Document ID: FAA-2010-0960-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 768, 772, and 772B Turbofan Engines
Posted Date: 2010-11-15T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 219 (Monday, November 15, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69611-69612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28583]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0960; Directorate Identifier 98-ANE-09-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 768, 772, 
and 772B Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); rescission.

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SUMMARY: We propose to rescind an airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. The existing AD, AD 98-09-27, resulted from 
aircraft certification testing which revealed that stresses on the 
thrust reverser hinge were higher than had been anticipated during 
engine certification, and the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority, 
issuing AD 008-03-97.
    Since we issued AD 98-09-27, we discovered that its requirements 
were duplicated in airplane-level AD 2001-09-14, issued by the FAA 
Transport Airplane Directorate. This proposal to rescind the engine-
level AD allows the public the opportunity to comment on the FAA's 
determination of the duplication of requirements in another AD, before 
we rescind the engine-level AD.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 30, 
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.

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: Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
alan.strom@faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7143; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD rescission. Send your comments to an 
address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-
2010-0960; Directorate Identifier 98-ANE-09-AD'' at the beginning of 
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
proposed AD rescission. We will consider all comments received by the 
closing date and may amend this proposed AD rescission based on those 
comments.

[[Page 69612]]

    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 rescission. 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

    On April 23, 1998, the FAA Engine & Propeller Directorate issued 
engine AD 98-09-27 (63 FR 24911, May 6, 1998). On April 30, 2001, the 
FAA Transport Airplane Directorate issued airplane AD 2001-09-14 (66 FR 
23838, May 10, 2001). Those ADs both require the same initial and 
repetitive visual inspections of Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 768 and 
772 series turbofan engine thrust reverser hinge lugs and attachment 
ribs for cracks, and, if necessary, removal from service and 
replacement with serviceable parts.
    Since we issued engine AD 98-09-27 and airplane AD 2001-09-14, we 
determined that duplicate ADs to address the same unsafe condition were 
unnecessary.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD Rescission

    We are proposing this AD rescission of AD 98-09-27 because we 
evaluated all information and determined that two FAA ADs with the same 
requirements are not necessary.

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 rescission would not have 
federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 
rescission 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 rescission 
of a 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 rescission 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 rescinding airworthiness directive 
(AD) 98-09-27, Amendment 39-10508 (63 FR 24911, May 6, 1998):

Rolls-Royce plc: Docket No. FAA-2010-0960; Directorate Identifier 
98-ANE-09-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by December 30, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD rescinds AD 98-09-27.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 768, 772, and 
772B turbofan engines. These engines are installed on, but not 
limited to, Airbus A330-341 and A330-342 series airplanes.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 5, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-28583 Filed 11-12-10; 8:45 am]
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