Document ID: FAA-2013-1015-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2014-03-21T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15665-15667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04952]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-1015; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-37-AD; 
Amendment 39-17798; AD 2014-05-25]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 970-84, RB211-Trent 970B-84, RB211-
Trent 972-84, RB211-Trent 972B-84, RB211-Trent 977-84, RB211-Trent 
977B-84, and RB211-Trent 980-84 turbofan engines. This AD requires 
inspections of the low-pressure turbine exhaust case and support 
assembly or tail bearing housing (TBH) to detect cracks or damage. This 
AD was prompted by an RR structural re-analysis indicating that the TBH 
may not retain full limit load capability in all fail-safe conditions. 
We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the TBH, resulting in 
damage to the engine and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 7, 2014.
    We must receive comments on this AD by May 5, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of April 7, 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: 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.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp. 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-
1015; 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 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: Anthony W. Cerra, Jr., Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7128; fax: 781-238-7199; email: anthony.cerra@faa.gov.

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 2013-0240 (correction), dated October 4, 2013 
(referred to herein after as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

Rolls-Royce performed a re-analysis of the structural features of 
the Trent 900 low-pressure turbine exhaust case and support assembly 
(also known as Tail Bearing Housing, or TBH). The result of this re-
analysis indicates that the TBH may not retain full limit load 
capability in all fail-safe conditions. In addition, during previous 
inspections of Trent 900 TBH mounts and vanes, cracks have been 
found in the outer annulus leading edge (LE) fillet of some vanes.
    These conditions, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
disconnection of the TBH structural ring from the mounts, possibly 
resulting in damage to, or reduced control of, the aeroplane.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2013-1015.

Relevant Service Information

    RR has issued Repeater Technical Variance (TV) No. 132043, Issue 1, 
dated March 25, 2013; Repeater TV No. 132217, Issue 5, dated May 23, 
2013; TV No. 124801, Issue 2, dated July 4, 2012; TV No. 124851, Issue 
2, dated July 4, 2012; Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) 
No. RB.211-72-AG971, Revision 1, dated September 27, 2013; and Alert 
NMSB No. RB.211-72-AH154, Revision 1, dated June 18, 2013. The actions 
described in this service information are intended to correct the 
unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

[[Page 15666]]

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This 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 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. This AD requires inspections of the TBH to detect 
cracks or damage.

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-2013-1015; Directorate 
Identifier 2013-NE-37-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).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 0 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 8 
hours per engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 
per hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of this AD 
to U.S. operators is $0.

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 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),
    (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 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

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):

2014-05-25 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-17798; Docket No. FAA-2013-
1015; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-37-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective April 7, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 970-84, 
RB211-Trent 970B-84, RB211-Trent 972-84, RB211-Trent 972B-84, RB211-
Trent 977-84, RB211-Trent 977B-84, and RB211-Trent 980-84 turbofan 
engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by an RR structural re-analysis indicating 
that the tail bearing housing (TBH) may not retain full limit load 
capability in all fail-safe conditions. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the TBH, resulting in damage to the engine and 
damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done. Performing the on-wing or in-shop inspections 
as specified in paragraph (e)(1) satisfies the requirements of this 
AD.
    (1) Accomplish on-wing or in-shop inspections of the TBH as 
specified in paragraphs (e)(1)(i) through (e)(1)(iv) of this AD.
    (i) Perform an inspection of the mount lug run-outs, before 
exceeding 2,200 flight cycles since new (FCSN). Use Section 3.A., 
3.B., or 3.C. of RR Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) 
No. RB.211-72-AG971, Revision 1, dated September 27, 2013, to do the 
inspection. Thereafter, inspect every 2,200 flight cycles (FC).
    (ii) For a TBH with 900 FCSN or less on the effective date of 
this AD, perform an inspection of the mount lug forging leading edge 
(LE) areas and fail safe catcher, before exceeding 1,000 FCSN. Use 
Section 3.A., or 3.B. of RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72-AH154, Revision 
1, dated June 18, 2013; or Section 3.B. or 3.C. of RR Alert NMSB No. 
RB.211-72-AG971, Revision 1, dated September 27, 2013, to do the 
inspection. Thereafter, inspect every 1,000 FC.
    (iii) For a TBH with more than 900 FCSN on the effective date of 
this AD, perform an inspection of the mount lug forging LE areas and 
fail safe catcher, within 100 FC. Use Section 3.A. or 3.B. of RR 
Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72-AH154, Revision 1, dated June

[[Page 15667]]

18, 2013; or Section 3.B. or 3.C. of RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72-
AG971, Revision 1, dated September 27, 2013, to do the inspection. 
Thereafter, inspect every 1,000 FC.
    (iv) Perform an inspection of the top core vanes, before 
exceeding 3,800 FCSN. Use Section 3.C. of RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-
72-AG971, Revision 1, dated September 27, 2013, to do the 
inspection. Thereafter, inspect every 3,800 FC.
    (2) If any inspection required by paragraph (e)(1) of this AD 
fails, remove the TBH from service.
    (3) Remove any TBH from service before the TBH exceeds 17,200 
FCSN.

(f) Credit for Previous Actions

    (1) If, before the effective date of this AD, you performed 
inspections and corrective actions using RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-
72-AG971, dated September 20, 2012 or RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72-
AH154, dated June 13, 2013; you met the requirements of paragraph 
(e)(1) of this AD.
    (2) If, before the effective date of this AD, the last in-shop 
inspection of the mount lug run-outs was accomplished using Section 
3.C. of RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72-AG971, dated September 20, 2012, 
the compliance time interval for the next on-wing or in-shop 
inspection of the fail safe catcher, as required by paragraphs 
(e)(1)(ii) and (e)(1)(iii) of this AD, may be counted from that last 
in-shop inspection of the mount lug run-outs.
    (3) If, before the effective date of this AD, you performed 
inspections and corrective actions using RR Technical Variance (TV) 
No. 124801, Issue 2, dated July 4, 2012 or earlier versions; or TV 
No. 124851, Issue 2, dated July 4, 2012 or earlier versions; you met 
the requirements of paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this AD.
    (4) If, before the effective date of this AD, you performed 
inspections and corrective actions using RR TV No. 132043, Issue 1, 
dated March 25, 2013 or earlier versions; or TV No. 132217, Issue 5, 
dated May 23, 2013 or earlier versions; you met the requirements of 
paragraphs (e)(1)(ii) and (e)(1)(iii) of this AD.
    (5) Any inspections and corrective actions performed are not 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by 
paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
to this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request.

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Anthony W. 
Cerra, Jr., Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7128; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
anthony.cerra@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2013-0240 
(correction), dated October 4, 2013, for more information. 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-2013-1015.
    (3) RR Repeater TV No. 132043, Repeater TV No. 132217, TV No. 
124801, and TV No. 124851, which are not incorporated by reference 
in this AD, can be obtained from RR, using the contact information 
in paragraph (i)(3) of this AD.
    (4) 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.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) 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) Rolls-Royce plc Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin 
(NMSB) No. RB.211-72-AG971, Revision 1, dated September 27, 2013.
    (ii) Rolls-Royce plc Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72-AH154, Revision 1, 
dated June 18, 2013.
    (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 view this service information at 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 view this service information 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/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 27, 2014.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-04952 Filed 3-20-14; 8:45 am]
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