Document ID: FAA-2019-0338-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2019-06-13T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 114 (Thursday, June 13, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27508-27510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12461]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0338; Product Identifier 2019-NE-10-AD; Amendment 
39-19653; AD 2019-11-07]
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: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-524G2-19, RB211-524G2-T-19, RB211-524G3-19, 
RB211-524G3-T-19, RB211-524H2-19, RB211-524H2-T-19, RB211-524H-36 and 
RB211-524H-T-36 engines. This AD requires removal of affected low-
pressure compressor (LPC) shafts. This AD was prompted by unauthorized 
repairs to the affected LPC shafts that reduced their expected life. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

[[Page 27509]]

DATES: This AD is effective June 28, 2019.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by July 29, 2019.

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 http://www.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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this final rule, contact 
Rolls-Royce plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, United 
Kingdom, DE24 8BJ; phone: 011-44-1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332-249936; 
email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp; internet: 
https://www.aeromanager.com. You may view this service information at 
the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759. It is also available on the 
internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2019-0338.

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-2019-
0338; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eugene Triozzi, Aerospace Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
781-238-7148; fax: 781-238-7199; email: Eugene.triozzi@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has 
issued EASA AD 2018-0157, dated July 24, 2018 (referred to after this 
as ``the MCAI''), to address an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    It was reported that a number of low pressure (LP) compressor 
shafts have undergone unauthorised repairs, which were found to be 
detrimental to the approved shaft life.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to fracture of the 
LP compressor shaft and release of high energy debris, possibly 
resulting in damage to, and reduced control of, the aeroplane.
    To address this potentially unsafe condition, it has been 
decided that a life reduction must be imposed for those LP 
compressor shafts known to have been repaired. However, the history 
of some shafts has not been determined and the unauthorised repairs 
may not have been confirmed. To address all the shafts that have 
possibly been subject to the unauthorised repairs, RR issued the 
NMSB to provide instructions to reduce the life of the affected 
shafts.

    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 Docket No. FAA-2019-0338.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Rolls-Royce Alert Non-Modification Service 
Bulletin (NMSB) No. RB.211-72-AJ985, Initial Issue, dated April 17, 
2018. The NMSB reduces the current declared cyclic life for the 
affected LPC shafts.

FAA's Determination

    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 the unsafe 
condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced 
above. The FAA is issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition 
described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of 
the same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires removal of the affected LPC shafts at a reduced 
cyclic life limit.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    No domestic operators use this product. Therefore, the FAA finds 
good cause that notice and opportunity for prior public comment are 
unnecessary. In addition, for the reason stated above, the FAA finds 
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 was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public 
comment. However, the FAA invites you to send any written data, views, 
or arguments about this final rule. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2019-
0338 and Product Identifier 2019-NE-10-AD at the beginning of your 
comments. The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this final 
rule. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this final rule because of those comments.
    The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. 
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this final rule.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not 
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt 
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined 
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without notice and comment, 
RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 0 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 27510]]

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace LPT shaft.....................  0 work-hours x $85 per          $113,524        $113,524              $0
                                         hour = $0.
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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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and 
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.

Regulatory Findings

    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, the FAA certifies this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866, and
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

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):

2019-11-07 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-19653; Docket No. FAA-2019-
0338; Product Identifier 2019-NE-10-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective June 28, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-524G2-19, 
RB211-524G2-T-19, RB211-524G3-19, RB211-524G3-T-19, RB211-524H2-19, 
RB211-524H2-T-19, RB211-524H-36 and RB211-524H-T-36 engines.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by unauthorized repairs to the affected 
low-pressure compressor (LPC) shafts that reduced their expected 
life. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LPC 
shaft. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
uncontained release of the LPC shaft, damage to the engine, and 
damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within 30 days from the effective date of this AD or before 
exceeding 10,500 flight cycles (FCs) since new, whichever occurs 
later, remove LPC shaft, part number (P/N) UL24833, with serial 
numbers (S/Ns) PATH3113; PATH3121; PAVN1765, PAVN1853, PAVN2152, 
PAVN2157, PAVN2259, PAVN2636, PAVN2991, or PAVN2992.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install an LPC 
shaft, P/N UL24833 and with S/Ns PATH3113; PATH3121; PAVN1765, 
PAVN1853, PAVN2152, PAVN2157, PAVN2259, PAVN2636, PAVN2991, or 
PAVN2992, with 10,500 FCs since new, or greater, on any engine.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 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 (j)(1) of this AD. You may email your 
request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov.
    (2) 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Eugene Triozzi, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7148; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
Eugene.triozzi@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2018-0157, dated July 24, 2018, for more information. You may 
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0338.

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 6, 2019.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-12461 Filed 6-12-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P