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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 36 (Friday, February 22, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12255-12256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04103]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1331; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-44-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited, Bristol 
Engine Division Turbojet 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 (1971) Limited, Bristol Engine Division (RR) Viper Mk. 601-
22 turbojet engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a review carried 
out by RR of the lives of certain critical parts. This proposed AD 
would require reducing the life of these parts. We are proposing this 
AD to prevent life-limited part failure, damage to the engine, and 
damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 23, 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: 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 Rolls-Royce 
plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, England, DE248BJ; 
phone: 011-44-1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332-249936; or email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp. You may view this service 
information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. 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 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 Green, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7754; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: Robert.Green@faa.gov.

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-2012-1331; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-44-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 
Airworthiness Directive 2012-0243 (Correction: November 13, 2012), 
dated November 12, 2012, a Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 
Information (referred to hereinafter as ``the MCAI''), to correct an 
unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

    A review, carried out by Rolls-Royce, of the lives of critical 
parts of the Viper Mk. 601-22 engine, has resulted in reduced cyclic 
life limits for certain critical parts.
    Operation of critical parts beyond these reduced cyclic life 
limits may result in part failure, possibly resulting in the release 
of high-energy debris, which may cause damage to the aeroplane and/
or injury to the occupants.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires implementation 
of the reduced cyclic life limits for the affected critical parts, 
i.e., replacement of each part before the applicable reduced life 
limit is exceeded, and replacement of those critical parts that have 
already exceeded the reduced cyclic life limits.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    RR Alert Service Bulletin 72-A206, dated November, 2012.

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

[[Page 12256]]

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 reducing the life of certain critical parts.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 32 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take 0 hours 
per product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is 
$85 per hour. We are not requiring parts replacement, so parts cost is 
$0. We estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $0.

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.

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 AD:

Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited, Bristol Engine Division: Docket No. FAA-
2012-1331; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-44-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by April 23, 2013.

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited, Bristol 
Engine Division (RR) Viper Mk. 601-22 turbojet engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a review carried out by RR of the lives 
of certain critical parts. We are issuing this AD to prevent life-
limited part failure, damage to the engine, and damage to the 
airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) After the effective date of this AD, remove the following 
parts before they reach their specified new, lower life limits: 
compressor shaft, part number (P/N) V900766: 20,720 flight cycles 
since new (CSN); compressor rear stubshaft (center bearing hub), P/
Ns V900007 and V900994: 9,600 CSN; combustion chamber outer casing, 
P/Ns V950013 and V950331: 32,000 CSN.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any part 
identified in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD into any engine, nor 
return any engine to service, with the parts identified in paragraph 
(e)(1) of this AD installed, if the part exceeds the new, lower life 
limits specified in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.

(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.

(g) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Robert Green, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
Robert.Green@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2012-0243 (Correction: November 13, 2012), dated November 
12, 2012, and Rolls-Royce Alert Service Bulletin 72-A206, dated 
November, 2012, for related information.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, 
England, DE248BJ; phone: 011-44-1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332-
249936; or email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 781-238-7125.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 15, 2013.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-04103 Filed 2-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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