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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 31 (Thursday, February 14, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10501-10503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03269]

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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; 
Amendment 39-17351; AD 2013-03-17]
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) BR700-710A1-10 and BR700-
710A2-20 turbofan engines, and certain BR700-710C4-11 model engines. 
This 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 AD 
requires reducing the life limits for certain HPT stage 1 and stage 2 
discs. 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.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 21, 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.

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: robert.c.morlath@faa.gov.

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. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 16, 2012 
(77 FR 68714). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for 
the specified products. The Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 
Information (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 discs 
from the affected population in the same engine. You may obtain further 
information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We

[[Page 10502]]

received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 68714, November 16, 2012).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed (77 FR 68714, 
November 16, 2012).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will 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 this 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 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); 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.

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 provided in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

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:

2013-03-17 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Formerly Rolls-Royce 
Deutschland GmbH, formerly BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH): Amendment 39-
17351; Docket No. FAA-2012-1055; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-33-
AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March 21, 
2013.

(b) Affected 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.

    Table 1 to Paragraph (c)--Affected HPT Stage 1 and Stage 2 Discs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
S/Ns of HPT Stage 1 Discs, Part Number (P/  S/Ns of HPT Stage 2 Discs, P/
                N) BRR23952                          N BRR22008
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LDRQA05719................................  LDRQA05791
LDRQA05720................................  LDRQA05944
LDRQA05721................................  LDRQA05945
LDRQA05722
LDRQA05723
LDRQA05724
LDRQA05726
LDRQA05727
LDRQA05841
LDRQA05842
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(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: 
robert.c.morlath@faa.gov.
    (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

[[Page 10503]]

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.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 5, 2013.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-03269 Filed 2-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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