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[Federal Register: March 25, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 57)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 14379-14381]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25mr10-16]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0301; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-22-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

 
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
(RRD) Models Tay 620-15, Tay 650-15, and Tay 651-54 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 the 
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation 
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as: Following a review of operational data of the Tay 651-54 
engine, it has been found that the actual stress levels in the Tay 651-
54 engine High Pressure Compressor (HPC) stages 1, 3, 6, 7 and 12 discs 
were higher than those originally assumed and therefore the approved 
lives needed to be reduced.
    We are proposing this AD to prevent HPC stages 1, 3, 6, 7, and 12 
discs from exceeding the approved reduced life limits, which could 
result in an uncontained failure of a disc and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 26, 2010.

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.
    Contact Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG; Eschenweg 11, D-15827 
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; telephone +49 (0) 33 7086 1768; fax +49 
(0) 33 7086 3356 for the service information identified in this 
proposed AD.

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 (telephone (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: Tara Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
tara.chaidez@faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7773; fax (781) 238-7199.

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-2010-0301; 
Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-22-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

[[Page 14380]]

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 2009-0092, dated April 17, 2009 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    Following a review of operational data of the Tay 651-54 engine, 
it has been found that the actual stress levels in the Tay 651-54 
engine High Pressure Compressor (HPC) stages 1, 3, 6, 7 and 12 discs 
were higher than those originally assumed and therefore the approved 
lives needed to be reduced.
    As Tay 651-54 service run HPC discs may be installed on Tay 620-
15 and Tay 650-15 engine models, it is necessary to reduce the 
maximum approved lives of the affected HPC disc serial numbers 
installed on Tay 620-15 and Tay 650-15 engines as well.
    The approved lives of the affected HPC stages 1, 3, 6, 7 and 12 
discs specified in this Airworthiness Directive supersede the 
approved lives given in the Time Limits Manuals, Chapter 05-10-01.
    Exceeding of the approved life limits could potentially result 
in non-contained disc failure.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG has issued Alert Service 
Bulletin TAY-72-A1740, dated February 11, 2009. The actions described 
in this service information are intended to correct the unsafe 
condition identified in the MCAI.

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 issuing 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.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 10 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with this 
proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required 
parts would cost about $100,000 per product. Based on these figures, we 
estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be 
$1,000,850.

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 plc): 
Docket No. FAA-2010-0301; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-22-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by April 26, 2010.

Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
models Tay 620-15, Tay 650-15, and Tay 651-54 turbofan engines. 
These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Fokker F28 Mark 
0070 and Mark 0100 airplanes and Boeing 727 series airplanes.

Reason

    (d) Following a review of operational data of the Tay 651-54 
engine, it has been found that the actual stress levels in the Tay 
651-54 engine High Pressure Compressor (HPC) stages 1, 3, 6, 7 and 
12 discs were higher than those originally assumed and therefore the 
approved lives needed to be reduced. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent HPC stages 1, 3, 6, 7, and 12 discs from exceeding the 
approved reduced life limits, which could result in an uncontained 
failure of a disc and damage to the airplane.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, within 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD, amend the approved Airworthiness Limitation Section to 
incorporate the new, reduced life limits as follows:

For Tay 651-54 Engines

    (1) The maximum approved lives (MAL) of the High Pressure 
Compressor (HPC) rotor discs are reduced to the MALs specified in 
the following Table 1 of this AD:

[[Page 14381]]



                           Table 1--Tay 651-54 Engine Reduced Disc MAL by Part Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   For                            Part Number                          the MAL is
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) HPC Stage 1 Disc....................  JR18049....................  18,800 cycles.
(ii) HPC Stage 3 Disc...................  JR18743....................  18,100 cycles.
(iii) HPC Stage 6 Disc..................  JR18748....................  19,300 cycles.
(iv) HPC Stage 7 Disc...................  JR17365....................  17,300 cycles.
(v) HPC Stage 12 Disc...................  JR31928....................  18,900 cycles.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For Tay 620-15 and Tay 650-15 Engines

    (2) The MAL of certain High Pressure Compressor (HPC) rotor 
discs are reduced. The affected disc serial numbers and the reduced 
MAL are defined in Rolls-Royce Deutschland Non-Modification Service 
Bulletin TAY-72-A1740, dated February 11, 2009.
    (3) Thereafter, except as provided in paragraph (f) of this AD, 
no alternative replacement times may be approved for these parts.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19.

Related Information

    (g) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness Directive 2009-0092, dated 
April 17, 2009, and Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Alert 
Service Bulletin TAY-72-A1740, dated February 11, 2009, for related 
information. Contact Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG; Eschenweg 
11, D-15827 Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; telephone +49 (0) 33 7086 
1768; fax +49 (0) 33 7086 3356, for a copy of this service 
information.
    (h) Contact Tara Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
tara.chaidez@faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7773; fax (781) 238-7199, 
for more information about this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 18, 2010.
Francis A. Favara,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-6584 Filed 3-24-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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