[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 222 (Friday, November 16, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68714-68716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27824]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-1055; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-33-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) BR700-710A1-10 and BR700-
710A2-20 turbofan engines, and certain BR700-710C4-11 model engines.
This proposed AD was prompted by RRD performing an evaluation that
determined that certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 and stage 2
discs from a specific supplier may contain steel inclusions that may
cause the discs to fail before they reach their current life limits.
This proposed AD would require reducing the life limits for certain HPT
stage 1 and stage 2 discs. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure
of the HPT stage 1 and stage 2 discs, which could result in uncontained
failure of the engine and damage to the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 15,
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: 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 proposed AD, 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://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 proposed 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 Morlath, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7154;
fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
[[Page 68715]]
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-2012-1055;
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-33-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 2012-0166, dated August 30, 2012 (referred to hereinafter as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
The results of a recent quality review of high pressure turbine
(HPT) stage 1 and stage 2 discs identified potential for steel
inclusions in some production scale parts. Further investigation
concluded that all affected parts were manufactured by Udimet 720I
and melted by a certain supplier. Subsequent evaluation concluded
that the affected parts life limitation values declared in the
engine Time Limits Manual cannot be supported for discs with
potential steel inclusion.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to an uncontained
HPT disc failure, potentially resulting in damage to, and/or reduced
control of the aeroplane.
The FAA has further determined that the risk to the engine is increased
by installing an HPT stage 1 disc and an HPT stage 2 disc from the
affected population, on the same engine. Therefore the FAA is
prohibiting the installation of an HPT stage 1 and HPT stage 2 disc
from the affected population in the same engine. You may obtain further
information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.
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 Germany, they have 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 limits for
certain HPT stage 1 and HPT stage 2 discs that have a serial number
listed in this proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 10 engines
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. Prorated parts life will cost
about $210,000. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $2,100,000. Our cost estimate is
exclusive of possible warranty coverage.
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); 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 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
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Formerly Rolls-Royce
Deutschland GmbH, formerly BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH): Docket No. FAA-
2012-1055; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-33-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by January 15, 2013.
(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to the following Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd &
Co KG (RRD) turbofan engines that have any of the high-pressure
turbine (HPT) stage 1 or stage 2 discs with a serial number (S/N)
listed in Table 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD, installed:
(1) RRD BR700-710A1-10 and BR700-710A2-20 turbofan engines; and
(2) BR700-710C4-11 model engines that have hardware
configuration standard 710C4-11 or 710C4-11/10 engraved on the
engine data plate.
[[Page 68716]]
Table 1 to Paragraph (c)--Affected HPT Stage 1 and Stage 2 Discs
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S/Ns of HPT Stage 1 discs, Part No. S/Ns of HPT Stage 2 discs, P/N
(P/N) BRR23952 BRR22008
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LDRQA05719 LDRQA05791
LDRQA05720 LDRQA05944
LDRQA05721 LDRQA05945
LDRQA05722
LDRQA05723
LDRQA05724
LDRQA05726
LDRQA05727
LDRQA05841
LDRQA05842
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(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by RRD performing an evaluation that
determined that certain HPT stage 1 and stage 2 discs from a
specific supplier may contain steel inclusions that may cause the
discs to fail before they reach their current life limits. We are
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPT stage 1 and stage 2
discs, which could result in uncontained failure of the engine and
damage to the airplane.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, remove from service the HPT stage 1 and
stage 2 discs listed by S/N in Table 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD,
at the following:
(1) For BR700-710A1-10, BR700-710A2-20, and BR700-710C4-11
engine models (without RRD Mod 72-101466), remove the HPT stage 1
and stage 2 discs from service before accumulating 3,000 cycles-
since-new (CSN).
(2) For the BR700-710C4-11 engine model (with RRD Mod 72-
101466), remove the HPT stage 1 and stage 2 discs from service
before accumulating 2,300 CSN.
(f) Installation Prohibition
After the effective date of this AD, do not install an HPT stage
1 and an HPT stage 2 disc, identified by S/N in Table 1 to paragraph
(c) of this AD, in the same engine.
(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 Robert Morlath,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803; phone: 781-238-7154; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
[email protected].
(2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness
Directive 2012-0166, dated August 30, 2012, and Rolls-Royce
Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Alert Service Bulletin SB-BR700-72-A900508,
dated July 26, 2012, for related information. 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, for a copy of this service information.
(3) 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 November 5, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-27824 Filed 11-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P