[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77382-77384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30489]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0884; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-31-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 all
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-
30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted
by a report of a partial de-bonding of the low pressure compressor
(LPC) case ice impact panels during an engine shop visit. This proposed
AD would require replacement of the LPC case ice impact panels. We are
proposing this AD to prevent failure of the LPC case ice impact panels,
which could result in damage to the engine and loss of control of the
airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 21,
2014.
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: Docket Management Facility, 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, contact
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, 15827
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; phone: 49 0 33-7086-1883; 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.
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://
[[Page 77383]]
www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-
0884; 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 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 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:
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-2013-0884;
Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-31-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
AD 2013-0231, dated September 24, 2013 (referred to hereinafter as
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
products. The MCAI states:
Partial de-bonding of the Low Pressure Compressor (LPC) Case Ice
Impact Panels was reported during engine shop visit.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to Ice Impact Panel
de-bonding, resulting, in case of an impact event and release of
particles, in blockage of the Outlet Guide Vane and consequent
potential loss of thrust or reduced fan flutter margin.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-
2013-0884.
Relevant Service Information
RRD has issued Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin No. ALERT
SB-BR700-72-A900281, dated July 1, 2013. The service information
describes procedures for replacement of the LPC case ice impact panels.
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 would require replacement of the
LPC case ice impact panels.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 232 RRD turbofan engines
installed on aircraft of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would
take about 24 hours per engine to comply with this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts cost about $9,268
per product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $2,623,456.
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),
(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.
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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Formerly Rolls-Royce
Deutschland GmbH, formerly BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH): Docket No. FAA-
2013-0884; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-31-AD.
[[Page 77384]]
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by February 21, 2014.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD)
BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by a report of a partial de-bonding of the
low pressure compressor (LPC) case ice impact panels during an
engine shop visit. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the
LPC case ice impact panels, which could result in damage to the
engine and loss of control of the airplane.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, after the effective date of this AD, at the
next engine shop visit or within 12,500 engine flight cycles since
the last shop visit, whichever occurs first, replace the four LPC
ice impact panels with panels eligible for installation.
(f) Definition
(1) For the purposes of this AD, an ``engine shop visit'' is the
induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the
separation of pairs of major mating engine flanges. The separation
of engine flanges solely for the purpose of transportation without
subsequent engine maintenance does not constitute an engine shop
visit.
(2) For the purposes of this AD, a panel that is ``eligible for
installation'' is a new LPC impact panel or one that has been
repaired using RRD Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB)
No. ALERT SB-BR700-72-A900281, dated July 1, 2013.
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs
to 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 European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2013-0231, dated
September 24, 2013, for more information. You may examine the MCAI
in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2013-0884.
(3) RRD Alert NMSB No. ALERT SB-BR700-72-A900281, dated July 1,
2013, which is not incorporated by reference in this AD, can be
obtained from RRD using the contact information in paragraph (h)(4)
of this AD.
(4) 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.
(5) 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 11, 2013.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-30489 Filed 12-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P