This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

71363 

Vol. 79, No. 231 

Tuesday, December 2, 2014 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2014–0904; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–NE–14–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce 

plc Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211–524 

turbofan engines with certain part 

number (P/N) low-pressure turbine 

(LPT) stage 3 turbine blades installed. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

reports of LPT stage 3 turbine blade 

failures, release of blades, and 

subsequent in-flight shutdowns. This 

proposed AD would require 

implementation of a life limit for certain 

P/N LPT stage 3 turbine blades and 

replacement of affected blades that 

reach or exceed the life limit. We are 

proposing this AD to prevent failure of 

LPT stage 3 turbine blades and 

subsequent release of blade debris, 

which could lead to failure of one or 

more engines, loss of thrust control, and 

damage to the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by February 2, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• 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 NPRM, contact Rolls-Royce plc, 

Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 

31, Derby, England, DE24 8BJ; phone: 

011–44–1332–242424; fax: 011–44– 

1332–249936; email: http://www.rollsroyce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp; 

Internet: https://www.aeromanager.com. 

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 by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2014– 

0904; 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 address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 

will be available in the AD docket 

shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kenneth Steeves, Aerospace Engineer, 

Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine 

& Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 

phone: 781–238–7765; fax: 781–238– 

7199; email: kenneth.steeves@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this NPRM. Send your comments to an 

address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2014–0904; Directorate Identifier 2014– 

NE–14–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this NPRM. We will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this NPRM 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 NPRM. 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA AD 2014– 

0210, dated September 19, 2014 

(referred to hereinafter as ‘‘the MCAI’’), 

to correct an unsafe condition for the 

specified products. The MCAI states: 

Since 2006, a number of low pressure 

turbine (LPT) Stage 3 blade failures have 

been reported, each resulting in engine inflight shut-down. Engineering analysis on 

those occurrences indicates that blades with 

an accumulated life of 11,000 flight cycles 

(FC) or more have an increased risk of failure. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could lead to release of LPT Stage 

3 blade debris and consequent (partial or 

complete) loss of engine power, possibly 

resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane. 

This proposed AD would require 

implementation of a life limit for certain 

P/N LPT stage 3 turbine blades and 

replacement of affected blades that 

reach or exceed the life limit due to 

analysis that indicates increased risk of 

failure of blades with an accumulated 

life of 11,000 FC or more. 

We are proposing this AD to prevent 

failure of LPT stage 3 turbine blades and 

subsequent release of blade debris, 

which could lead to failure of one or 

more engines, loss of thrust control, and 

damage to the airplane. 

You may obtain further information 

by examining the MCAI in the AD 

docket on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2014– 

0904. 

Relevant Service Information 

RR has issued Alert Non-Modification 

Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. RB.211– 

72–AH790, Revision 1, dated November 

5, 2014. The Alert NMSB describes 

procedures for removing from service 

certain LPT stage 3 turbine blades. 

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 

Community, EASA has notified us of 

the unsafe condition described in the 

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71364 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 231 / Tuesday, December 2, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

MCAI and service information 

referenced above. We are proposing this 

NPRM 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 

implementation of a life limit for certain 

P/N LPT stage 3 turbine blades and 

replacement of affected blades that 

reach or exceed the life limit. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 2 engines installed on airplanes 

of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it 

would take about 120 hours per engine 

to comply with this proposed AD. The 

average labor rate is $85 per hour. Based 

on these figures, we estimate the cost of 

this proposed AD on U.S. operators to 

be $20,400. 

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. 

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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. Amend § 39.13 by adding the 

following new airworthiness directive 

(AD): 

Rolls-Royce plc: Docket No. FAA–2014– 

0904; Directorate Identifier 2014–NE– 

14–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by February 2, 

2015. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) 

RB211–524B–02, RB211–524B–B–02, 

RB211–524B2–19, RB211–524B2–B–19, 

RB211–524B3–02, RB211–524C2–19, and 

RB211–524C2–B–19 turbofan engines with 

low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage 3 turbine 

blade, part number (P/N) LK55386, LK86483, 

or LK86503, installed. 

(d) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of LPT 

stage 3 turbine blade failure, release of 

blades, and subsequent in-flight shutdown. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 

LPT stage 3 turbine blades and subsequent 

release of blade debris, which could lead to 

failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust 

control, and damage to the airplane. 

(e) Actions and Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(1) Remove from service before further 

flight any LPT stage 3 turbine blade, P/N 

LK55386, LK86483, or LK86503, that exceeds 

11,000 flight cycles since new. 

(2) If you cannot determine the 

accumulated flight cycles, remove any LPT 

stage 3 turbine blade, P/N LK55386, 

LK86483, or LK86503 within 200 flight 

cycles after the effective date of this AD. 

(3) After the effective date of this AD, do 

not install any LPT stage 3 turbine blade, 

P/N LK55386, LK86483, or LK86503, on any 

engine if the blade has accumulated 11,000 

or more flight cycles since new. 

(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. You may email your 

request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(g) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Kenneth Steeves, Aerospace 

Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 

Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; phone: 781–238–7765; fax: 781–238– 

7199; email: kenneth.steeves@faa.gov. 

(2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation 

Safety Agency AD 2014–0210, dated 

September 19, 2014, 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–2014–0904. 

(3) RR Alert Non-Modification Service 

Bulletin No. RB.211–72–AH790, Revision 1, 

dated November 5, 2014, which is not 

incorporated by reference in this AD, can be 

obtained from RR, using the contact 

information in paragraph (g)(4) of this 

proposed AD. 

(4) For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Rolls-Royce plc, 

Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, 

Derby, England, DE24 8BJ; phone: 011–44– 

1332–242424; fax: 011–44–1332–249936; 

email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/

civil_team.jsp; Internet: https://

www.aeromanager.com. 

(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 

November 24, 2014. 

Colleen M. D’Alessandro, 

Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & 

Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–28339 Filed 12–1–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0993; Airspace 

Docket No. 13–ASW–28] 

Proposed Establishment of Class E 

Airspace; Tucumcari, NM 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

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