[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 27 (Thursday, February 10, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7014-7016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2370]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-NE-37-AD; Amendment 39-13962; AD 2005-03-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG 
(formerly Rolls-Royce plc), Model Tay 611-8, 620-15, 650-15, and 651-54 
Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) for Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG (RRD) (formerly Rolls-
Royce plc) Model Tay 611-8, 620-15, 650-15, and 651-54 turbofan 
engines, with low pressure (LP) fuel tube, part number (P/N) JR33021A, 
installed. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive 
inspections of the LP fuel tubes. This AD requires the same inspections 
and adds a requirement to replace the fuel tube with a new design tube, 
as mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspections. This AD 
results from the manufacturer introducing a new design fuel tube, which 
eliminates the unsafe condition. We are issuing this AD to prevent a 
dual-engine flameout due to fuel exhaustion, which could lead to forced 
landing and possible damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 17, 2005. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of March 17, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service bulletins identified in this AD from 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, D-15827 DAHLEWITZ, 
Germany; telephone 49 (0) 33-7086-1768; fax 49 (0) 33-7086-3356.
    You may examine the AD docket at the FAA, New England Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA. You may examine the service bulletins, at the FAA, New 
England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Yang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-
7747; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed airworthiness directive (AD). The proposed AD applies 
to RRD Model Tay 611-8, 620-15, 650-15, and 651-54 turbofan engines, 
with LP fuel tube, P/N JR33021A, installed. We published the proposed 
AD in the Federal Register on June 9, 2004 (69 FR 32285). That action 
proposed to require initial and repetitive inspections of LP fuel 
tubes, and replacement of the fuel tube with a new design tube as 
mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspections. That 
proposed action results from the manufacturer introducing a new design 
fuel tube, which eliminates the unsafe condition.

Special Flight Permits Paragraph Removed

    Paragraph (g) of the current AD, AD 2003-05-04, contains a 
paragraph pertaining to special flight permits. Even though this final 
rule does not contain a similar paragraph, we have made no changes with 
regard to the use of special flight permits to operate the airplane to 
a repair facility to do the work required by this AD. In July 2002, we 
published a new part 39 that contains a general authority regarding 
special flight permits and airworthiness directives; see Docket No. 
FAA-2004-8460, Amendment 39-9474 (69 FR 47998, July 22, 2002). Thus, 
when we now supersede ADs we will not include a specific paragraph on 
special flight permits unless we want to limit the use of that general 
authority granted in section 39.23.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD Docket (including any comments and service 
information), by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. See ADDRESSES for the 
location.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on 
the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 1,300 RRD Model Tay 611-8, 620-15, 650-15, and 651-
54 turbofan engines of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. We 
estimate that 1,206 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry 
would be affected by this AD. We also estimate that it will take about 
two work hours per engine to perform the tube inspection, and two work 
hours per engine to perform the tube replacement. The average labor 
rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts will cost about $1,300 per 
engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to 
U.S. operators to be $1,720,000.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I,

[[Page 7015]]

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 have 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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket No. 2002-NE-37-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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 removing Amendment 39-13080 (69 FR 
11467, March 11, 2003) and by adding a new airworthiness directive, 
Amendment 39-13962, to read as follows:

2005-03-06 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG (formerly Rolls-
Royce plc): Amendment 39-13962. Docket No. 2002-NE-37-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective March 17, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2003-05-04.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG 
(RRD) (formerly Rolls-Royce plc) Model Tay 611-8, 620-15, 650-15, 
and 651-54 turbofan engines, with low pressure (LP) fuel tube, part 
number (P/N) JR33021A, installed. These engines are installed on, 
but not limited to, Fokker F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes, Supplemental 
Type Certificate No. SA842SW, Boeing 727 airplanes, and Gulfstream 
G-IV airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from the manufacturer introducing a new 
design LP fuel tube which eliminates the unsafe condition. The 
actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent a dual-engine 
flameout due to fuel exhaustion which could lead to forced landing 
and possible damage to the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the 
actions have already been done.

Initial Inspection

    (f) Before further flight, for Tay 611-8 and 651-54 turbofan 
engines with part 4 of RRD service bulletin (SB) TAY-73-1194 
incorporated, inspect the LP fuel tube for fretting, and replace as 
necessary. Use 3.C.1. through 3.C.13. of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of RRD Service Bulletin (SB) No. TAY-73-1553, Revision 
2, dated April 23, 2003.
    (g) Before further flight, for Tay 620-15 and 650-15 turbofan 
engines, inspect the LP fuel tube for fretting, and replace as 
necessary. Use 3.C.1. through 3.C.13. of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of RRD SB No. TAY-73-1593, dated April 23, 2003.

Repetitive Inspections

    (h) Thereafter, inspect the LP fuel tube for fretting, at 
intervals not to exceed 2,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) since the 
last inspection, and replace as necessary. Use 3.C.1. through 
3.C.13. of the Accomplishment Instructions of RRD SBs referenced in 
paragraphs (f) and (g) of this AD.

Mandatory Terminating Action

    (i) As mandatory terminating action to the repetitive 
inspections required by this AD, replace fuel tube, P/N JR33021, 
with a fuel tube P/N that is not listed in this AD. Information on 
fuel tube replacement can be found in RRD SB No. TAY-73-1592, dated 
April 30, 2003. Use the following compliance times:
    (1) For fuel tubes with fewer than 4,000 hours TIS on the 
effective date of this AD, replace fuel tube within 10 additional 
cycles-in-service or before reaching 4,000 hours TIS, whichever 
occurs later.
    (2) For fuel tubes with 4,000 or more hours TIS on the effective 
date of this AD, replace fuel tube before June 30, 2005.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (j) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, has the authority 
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD, if 
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use the Rolls-Royce service bulletins listed in 
Table 1 of this AD to perform the inspections required by this AD. 
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of the documents listed in Table 1 of this AD in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You can get a 
copy from Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, D-
15827 DAHLEWITZ, Germany; telephone 49 (0) 33-7086-1768; fax 49 (0) 
33-7086-3356. You can review copies at the FAA, New England Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Table 1 follows:

                                      Table 1.--Incorporation by Reference
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                                      Page number(s) shown   Revision level shown
          Service bulletin                on the page            on the page           Date shown on the page
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TAY-73-1553, Total Pages: 11.......  ALL..................  2....................  April 23, 2003.
TAY-73-1593, Total Pages: 11.......  ALL..................  Original.............  April 23, 2003.
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[[Page 7016]]

Related Information

    (l) Luftfhart Bundesamt airworthiness directive No. 2002-358/5, 
dated November 18, 2003, and Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG 
Service Bulletin No. TAY-73-1592, dated April 30, 2003 also address 
the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 1, 2005.
Francis A. Favara,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-2370 Filed 2-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P