPT stage 2 disk interstage seal material loss and
increased low-pressure rotor vibration while in flight. We are issuing
this AD to prevent cracks in the LPT disk, which could result in
uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective February 14, 2013.
We must receive comments on this AD by March 18, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of February 14,
2013.
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: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp. 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 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: Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7754;
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
Airworthiness Directive 2012-0220, dated October 22, 2012, a Mandatory
[[Page 6207]]
Continuing Airworthiness Information (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
Following a revenue service flight, a Trent 900 engine
experienced increased low-pressure vibration. The vibration did not
exceed any engine limits, and the engine was not shut down during
flight. Upon post-flight inspection of the engine, debris was found
in the exhaust tail pipe and the engine was removed. The results of
a subsequent strip inspection revealed that the stage 2 Low-Pressure
Turbine (LPT) disc had suffered material loss from a portion of the
Interstage Seal (ISS) area of the disc, with impact damage to
downstream LPT stages. All debris was contained within the engine
casings.
Preliminary findings show that the ISS fin had rubbed into the
stage 2 vane honeycomb seal, which overheated and cracked, finally
resulting in releasing a portion of the ISS area of the disc.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to LPT
stage 2 disc cracks, possibly resulting in an uncontained engine
failure and subsequent damage to the aeroplane.
We are issuing this AD to prevent cracks in the LPT disks, which could
result in uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane. You
may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
RR has issued Repeater Technical Variance 125060, Issue 1, dated
July 27, 2012; Repeater Technical Variance 125658, Issue 2, dated
August 14, 2012; Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) RB.211-
72-AH054, Initial issue, dated September 14, 2012; and Alert NMSB
RB.211-72-AH054, Revision 1, dated November 5, 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 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, they have 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. This AD requires on-wing inspections of LPT disk seal fins and
interstage seals when post-flight review of the EHM low-pressure rotor
(N1) vibration data indicates maintenance-alert limits were exceeded in
flight. The AD also requires in-shop inspections of the LPT disk seal
fins and interstage seals to detect cracks or damage and, depending on
the findings, the accomplishment of corrective action.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
No domestic operators use this product. Therefore, 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 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-2013-0030; Directorate
Identifier 2012-NE-42-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 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:
2013-02-04 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-17325; Docket No. FAA-2013-
0030; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-42-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective February 14,
2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 970-84,
RB211-Trent 970B-84,
[[Page 6208]]
RB211-Trent 972-84, RB211-Trent 972B-84, RB211-Trent 977-84, RB211-
Trent 977B-84, and RB211-Trent 980-84 engines, all serial numbers.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by a Trent 900 engine experiencing low-
pressure turbine (LPT) stage 2 disk interstage seal material loss
and increased low-pressure rotor vibration while in flight. We are
issuing this AD to prevent cracks in the LPT disk, which could
result in uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following.
(1) After every flight after the effective date of this AD,
review the Engine Health Monitoring (EHM) low-pressure rotor (N1)
vibration data. If you find that the maximum and average vibrations
exceed 0.7 inches/sec (ips) and 0.5 ips, respectively, then within
10 engine flight cycles, confirm that the vibration data was not the
result of indicator error.
(2) If you cannot show that the vibration increase was caused by
indicator error, inspect the LPT disk seal fins and interstage
seals. Use RR Repeater Technical Variance 125060, Issue 1, dated
July 27, 2012, to do the inspections.
(3) After the effective date of this AD, at each engine shop
visit inspect the LPT disk seal fins and interstage seals. Use RR
Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin RB.211-72-AH054, Revision 1,
dated November 5, 2012, or Initial Issue, dated September 14, 2012,
to do the inspections.
(4) If, during the inspection required by paragraphs (e)(2) or
(e)(3) of this AD, you find any cracks in the disk seal fins or that
the interstage seals are missing seal material, replace the parts
with hardware eligible for installation before returning the engine
to service.
(f) Definitions
For the purposes of this AD, a shop visit is defined as whenever
engine maintenance performed prior to reinstallation requires one of
the following:
(1) Separation of a pair of major mating engine module flanges.
However, separation of flanges solely for the purpose of shipment
without subsequent internal maintenance is not a shop visit.
Separation of the external gearbox engine mating flanges or removal
of the external gearbox is also not classified as a shop visit.
(2) Removal of a disk, hub, or spool.
(g) Credit for Previous Actions
If you took corrective action before the effective date of this
AD in accordance with RR Repeater Technical Variance 125658, Issue
2, dated August 14, 2012, for detected excessive vibration, you met
the inspection requirements of this AD.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Engine Certification Office, may approve AMOCs for
this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your
request.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Robert Green,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803; phone: 781-238-7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
[email protected].
(2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2012-0220,
dated October 22, 2012.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Non-Modification Service Bulletin
(NMSB) RB.211-72-AH054, Initial Issue, dated September 14, 2012.
(ii) RR NMSB RB.211-72-AH054, Revision 1, dated November 5,
2012.
(iii) RR Repeater Technical Variance 125060, Issue 1, dated July
27, 2012.
(3) 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: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp.
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, 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.
(5) You may view this service information 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 January 15, 2013.
Thomas A. Boudreau,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-01361 Filed 1-29-13; 8:45 am]
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