[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70198-70200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27431]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0397; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-15-AD;
Amendment 39-17656; AD 2013-23-01]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) model Tay 620-15, 650-15, and
651-54 turbofan engines. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the
high-pressure (HP) air bleed valve operating mechanism and, depending
on findings, corrective action. This AD was prompted by excessive
deterioration of the HP air bleed valve operating mechanism, which is
influencing the aerodynamic fan flutter margin. This condition, if not
corrected, could lead to multiple fan blade failure. We are issuing
this AD to prevent multiple fan blade failure, which could result in
uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective December 30, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of December 30,
2013.
ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.
[[Page 70199]]
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 mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any
comments received, and other information. The street address for the
Docket Operations office (phone: 800-647-5527) is 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
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products.
The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on June 13, 2013 (78 FR
35574). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
A review of the service history of Tay engines discovered that
the High Pressure (HP) air bleed valve operating mechanism is
exposed to excessive deterioration, influencing the aerodynamics and
stability of the Low Pressure (LP) compressor (fan) rotor.
This condition, if not corrected, could reduce fan flutter
margin and, in some cases, could lead to multiple fan blade
failures, possibly resulting in an uncontained release of high
energy debris with consequent damage to, and/or reduced control of,
the aeroplane.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the comments received.
Request To Change Unsafe Condition Statement Wording
RRD requested that we clarify the cause of fan blade flutter stated
in the unsafe condition statement to include ``. . . affects the
aerodynamic flutter margin causing subsequent multiple fan blade
failure . . .''. Fan blade flutter does not occur automatically.
Reduction of fan flutter margin increases the risk of fan flutter
potentially leading to fan blade cracking.
We agree. We changed the unsafe condition statement to ``This AD
was prompted by excessive deterioration of the HP air bleed valve
operating mechanism, which is influencing the aerodynamic fan flutter
margin. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to multiple fan
blade failure''.
Request To Change Applicability
RRD requested that we change the scope of the AD to include Tay
650-15 and Tay 651-54 engine models. The justification for this request
is supported by European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2013-0142, dated
July 12, 2013 and RRD Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB)
No. TAY-75-A1784, Revision 1, dated May 30, 2013.
We partially agree. We disagree with adding the Tay 650-15 engine
model because it is already in the AD. We agree with adding the Tay
651-54 engine model to the applicability because it is included in RRD
NMSB No. TAY-75-A1784, Revision 1, dated May 30, 2013. Additionally, we
added the Tay 620-15 engine model to the applicability because the
latest MCAI added it. We changed the applicability accordingly, which
increased the costs of compliance. Further, we updated the paragraph
number reference in Compliance paragraph (e)(2) of this AD to
correspond to the revised NMSB.
Conclusion
We reviewed the available data, including the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
the AD with the changes described previously. We determined that these
changes will not significantly increase the economic burden on any
operator or increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect about 78 engines of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it will take about 10 hours per engine
to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour.
Required parts will cost about $153 per engine. Based on these figures,
we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. operators to be $78,234.
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),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, and
(4) 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.
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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
2013-23-01 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Amendment 39-17656;
Docket No. FAA-2013-0397; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-15-AD.
[[Page 70200]]
(a) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective December 30, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD)
model Tay 620-15, 650-15, and 651-54 turbofan engines.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by excessive deterioration of the high-
pressure (HP) air bleed valve operating mechanism which is
influencing the aerodynamic fan flutter margin. This condition, if
not corrected, could lead to multiple fan blade failure. We are
issuing this AD to prevent multiple fan blade failure, which could
result in uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following actions.
(1) Within 1,500 flight cycles after the effective date of this
AD, perform a one-time inspection of the HP air bleed valve
operating mechanism. Use paragraphs 3.D. and 3.E. of RRD Alert Non-
Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. TAY-75-A1784, Revision 1,
dated May 30, 2013, to do your inspection.
(2) If the measured torque necessary to open and close the HP
air bleed valve is higher than the torque values referenced in
paragraph 3.D.(1)(a)[1] for the Tay 620-15 and 650-15 engines, or
3.D.(2)(a)[1] for the Tay 651-54 engine, of RRD Alert NMSB No. TAY-
75-A1784, Revision 1, dated May 30, 2013, then before next flight,
accomplish paragraph 3.D(1)(a)[1][a], for the Tay 620-15 and 650-15
engines, or 3.D.(2)(a)[1][a], for the Tay 651-54 engine, of RRD
Alert NMSB No. TAY-75-A1784, Revision 1, dated May 30, 2013.
(f) 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.
(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; phone: 781-238-7779; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
[email protected].
(2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2013-0142, dated
July 12, 2013, for more information. You may examine the AD on the
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2013-
0397-0004.
(h) 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 Deutschland Alert Non-Modification Service
Bulletin No. TAY-75-A1784, Revision 1, dated May 30, 2013.
(ii) Reserved.
(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 33-7086-1200; fax: 49 0
33-7086-1212.
(4) You may view this service information at 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 November 1, 2013.
Thomas A. Boudreau,
Acting Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-27431 Filed 11-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P