6668 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 27 / Thursday, February 9, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0004; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NE–01–AD; Amendment 39– 

16927; AD 2012–02–04] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce 

plc Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Rolls-Royce plc RB211–Trent 500 series 

turbofan engines. This AD requires a 

one-time inspection of the fuel tubes 

and fuel tube clips for evidence of 

damage, wear, and fuel leakage. This AD 

was prompted by reports of wear found 

between the securing clips and the lowpressure (LP) fuel tube outer surface, 

which reduces the fuel tube wall 

thickness, leading to fracture of the fuel 

tube and consequent fuel leak. We are 

issuing this AD to prevent engine fuel 

leaks, which could result in risk to the 

airplane. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

February 24, 2012. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by March 26, 2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of Rolls-Royce plc Alert Service Bulletin 

No. RB.211–73–AG797, dated October 

26, 2011, listed in the AD as of February 

24, 2012. 

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– 

1332–245418 or email: http://www.rollsroyce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

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: 

Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 

Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 

Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 

email: alan.strom@faa.gov; phone: (781) 

238–7143; fax: (781) 238–7199. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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 2011–0243, 

dated December 20, 2011 (referred to 

after this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an 

unsafe condition for the specified 

products. The MCAI states: 

Fuel leaks from the LP fuel tubes which 

run between the LP fuel pumps and high 

pressure (HP) fuel pumps have occurred in 

service. 

The subsequent technical investigations 

have shown that these have resulted from 

frettage between the securing clips and the 

LP fuel tube outer surface, which reduces the 

fuel tube wall thickness, leading to fracture 

of the fuel tube and consequent fuel leak. 

The corrective action includes 

inspection of the tubes and the 

associated clips. The fretting and 

thinning of the fuel tubes is caused by 

relative movement between the tubes 

and the clips. You may obtain further 

information by examining the MCAI in 

the AD docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Rolls-Royce plc has issued Alert 

Service Bulletin No. RB.211–73–AG797, 

dated October 26, 2011. 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 AD 

This product has been approved by 

the United Kingdom 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 

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. 

FAA’s Determination of the Effective 

Date 

No domestic operators use this 

product. Therefore, we find that notice 

and opportunity for prior public 

comment are unnecessary and that good 

cause exists for making this amendment 

effective in less than 30 days. 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements affecting flight safety, and 

we did not precede it by notice and 

opportunity for public comment. We 

invite you to send any written relevant 

data, views, or arguments about this AD. 

Send your comments to an address 

listed under the ADDRESSES section. 

Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2012–0004; 

Directorate Identifier 2012–NE–01–AD’’ 

at the beginning of your comments. We 

specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

this AD. We will consider all comments 

received by the closing date and may 

amend this AD because of 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 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). 

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 


emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 27 / Thursday, February 9, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 6669 

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. 

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 adding 

the following new AD: 

2012–02–04 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 

39–16927; Docket No. FAA–2012–0004; 

Directorate Identifier 2012–NE–01–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes 

effective February 24, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc RB211– 

Trent 553–61, RB211–Trent 553A2–61, 

RB211–Trent 556–61, RB211–Trent 556A2– 

61, RB211–Trent 556B–61, RB211–Trent 

556B2–61, RB211–Trent 560–61, and RB211– 

Trent 560A2–61 turbofan engines that have 

not complied with Rolls-Royce plc Service 

Bulletin No. RB.211–73–G723, and that have 

any of the following fuel tube part numbers 

installed: 

(1) FW57605. 

(2) FW17689. 

(3) FW57604. 

(4) FK30710. 

(5) FW57578. 

(6) FK30713. 

(d) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of wear 

found between the securing clips and the 

low-pressure (LP) fuel tube outer surface, 

which reduces the fuel tube wall thickness, 

leading to fracture of the fuel tube and 

consequent fuel leak. We are issuing this AD 

to prevent engine fuel leaks, which could 

result in risk to the airplane. 

(e) Actions and Compliance 

Unless already done, do the following onetime actions within 1,600 flight hours after 

the effective date of this AD. 

(1) Visually inspect the fuel tube clips 

holding the LP fuel tube run from the LP fuel 

pump to the fuel-oil-heat exchanger, and the 

clips holding the LP fuel tube run from the 

LP filter to the high-pressure (HP) fuel pump, 

for evidence of damage or wear and replace 

as necessary. Do this in accordance with 

paragraphs 3.A(4)(a) through 3.A(4)(c) of 

Rolls-Royce plc Alert Service Bulletin No. 

RB.211–73–AG797, dated October 26, 2011. 

(2) Clean and dry the LP fuel tube run from 

the LP fuel pump to the fuel-oil-heat 

exchanger, and the LP fuel tube run from the 

LP filter to the HP fuel pump. 

(i) Visually inspect for evidence of damage, 

wear near the clip locations, and for fuel 

leakage. 

(ii) Reject the tube and replace it if 

evidence of fuel leakage or contact frettage to 

a depth of greater than 0.1 mm (0.004 in.) on 

the outer surface of a bend, or 0.2 mm (0.008 

in.) in any other area, is evident. 

(f) 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. 

(g) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, 

Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 

Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 

email: alan.strom@faa.gov; phone: (781) 238– 

7143; fax: (781) 238–7199. 

(2) Refer to European Aviation Safety 

Agency AD 2011–0243, dated December 20, 

2011, for related information. 

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) You must use the following service 

information to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 

Director of the Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference of the following 

service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) 

and 1 CFR part 51: 

(2) Rolls-Royce plc Alert Service Bulletin 

No. RB.211–73–AG797, dated October 26, 

2011. 

(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: 011–44–1332–245418 or email: 

http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/ 

civil_team.jsp. 

(4) You may review copies of the 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. 

(5) You may also review copies of the 

service information incorporated by reference 

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. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

January 19, 2012. 

Peter A. White, 

Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–2895 Filed 2–8–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0789; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NE–04–AD; Amendment 39– 

16929; AD 2012–02–06] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell 

International Inc. TPE331–10 and 

TPE331–11 Series Turboprop Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

products listed above. This AD was 

prompted by a report of an uncontained 

failure of a first stage turbine disk that 

had a metallurgical defect. This AD 

requires inspecting certain serial 

number (S/N) first stage turbine disks, 

part number (P/N) 3101520–1 and P/N 


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