Document ID: FAA-2022-1158-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd and Co KG (Type Certificate previously held by Rolls-Royce plc) Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2022-09-14T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 14, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56284-56286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19596]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 14, 2022 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 56284]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1158; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00771-E]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
(Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-710A1-10, 
BR700-710A2-20, and BR700-710C4-11 model turbofan engines. This 
proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks on certain low-pressure 
compressor (LPC) rotor (fan) disks. This proposed AD would require 
initial and repetitive visual inspections of certain LPC rotor fan 
disks and, depending on the results of the inspections, replacement of 
any LPC rotor fan disk with cracks detected. This proposed AD would 
also allow modification of the engine in accordance with RRD service 
information as a terminating action to these inspections, as specified 
in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed 
for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 31, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1158; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For material that is proposed for IBR in this AD, contact 
EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone +49 221 
8999 000; email [email protected]. You may find this material on the 
EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
     You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sungmo Cho, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
(781) 238-7241; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-1158; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2022-00771-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Sungmo Cho, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. Any commentary that the FAA receives that 
is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public 
docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2022-0110, dated June 15, 2022 (EASA 
AD 2022-0110), to address an unsafe condition for certain RRD BR700-
710A1-10, BR700-710A2-20, and BR700-710C4-11 model turbofan engines. 
The MCAI states that there have been reports of cracks on certain LPC 
rotor fan disks. The FAA is proposing this AD to prevent failure of the 
LPC rotor fan or blade. This condition, if not addressed, could result 
in high energy debris release, damage to the airplane, and reduced 
control of the airplane.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1158.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another

[[Page 56285]]

country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to the FAA's bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, 
the FAA has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the EASA 
AD. The FAA is issuing this AD after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2022-0110. EASA AD 2022-0110 specifies 
procedures for initial and repetitive visual inspections of certain LPC 
rotor fan disks, and replacement of any LPC rotor fan disk with cracks 
detected.
    This material is reasonably available because the interested 
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by 
the means identified in ADDRESSES.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System Service 
Bulletin (SB) SB-BR700-72-101474, Revision 1, dated November 18, 2014 
(RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-101474); RRD BR700 
Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-101952, Initial Issue, dated 
December 1, 2016 (RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-
101952); and RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-A900732, 
Initial Issue, dated June 7, 2022 (RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System 
SB SB-BR700-72-A900732).
    RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System SB-BR700-72-101474 and RRD BR700 
Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-101952 describe procedures for 
the modification of the engine as a terminating action to the initial 
and repetitive visual inspections of certain LPC rotor fan disks. RRD 
BR700 Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-A900732 specifies 
procedures for initial and repetitive visual inspections of certain LPC 
rotor fan disks.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in EASA AD 2022-0110, described previously, as incorporated by 
reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the 
regulatory text of this proposed AD and except as discussed under 
``Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD.''

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    Where EASA AD 2022-0110 requires compliance from its effective 
date, this proposed AD would require using the effective date of this 
AD.
    This AD does not require compliance with the ``Remarks'' section of 
EASA AD 2022-0110.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 2,068 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. Registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect LPC compressor rotor fan      4 work-hours x $85 per               $0             $340         $703,120
 disk.                                 hour = $340.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need these replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Action                        Labor cost               Parts cost            Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace LPC compressor rotor fan disk  10 work-hours x $85 per  $470,000...............  $470,850
                                        hour = $850.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

[[Page 56286]]

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:

Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Type Certificate previously 
held by Rolls-Royce plc): Docket No. FAA-2022-1158; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2022-00771-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by October 31, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) 
BR700-710A1-10, BR700-710A2-20, and BR700-710C4-11 model turbofan 
engines as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 
2022-0110, dated June 15, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0110).

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine 
Engine Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of cracks on certain low-
pressure compressor (LPC) rotor (fan) disks. The FAA is issuing this 
AD to prevent failure of the LPC rotor fan or blade. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in high energy debris 
release, damage to the airplane, and reduced control of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: 
Perform all required actions within the compliance times specified 
in, and in accordance with, EASA AD 2022-0110.

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0110

    (1) Where EASA AD 2022-0110 requires compliance from its 
effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this 
AD.
    (2) The ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2022-0110 is not 
incorporated by reference in this AD.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0110 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not include that requirement.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in Sec.  39.19. 
In accordance with Sec.  39.19, send your request to your principal 
inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. 
If sending information directly to the manager of the certification 
office, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (k)(2) of this AD or email to: [email protected]. Before 
using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the 
local flight standards district office/certificate holding district 
office.

(k) Additional Information

    (1) For service information identified in EASA AD 2022-0110, 
contact Rolls-Royce plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, 
Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom; phone: +44 (0)1332 242424; fax: +44 
(0)1332 249936; website: rolls-royce.com/contact-us.aspx.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Sungmo Cho, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7241; email: 
[email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2022-0110, dated 
June 15, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (4) You may view this material that is incorporated by reference 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at NARA, email: 
[email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on September 7, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-19596 Filed 9-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P