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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8905-8907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03252]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0882; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-29-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

[[Page 8906]]

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-725A1-12 turbofan 
engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of wear on the 
receptors of the double-ended unions in the fuel metering unit (FMU) 
housing on BR700-725A1-12 engines causing fuel leakage. This proposed 
AD would require removal of the affected FMUs. We are proposing this AD 
to prevent failure of the FMU, which could lead to damage to one or 
more engines and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 15, 2014.

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.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Rolls-Royce 
Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, 15827 Blankenfelde-
Mahlow, Germany; phone: 49 0 33-7086-1883; fax: 49 0 33-7086-3276. 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-
0882; 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 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: Glorianne Niebuhr, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7132; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: glorianne.neibuhr@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-2013-0882; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-29-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 
AD 2013-0229R1, dated November 21, 2013 (referred to hereinafter as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    Occurrences have been reported of finding wear on the receptors 
of the double-ended unions in the Fuel Metering Unit (FMU) housing 
on BR700-725A1-12 engines.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to fuel leak 
resulting in engine in-flight shutdown and consequent reduced 
control of the aeroplane.

    Failure of the FMU due to these conditions will result in loss of 
thrust control and damage to the engine. 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-2013-0882.

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 the European 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 removal of the 
affected FMUs and their replacement with a part eligible for 
installation.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 24 RRD turbofan engines 
installed on aircraft of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would 
take about 6 hours per engine to comply with this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts cost about $293,960 
per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this 
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $7,067,280.

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 proposed 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

[[Page 8907]]

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.
    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

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Docket No. FAA-2013-0882; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-29-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by April 15, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
BR700-725A1-12 turbofan engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of wear on the receptors of the 
double-ended unions in the fuel metering unit (FMU) housing on 
BR700-725A1-12 engines causing fuel leakage. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent failure of the FMU, which could lead to damage to one or 
more engines, and damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) After the effective date of this AD, before the FMU has 
accumulated 650 flight hours (FHs) since new, or within 30 days, 
whichever occurs later, remove FMU part number (P/N) G3000FMU02 or 
P/N G3000FMU03, and replace it with a part eligible for 
installation.
    (2) Thereafter, remove the FMU at intervals not to exceed 650 
FHs and replace it with a part eligible for installation.

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install FMU P/N 
G3000FMU02 onto any engine, or install any engine with FMU P/N 
G3000FMU02 onto any airplane.

(g) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, an FMU eligible for installation is 
a new FMU or an FMU with P/N G3000FMU03 that has accumulated fewer 
than 650 FHs since installation on any airplane or since last repair 
using RRD Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. ALERT 
SB-BR700-73-A900309, Revision 1, dated November 8, 2013.

(h) 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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Glorianne 
Niebuhr, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7132; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
glorianne.niebuhr@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2013-
0229R1, dated November 21, 2013. 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-2013-0882.
    (3) RRD Alert NMSB No. ALERT SB-BR700-73-A900309, Revision 1, 
dated November 8, 2013, which is not incorporated by reference in 
this AD, can be obtained from RRD, using the contact information in 
paragraph (i)(4) of this AD.
    (4) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, 15827 
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; phone: 49 0 33-7086-1944; fax: 49 0 
33-7086-3276.
    (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 February 6, 2014.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-03252 Filed 2-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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