Document ID: FAA-2010-0755-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 800 Series Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2010-08-03T04:00Z

[Federal Register: August 3, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 148)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 45560-45562]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03au10-15]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0755; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-12-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

 
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 800 
Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

    Revision of the Critical Part lives has been necessary due to 
actual operational flight profiles not conforming to those assumed 
at entry into service and is associated with a revised Flight 
Profile Monitoring methodology (originally based on engine thrust 
rating but now based on operating shaft speeds) introduced by Rolls-
Royce.
    The new Flight Profile Monitoring methodology allows for seven 
new profiles replacing the previous three. Six of these profiles, A 
to F, are intended to cover the requirements of most operators. The 
Declared Life (in Standard Duty Cycles) is published for each part 
and life usage may be accounted by factoring the number of flights 
flown. The factor to be used is defined according to the Flight 
Profile which is applicable to the fleet.
    The seventh profile, called ``Heavy'', will be applicable to 
fleets operating outside profiles A to F. A separate Declared Life 
(in Flight Cycles) is published for each part and life usage is 
accounted without factoring.

We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of critical rotating parts 
from exceeding the new, lower life limits, which could result in 
uncontained failure of the engine and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 17, 
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 plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United 
Kingdom: Telephone 44 (0) 1332 242424; fax 44 (0) 1332 249936, 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.

[[Page 45561]]

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:

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-2010-0755; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-12-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 
Airworthiness Directive 2007-0003R1, dated January 15, 2009 (referred 
to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:
    The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

    Revision of the Critical Part lives has been necessary due to 
actual operational flight profiles not conforming to those assumed 
at entry into service and is associated with a revised Flight 
Profile Monitoring methodology (originally based on engine thrust 
rating but now based on operating shaft speeds) introduced by Rolls-
Royce.
    The new Flight Profile Monitoring methodology allows for seven 
new profiles replacing the previous three. Six of these profiles, A 
to F, are intended to cover the requirements of most operators. The 
Declared Life (in Standard Duty Cycles) is published for each part 
and life usage may be accounted by factoring the number of flights 
flown. The factor to be used is defined according to the Flight 
Profile which is applicable to the fleet.
    The seventh profile, called ``Heavy'', will be applicable to 
fleets operating outside profiles A to F. A separate Declared Life 
(in Flight Cycles) is published for each part and life usage is 
accounted without factoring.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Rolls-Royce plc has issued RB211 Trent 800 Series Propulsion System 
Non-Modification Service Bulletin Alert RB.211-72-AE935, Revision 7, 
dated January 19, 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 the 
United Kingdom, and is approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom, they have 
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.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    The MCAI requires incorporating the revised Trent 800 life limits 
no later than January 31, 2007. This proposed AD would require 
incorporating the revised Trent 800 life limits within 30 days after 
the effective date of this proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 16 products of U.S. registry. The average labor rate 
is $85 per work-hour; there is no labor cost because disks are replaced 
at scheduled maintenance intervals. Prorated cost of parts would cost 
about $45,000 per product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost 
of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $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, 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, 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 plc: Docket No. FAA-2010-0755; Directorate Identifier 
2010-NE-12-AD.

[[Page 45562]]

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by September 17, 2010.

Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 895-17, 892-
17, 892B-17, 884-17, 884B-17, 877-17 and 875-17 turbofan engines. 
These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Boeing 777 
series airplanes.

Reason

    (d) This AD results from:

    Revision of the Critical Part lives has been necessary due to 
actual operational flight profiles not conforming to those assumed 
at entry into service and is associated with a revised Flight 
Profile Monitoring methodology (originally based on engine thrust 
rating but now based on operating shaft speeds) introduced by Rolls-
Royce.
    The new Flight Profile Monitoring methodology allows for seven 
new profiles replacing the previous three. Six of these profiles, A 
to F, are intended to cover the requirements of most operators. The 
Declared Life (in Standard Duty Cycles) is published for each part 
and life usage may be accounted by factoring the number of flights 
flown. The factor to be used is defined according to the Flight 
Profile which is applicable to the fleet.
    The seventh profile, called ``Heavy'', will be applicable to 
fleets operating outside profiles A to F. A separate Declared Life 
(in Flight Cycles) is published for each part and life usage is 
accounted without factoring.
    This AD is necessary as life reductions are applicable in some 
cases and failure to comply with the revised life limits could 
result in an unsafe condition.

    We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of critical rotating 
parts from exceeding the new, lower life limits, which could result 
in uncontained failure of the engine and damage to the airplane.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Compliance is required within 30 days after the effective 
date of this AD, unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Revise the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of your 
instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) to incorporate Task 
05-10-01-800-801, ``Critical and Critical Group A Parts Lives--
Multiple Flight Profile Monitoring'' and Task 05-10-01-800-802, 
``Critical and Critical Group A Parts Lives in the HEAVY Flight 
Profile'' of the Rolls-Royce Trent 800 Time Limits manual (TLM) 
dated June 15, 2009.
    (2) Thereafter, do not revise the ALS of your ICA by 
incorporating any revision of the Rolls-Royce Trent 800 TLM dated 
prior to the June 15, 2009 revision.

FAA AD Differences

    (f) This AD differs from the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 
Information (MCAI) and or service information as follows:
    (1) The MCAI AD requires revising the airworthiness limitations 
section no later than January 31, 2007. This AD requires revising 
the airworthiness limitations section within 30 days after the 
effective date of this AD.
    (2) This AD prohibits incorporating into the ALS of the ICA, any 
revision of the Rolls-Royce Trent 800 TLM earlier than the June 15, 
2009.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) 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

    (h) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness Directive 2007-0003R1, 
dated January 15, 2009, and Rolls-Royce plc RB211 Trent 800 Series 
Propulsion System Non-Modification Service Bulletin Alert RB.211-72-
AE935, Revision 7, dated January 19, 2009, for related information. 
Contact Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United 
Kingdom: telephone 044 1332 242424; fax 044 1332 249936, for a copy 
of this service information.
    (i) 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on July 19, 2010.
Thomas A. Boudreau,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-19027 Filed 8-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P