Airworthiness Directives:
Federal Register: October 5, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 192)
Proposed Rules
Page 61361-61363
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr05oc10-14
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39
Docket No. FAA-2010-0994; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-39-AD
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-535 Series
Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:
There have been several findings of cracking at the firtrees of
LP Turbine discs. Fatigue crack initiation and subsequent crack propagation at the firtree may result in multiple LP Turbine blade release. The latter may potentially be beyond the containment capabilities of the engine casings. Thus, cracking at the firtrees of LP Turbine discs constitutes a potentially unsafe condition.
We are proposing this AD to detect cracks in the low-pressure turbine stage 1, 2, and 3 discs, which could result in an uncontained release of LP turbine blades and damage to the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 19, 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.
Contact Rolls-Royce plc., P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United
Kingdom; Telephone: 011 44 1332 242424, Fax: 011 44 1332 249936; e- mail: tech.help@rolls-royce.com for the service information identified in this proposed AD or download the publication from https:// www.aeromanager.com/.
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 (telephone (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: Ian Dargin, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: ian.dargin@faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7178; fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about
Page 61362
this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the
ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-0994; Directorate
Identifier 2009-NE-39-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 Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2009-0244, dated November 9, 2009 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:
There have been several findings of cracking at the firtrees of
LP Turbine discs. Fatigue crack initiation and subsequent crack propagation at the firtree may result in multiple LP Turbine blade release. The latter may potentially be beyond the containment capabilities of the engine casings. Thus, cracking at the firtrees of LP Turbine discs constitutes a potentially unsafe condition.
Therefore this Airworthiness Directive requires a change to the inspection intervals of LP Turbine Discs.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
Rolls-Royce plc has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) RB.211-72-
AG272, dated August 5, 2009. The actions described in this service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed 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 United Kingdom, they have notified us of 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.
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 90 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 30 work-hours per product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. No parts are required. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed
AD on U.S. operators to be $229,500.
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, 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 adding the following new AD:
Rolls-Royce plc: Docket No. FAA-2010-0994; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-39-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by November 19, 2010.
Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc RB211-535E4-37, -535E4-B- 37, -535E4-B-75, and -535E4-C-37 turbofan engines. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Boeing 757-200 series, -200PF series, -200CB series, and -300 series airplanes and Tupolev Tu204 series airplanes.
Reason
(d) This AD results from several findings of cracking at the firtrees of low-pressure (LP) turbine discs. Fatigue crack initiation and subsequent crack propagation at the firtree may result in multiple LP turbine blade release. We are issuing this AD to detect cracks in the LP turbine stage 1, 2, and 3 discs, which could result in an uncontained release of LP turbine blades and damage to the airplane.
Actions and Compliance
(e) Unless already done, do the following actions.
Initial Inspection Requirements
(1) At the next engine shop visit after the effective date of this AD, perform a visual and a fluorescent penetrant inspection
(FPI) of the LP turbine stage 1, 2, and 3 disc. You can find guidance on the visual and FPI in Section 3, Accomplishment
Instructions, of
Page 61363
Rolls-Royce Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. RB.211 72-AG272.
Repeat Inspection Requirements
(2) At each engine shop visit after accumulating 1,500 cycles since the last inspection of the LP turbine stage 1, 2 and 3 discs, repeat the inspections specified in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.
Remove Cracked Discs
(3) If you find cracks, remove the disc from service.
Definitions
(f) For the purpose of this AD, an ``engine shop visit'' is the induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the separation of pairs of major mating engine flanges, except that the separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of transportation without subsequent engine maintenance does not constitute an engine shop visit.
FAA AD Differences
(g) This AD differs from the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness
Information (MCAI) and or service information as follows in that while the MCAI compliance requires action at a current shop visit, this AD requires compliance at the next shop visit after the effective date of this AD.
Other FAA AD Provisions
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(i) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness
Directive 2009-0244, dated November 9, 2009, and Rolls-Royce plc ASB
No. RB.211-72-AG272 for related information. Contact Rolls-Royce plc., P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom; phone: 011 44 1332 242424, fax: 011 44 1332 249936; e-mail: tech.help@rolls- royce.com, for a copy of this service information or download the publication from https://www.aeromanager.com.
(j) Contact Ian Dargin, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification
Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: ian.dargin@faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7178; fax (781) 238-7199, for more information about this AD.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 27, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
FR Doc. 2010-24887 Filed 10-4-10; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
