15326 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 59 / Monday, March 29, 2010 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2009–0674; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–NE–25–AD; Amendment 

39–16244; AD 2010–07–01] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce 

plc RB211–Trent 500, 700, and 800 

Series Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) for 

the products listed above. This 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, and results from the risk of 

engine fuel-to-oil heat exchanger 

(FOHE) blockage. The MCAI describes 

the unsafe condition as: 

In January 2008, a Boeing 777 powered by 

RB211–Trent 800 engines crashed short of 

the runway as a result of dual loss of engine 

response during the final stages of approach. 

The investigation of the incident has 

established that, under certain ambient 

conditions, ice can accumulate on the walls 

of the fuel pipes within the aircraft fuel 

system, which can then be released 

downstream when fuel flow demand is 

increased. This released ice can then collect 

on the FOHE front face and limit fuel flow 

through the FOHE. This type of icing event 

was previously unknown and creates ice 

concentrations into the fuel system beyond 

those specified in the certification 

requirements. 

In May 2009, an Engine Indicating and 

Crew Alerting System (EICAS) surge message 

was set following a successful go-around 

maneuver on a single RB211–Trent 700 

engine of an A330 aircraft. Subsequent 

analysis concluded the likely cause to be 

temporary ice accumulation causing fuel 

flow restriction in the FOHE. The incident 

has indicated the potential susceptibility to 

ice blockage for Airbus aircraft in 

combination with Rolls-Royce engines that 

feature similar fuel systems to the RB211– 

Trent 800. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent ice 

from blocking the FOHE, which could 

result in an unacceptable engine power 

loss and loss of control of the airplane. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 

3, 2010. The Director of the Federal 

Register approved the incorporation by 

reference of certain publications listed 

in this AD as of May 3, 2010. The 

Director of the Federal Register 

previously approved the incorporation 

by reference of certain publications 

listed in the regulations as of January 4, 

2010 (74 FR 6222, November 27, 2009). 

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. 

Contact Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, 

DERBY, DE24 8BJ, UK; telephone 44 (0) 

1332 242424; fax 44 (0) 1332 249936, for 

the service information identified in this 

AD. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, 

Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine 

and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; e-mail: james.lawrence@faa.gov; 

telephone (781) 238–7176; fax (781) 

238–7199. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by superseding AD 2009–24–05, 

Amendment 39–16092 (74 FR 62222, 

November 27, 2009), with a proposed 

AD. The proposed AD applies to RollsRoyce plc RB211–Trent 500, 700, and 

800 series turbofan engines. We 

published the proposed AD in the 

Federal Register on January 6, 2010 (75 

FR 801). That action proposed to correct 

an unsafe condition for the specified 

products. The MCAI states: 

In January 2008, a Boeing 777 powered by 

RB211–Trent 800 engines crashed short of 

the runway as a result of dual loss of engine 

response during the final stages of approach. 

The investigation of the incident has 

established that, under certain ambient 

conditions, ice can accumulate on the walls 

of the fuel pipes within the aircraft fuel 

system, which can then be released 

downstream when fuel flow demand is 

increased. This released ice can then collect 

on the FOHE front face and limit fuel flow 

through the FOHE. This type of icing event 

was previously unknown and creates ice 

concentrations into the fuel system beyond 

those specified in the certification 

requirements. 

In May 2009, an EICAS surge message was 

set following a successful go-around 

maneuver on a single Trent 700 engine of an 

A330 aircraft. Subsequent analysis concluded 

the likely cause to be temporary ice 

accumulation causing fuel flow restriction in 

the FOHE. The incident has indicated the 

potential susceptibility to ice blockage for 

Airbus aircraft in combination with RollsRoyce engines that feature similar fuel 

systems to the RB211–Trent 800. 

To mitigate the risk of engine FOHE 

blockage, this AD requires, for RB211– 

Trent 500, 700, and 800 series turbofan 

engines, replacing the existing FOHE 

with a FOHE incorporating the 

modifications specified in the 

applicable Rolls-Royce plc Alert Service 

Bulletin. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. We 

considered the comments received. 

Request To Allow Use of Later 

Revisions of Service Bulletins 

One commenter, Deutsche Lufthansa 

AG, requests that we add language to 

the AD that allows the use of later 

revisions of the service bulletins 

incorporated by reference. This change 

would make the AD more consistent 

with the related European Aviation 

Safety Agency ADs. 

We do not agree. Rulemaking 

requirements do not permit advance 

approval of unknown future revisions to 

service bulletins. We did not change the 

AD. 

Request To Change the Compliance 

Period 

Airline Pilots Association, 

International, (ALPA) requests that we 

change the proposed AD compliance 

time from ‘‘Within 6,000 flight hours 

after the effective date of this AD, but no 

later than January 1, 2011’’, to ‘‘Within 

six months after the effective date of the 

AD or within 6,000 flight hours after 

receipt of the Service Bulletin.’’ ALPA 

believes that the decreased compliance 

times are important since, in the event 

a blockage of the FOHE, the current 

procedure requires an immediate idle 

descent to melt the blockage. Due to this 

aircraft’s design mission of long range 

flight, it often operates over oceanic and 

geographically remote areas where radar 

surveillance may not exist and 

communications with the air traffic 

control is encumbered by language 

limits, poor radio reception, and third 

party communication relay services. 

These areas may concentrate traffic on 

specific routes or tracks. This creates the 

potential for traffic conflicts during the 

descent, without the ability to receive 

timely Air Traffic Control clearance or 

the additional safety oversight provided 

by radar separation. This engine 

rollback is very insidious to the crew 

and creates the potential for a pilot to 

be faced with an immediate descent 

without adequate time to compensate 

for traffic, weather, or terrain. 

We do not agree. For the RB211–Trent 

800 series engines, on February 17, 

2009, the Transport Airplane Directorate 

issued AD 2009–05–11 that revises the 

airplane flight manual to include inflight procedures for pilots to follow in 


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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 59 / Monday, March 29, 2010 / Rules and Regulations 15327 

certain cold weather conditions. That 

AD also includes mandating fuel 

circulation procedures on the ground 

when certain conditions exist. These 

procedures are considered adequate to 

assure continued safe operation through 

all environments and conditions, 

including those expressed by ALPA, 

until hardware modifications become 

available. Those procedures also reduce 

hazardous amounts of ice buildup 

within the fuel feed system and 

eliminate ice accumulation on the face 

of the FOHE. For the RB211–Trent 500 

series and 700 series engines, changing 

the compliance time to 6 months would 

not result in a significant benefit to the 

level of safety. We did not change the 

AD. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the available data, 

including the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting the AD 

as proposed. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

MCAI or Service Information 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2009–0142, dated July 13, 

2009, and EASA AD 2009–0257, dated 

December 3, 2009, require replacing the 

FOHE within 6,000 flight hours from 

July 10, 2009 or before January 1, 2011, 

whichever occurs first. This AD requires 

replacing the FOHE on RB211–Trent 

500 and RB211–Trent 700 series 

turbofan engines within 6,000 flight 

hours after the effective date of this AD, 

or before January 1, 2011, whichever 

occurs first, and on RB211–Trent 800 

series turbofan engines, replacing the 

FOHE within 6,000 flight hours after 

January 4, 2010 (the effective date of AD 

2009–24–05), or before January 1, 2011, 

whichever occurs first. 

Costs of Compliance 

Based on the service information, we 

estimate that this AD will affect about 

138 RB211–Trent 800 series engines, 

and about 10 RB211–Trent 700 series 

engines, installed on airplanes of U.S. 

registry. There are currently no RB211– 

Trent 500 series engines installed on 

airplanes of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it will take about 8.5 

work-hours per product to comply with 

this AD. The average labor rate is $80 

per work-hour. Required parts will cost 

about $58,005 per product. Based on 

these figures, we estimate the cost of the 

AD on U.S. operators to be $8,685,380. 

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 (telephone 

(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 

■ 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. The FAA amends § 39.13 by 

removing Amendment 39–16092 (74 FR 

62222, November 27, 2009), and by 

adding a new airworthiness directive, 

Amendment 39–16244, to read as 

follows: 

2010–07–01 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 

39–16244. Docket No. FAA–2009–0674; 

Directorate Identifier 2009–NE–25–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) 

becomes effective May 3, 2010. 

Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs) 

(b) This AD supersedes AD 2009–24–05, 

Amendment 39–16092. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to: 

(1) Rolls-Royce plc models RB211–Trent 

553–61, 556–61, 556B–61, 560–61, 553A2– 

61, 556A2–61, 556B2–61, and 560A2–61 

turbofan engines with fuel-to-oil heat 

exchangers (FOHEs) part number (P/N) 

55027001–1 or 55027001–11 installed; and 

(2) Rolls-Royce plc models RB211–Trent 

768–60, 772–60, 772B–60, and RB211–Trent 

875–17, 877–17, 884–17, 884B–17, 892–17, 

892B–17, and 895–17 turbofan engines with 

FOHEs P/N 55003001–1 or 55003001–11 

installed. 

(3) The RB211–Trent 500 series engines are 

installed on, but not limited to, Airbus A340– 

500 and –600 series airplanes. The RB211– 

Trent 700 series engines are installed on, but 

not limited to, Airbus A330–200 and –300 

series airplanes. The RB211–Trent 800 series 

engines are installed on, but not limited to, 

Boeing 777 series airplanes. 

Reason 

(d) This 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, and results 

from the risk of engine FOHE blockage. We 

are issuing this AD to prevent ice from 

blocking the FOHE, which could result in an 

unacceptable engine power loss and loss of 

control of the airplane. 

Actions and Compliance 

(e) For RB211–Trent 500 series turbofan 

engines and RB211–Trent 700 series turbofan 

engines, unless already done, within 6,000 

flight hours after the effective date of this AD, 

or before January 1, 2011, whichever occurs 

first, do the following: 


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15328 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 59 / Monday, March 29, 2010 / Rules and Regulations 

(1) For RB211–Trent 500 series turbofan 

engines, replace the FOHE P/N 55027001–1 

or 55027001–11, with an FOHE that 

incorporates the modifications specified in 

Rolls-Royce plc Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 

No. RB.211–79–AG346, dated October 23, 

2009. 

(2) For RB211–Trent 700 series turbofan 

engines, replace the FOHE, P/N 55003001–1 

or 55003001–11, with an FOHE that 

incorporates the modifications specified in 

Rolls-Royce plc ASB No. RB.211–79–AG338, 

Revision 1, dated December 2, 2009. 

(f) For RB211–Trent 800 series turbofan 

engines, unless already done, replace the 

FOHE, P/N 55003001–1 or 55003001–11, 

with an FOHE that incorporates the 

modifications specified in Rolls-Royce plc 

ASB No. RB.211–79–AG257, Revision 1, 

dated September 14, 2009 within 6,000 flight 

hours from January 4, 2010 (the effective date 

of FAA AD 2009–24–05), or before January 1, 

2011, whichever comes first. 

FAA AD Differences 

(g) This AD differs from the Mandatory 

Continuing Airworthiness Information 

(MCAI) by requiring replacing the FOHE 

within 6,000 flight hours after the effective 

date of this AD for RB211–Trent 500 and 

RB211–Trent 700 series turbofan engines or 

January 4, 2010 for RB211–Trent 800 series 

turbofan engines, rather than within 6,000 

flight hours from July 10, 2009. 

Previous Credit 

(h) For RB211–Trent 700 series engines, 

replacement of the FOHE with an FOHE that 

incorporates the modifications specified in 

Rolls-Royce plc ASB No. RB.211–79–AG338, 

dated September 29, 2009, complies with the 

replacement requirement specified in 

paragraph (e)(2) of this AD. 

(i) For RB211–Trent 800 series engines, 

replacement of the FOHE with an FOHE that 

incorporates the modifications specified in 

Rolls-Royce plc ASB No. RB.211–79–AG257, 

dated June 24, 2009, complies with the 

replacement requirement specified in 

paragraph (f) of this AD. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(j) 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 

(k) Refer to European Aviation Safety 

Agency MCAI AD 2009–0142, dated July 13, 

2009, and MCAI AD 2009–0257, dated 

December 3, 2009, for related information. 

(l) Contact James Lawrence, Aerospace 

Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 

Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; e-mail: james.lawrence@faa.gov; 

telephone (781) 238–7176; fax (781) 238– 

7199, for more information about this AD. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(m) You must use the service information 

specified in Table 1 of this AD to perform the 

FOHE modifications required by this AD, 

unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

Rolls-Royce plc Alert Service Bulletin No. 

RB.211–79–AG346, dated October 23, 2009, 

and Rolls-Royce plc Alert Service Bulletin 

No. RB. 211–79–AG338, Revision 1, dated 

December 2, 2009 under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 

1 CFR part 51. 

(2) The Director of the Federal Register 

previously approved the incorporation by 

reference of Rolls-Royce plc ASB No. 

RB.211–79–AG257, Revision 1, dated 

September 14, 2009, as of January 4, 2010. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 

31, DERBY, DE24 8BJ, UK; telephone 44 (0) 

1332 242424; fax 44 (0) 1332 249936. 

(4) You may review copies at the FAA, 

New England Region, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, call 

(202) 741–6030, or go to: http:// 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

TABLE 1—MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Rolls-Royce plc Alert Service Bulletin No. Page Revision Date 

RB.211–79–AG346.

Total Pages: 28. All ........................................ Original ................................ October 23, 2009. 

RB.211–79–AG338.

Total Pages: 25. All ........................................ 1 .......................................... December 2, 2009. 

RB.211–79–AG257 ............................................................ All ........................................ 1 .......................................... September 14, 2009. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

March 17, 2010. 

Francis A. Favara, 

Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–6311 Filed 3–26–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2009–0795; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–NM–083–AD; Amendment 

39–16242; AD 2010–06–17] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Model 757 Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Model 757 airplanes. This AD requires 

inspecting to verify the part number of 

the low-pressure flex-hoses of the 

flightcrew and supernumerary oxygen 

system installed under the oxygen mask 

stowage box at a flightcrew and 

supernumerary oxygen mask location, 

and replacing with a new nonconductive low-pressure flex-hose of the 

oxygen system if necessary. This AD 

results from reports of a low-pressure 

flex-hose of a flightcrew oxygen system 

that burned through due to inadvertent 

electrical current from a short circuit in 

an adjacent audio select panel. We are 

issuing this AD to prevent inadvertent 

electrical current, which can cause the 

low-pressure flex-hose of a flightcrew or 

supernumerary oxygen system to melt 

or burn, resulting in oxygen system 

leakage and smoke or fire. 

DATES: This AD is effective May 3, 2010. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in the AD 

as of May 3, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, Washington 98124– 

2207; telephone 206–544–5000, 

extension 1; fax 206–766–5680; e-mail 

me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility 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 address for the 

Docket Office (telephone 800–647–5527) 

is the Document Management Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Docket Operations, M–30, West 


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