[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22180-22182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08445]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0196; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-03-AD;
Amendment 39-17376; AD 2013-05-04]
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 certain
Rolls-Royce plc (RR) 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
inspection of the intermediate pressure compressor rear stub shaft (IPC
RSS) piston ring. This AD was prompted by the failure of an oil pump
drive shear neck due to a piston ring seal that was not seated properly
in the IPC RSS groove. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the
oil pump drive shear neck, which could result in loss of oil pressure
in one or more engines and reduced control of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective April 30, 2013.
We must receive comments on this AD by May 30, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of April 30,
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.
[[Page 22181]]
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: 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:
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 2012-0273, dated December 21, 2012, a Mandatory
Continuing Airworthiness Information (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
During take-off of an A380 on a customer acceptance flight, a
low oil pressure warning message was observed by the flight crew.
The take-off was aborted and the aircraft returned to the gate
without further incident. Initial post-flight inspection of the
engine revealed that the oil pump drive shear neck had failed. Upon
further inspection of the engine, pieces of debris were found in the
oil pump Internal Gear Box (IGB) rear scavenge screen and smaller
pieces of profiled debris were found on the Electrical Magnetic Chip
Detector (EMCD). From the material recovered, the origin was found
to be the piston ring seal, which fits in the groove of the
Intermediate Pressure Compressor Rear Stub Shaft (IPC RSS). This
piston ring was introduced as part of Rolls-Royce Mod.72-G585 which
incorporated a modified 52-spline IP Turbine Shaft, IPC RSS and
coupling assembly. Therefore, only engines incorporating Mod.72-G585
are affected.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
loss of oil pressure on one or more of the engines, possibly
resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane.
The failure to properly seat the piston ring seal in the groove of
the IPC RSS occurs during assembly of the shaft. This could cause the
movement of the ring out of the groove and resulting forces during
operation may cause fracture of the ring. You may obtain further
information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
RR has issued Repeater Technical Variance 129978, Issue 1, dated
December 19, 2012 and Issue 2, dated December 20, 2012; Repeater
Technical Variance 129940, Issue 1, dated December 20, 2012; and
Repeater Technical Variance 129994, Issue 1, dated December 19, 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, 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. This AD requires inspection of the IPC RSS piston ring.
Differences Between the AD and the MCAI or Service Information
This AD requires compliance for all engines within 50 cycles of the
effective date of this AD. The MCAI requires a staggered compliance
interval based on the number of affected engines on the airplane. Our
AD uses a more conservative compliance time because there are no
engines installed on aircraft of U.S. registry that will be affected.
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-2013-0196; Directorate
Identifier 2013-NE-03-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
[[Page 22182]]
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:
2013-05-04 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-17376; Docket No. FAA-2013-
0196; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-03-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 30,
2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) 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 that incorporate RR production Modification 72-G585 or
modified in-service through RR Service Bulletin (SB) 72-G585, any
revision, with a Module 33 installed having a serial number (S/N)
prior to HC0320, except S/Ns HC0277, HC0281, HC0294, HC0301, HC0309,
HC0313, HC0315, and HC0318.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by the failure of an oil pump drive shear
neck due to a piston ring seal that was not seated properly in the
intermediate pressure compressor rear stub shaft (IPC RSS) groove.
We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the oil pump drive
shear neck, which could result in loss of oil pressure in one or
more engines and reduced control of the airplane.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following.
(1) Within 50 engine flight cycles after the effective date of
this AD, inspect the IPC RSS piston ring in accordance with the
instructions of paragraph (d)(2) of RR Repeater Technical Variance
129978, Issue 2, dated December 20, 2012.
(2) For an engine that is not in service on the effective date
of this AD, before returning the engine to service, inspect the IPC
RSS piston ring on-wing in accordance with paragraph (d)(2) of RR
Repeater Technical Variance 129978, Issue 2, dated December 20,
2012; or in shop using paragraph (d) of RR Repeater Technical
Variance 129994, Issue 1, dated December 19, 2012.
(3) If, during the inspections required by paragraph (e) of this
AD, you find that the piston ring seal is not seated properly in the
IPC RSS groove or is not intact, replace the piston ring seal or
piston ring assembly before returning the engine to service.
(f) Credit for Previous Actions
If you performed the inspection in paragraph (e) of this AD
before the effective date of this AD in accordance with RR Repeater
Technical Variance 129978, Issue 1, dated December 19, 2012; RR
Repeater Technical Variance 129940, Issue 1, dated December 20,
2012, or Airbus QSR RR/L/EN/12-0005, as applicable, you have met the
inspection requirement of this AD.
(g) 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.
(h) 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; phone: 781-238-7779; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
[email protected].
(2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2012-0273,
dated December 21, 2012, for related information.
(i) 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) RR Repeater Technical Variance 129994, Issue 1, dated
December 19, 2012.
(ii) RR Repeater Technical Variance 129978, Issue 2, dated
December 20, 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 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.
(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 March 1, 2013.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-08445 Filed 4-12-13; 8:45 am]
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