Document ID: FAA-2012-1327-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Rolls-Royce, PLC Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2013-01-31T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6749-6750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02077]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 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.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 21 / Thursday, January 31, 2013 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 6749]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1327; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-47-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Rolls-Royce plc (RR) models RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 
turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by low-pressure (LP) 
compressor blade partial airfoil release events. This proposed AD would 
require a one-time ultrasonic C-scan inspection of LP compressor blades 
that had accumulated more than 2,500 flight cycles since new. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent LP compressor blade airfoil separations, 
engine damage, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 1, 2013.

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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby DE24 8BJ, UK; phone: 44 (0) 1332 
242424; fax: 44 (0) 1332 249936. 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.

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 (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: Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7754; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: Robert.Green@faa.gov.

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-2012-1327; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-47-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 aviation 
authority for the Member States of the European Community, has issued 
EASA AD 2012-0247, dated November 20, 2012, a mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (referred to hereinafter as ``MCAI''), to 
correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI 
states:

    Low Pressure (LP) compressor partial aerofoil blade release 
events have occurred in service on RR Trent 700 engines. While 
primary containment of the released sections has been achieved in 
each case, some of the releases did exhibit secondary effects that 
are considered to present a potential hazard. Previously, 
expeditious actions by RR have mitigated the risks presented by 
these effects, by removal from service of batches of LP compressor 
blades. However, some causal factors still exist that are not fully 
understood.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to LP 
compressor blade release with possible consequent loss of the engine 
nose cowl, under cowl fires and forward projection of secondary 
debris, possibly resulting in damage to the aeroplane and/or injury 
to persons on the ground.

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

Relevant Service Information

    RR has issued Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) RB.211-72-
G702, dated May 23, 2011. The actions described in this service 
information were issued to understand the condition of a sample of 
operator blades in advance of the introduction of regularly scheduled 
ultrasonic C-scan shop visit inspections. RR subsequently issued NMSB 
RB.211-72-G872, Revision 1, dated July 2, 2012. The actions described 
in this service information are intended to prevent LP compressor blade 
airfoil release events by conducting in-service ultrasonic C-scan 
inspections.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by EASA, and is approved for 
operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement 
with the European Community, EASA has notified us of

[[Page 6750]]

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. This proposed AD would require a one-time ultrasonic C-scan 
inspection of LP compressor blades that had accumulated more than 2,500 
flight cycles since new.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 56 engines installed 
on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take 
about 38 hours per engine to comply with this proposed AD. The average 
labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts cost is $0 per engine. Based 
on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators to be $180,880.

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, Incorporation by 
reference, 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

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 AD:

Rolls-Royce plc: Docket No. FAA-2012-1327; Directorate Identifier 
2012-NE-47-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by April 1, 2013.

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) models RB211 Trent 
768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 turbofan engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by low-pressure (LP) compressor blade 
partial airfoil release events. We are issuing this AD to prevent LP 
compressor blade airfoil separations, engine damage, and damage to 
the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) For LP compressor blades that, on the effective date of this 
AD, have accumulated or exceeded 2,500 flight cycles (FCs) since 
new, or since inspection in accordance with RR Non-Modification 
Service Bulletin (NMSB) RB.211-72-G702, dated May 23, 2011, or since 
in-shop ultrasonic inspection in accordance with the Engine Manual, 
replace each LP compressor blade (either on-wing or in-shop) with a 
blade eligible for installation, within 500 FCs after the effective 
date of this AD.
    (2) From the effective date of this AD, do not install on an 
engine any LP compressor blades that have been removed as required 
by paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, unless the LP compressor blades have 
passed the ultrasonic C-scan inspection in accordance with 
paragraphs 3.C. through 3.F. of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
RR NMSB RB.211-72-G872, Revision 1, dated July 2, 2012 (or original 
issue dated April 3, 2012), as applicable.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 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 Robert Green, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
Robert.Green@faa.gov.
    (2) European Aviation Safety Agency, AD 2012-0247, dated 
November 20, 2012, RR NMSB RB.211-72-G702, dated May 23, 2011, and 
RR NMSB RB.211-72-G872, dated July 2, 2012 pertain to the subject of 
this AD.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby DE24 8BJ, UK; phone: 44 (0) 1332 
242424; fax: 44 (0) 1332 249936.
    (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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 25, 2013.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-02077 Filed 1-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P