[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 36 (Friday, February 22, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12255-12256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04103]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-1331; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-44-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited, Bristol
Engine Division Turbojet 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 all
Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited, Bristol Engine Division (RR) Viper Mk. 601-
22 turbojet engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a review carried
out by RR of the lives of certain critical parts. This proposed AD
would require reducing the life of these parts. We are proposing this
AD to prevent life-limited part failure, damage to the engine, and
damage to the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 23, 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: 011-44-1332-249936; 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:
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-2012-1331;
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-44-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 Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2012-0243 (Correction: November 13, 2012),
dated November 12, 2012, a Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness
Information (referred to hereinafter as ``the MCAI''), to correct an
unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:
A review, carried out by Rolls-Royce, of the lives of critical
parts of the Viper Mk. 601-22 engine, has resulted in reduced cyclic
life limits for certain critical parts.
Operation of critical parts beyond these reduced cyclic life
limits may result in part failure, possibly resulting in the release
of high-energy debris, which may cause damage to the aeroplane and/
or injury to the occupants.
For the reasons described above, this AD requires implementation
of the reduced cyclic life limits for the affected critical parts,
i.e., replacement of each part before the applicable reduced life
limit is exceeded, and replacement of those critical parts that have
already exceeded the reduced cyclic life limits.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
RR Alert Service Bulletin 72-A206, dated November, 2012.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of the
United Kingdom and is approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the European
[[Page 12256]]
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
would require reducing the life of certain critical parts.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 32 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take 0 hours
per product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is
$85 per hour. We are not requiring parts replacement, so parts cost is
$0. We estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $0.
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.
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
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:
Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited, Bristol Engine Division: Docket No. FAA-
2012-1331; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-44-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by April 23, 2013.
(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited, Bristol
Engine Division (RR) Viper Mk. 601-22 turbojet engines.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by a review carried out by RR of the lives
of certain critical parts. We are issuing this AD to prevent life-
limited part failure, damage to the engine, and damage to the
airplane.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following actions.
(1) After the effective date of this AD, remove the following
parts before they reach their specified new, lower life limits:
compressor shaft, part number (P/N) V900766: 20,720 flight cycles
since new (CSN); compressor rear stubshaft (center bearing hub), P/
Ns V900007 and V900994: 9,600 CSN; combustion chamber outer casing,
P/Ns V950013 and V950331: 32,000 CSN.
(2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any part
identified in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD into any engine, nor
return any engine to service, with the parts identified in paragraph
(e)(1) of this AD installed, if the part exceeds the new, lower life
limits specified in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.
(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 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 European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness
Directive 2012-0243 (Correction: November 13, 2012), dated November
12, 2012, and Rolls-Royce Alert Service Bulletin 72-A206, dated
November, 2012, for related information.
(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-
249936; 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.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 15, 2013.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-04103 Filed 2-21-13; 8:45 am]
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