88 FR 229 pgs. 83492-83494 - Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines
Type: RULEVolume: 88Number: 229Pages: 83492 - 83494
Pages: 83492, 83493, 83494Docket number: [Docket No. FAA-2023-1888; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00298-E; Amendment 39-22615; AD 2023-23-13]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2023-26302 Filed 11-29-23; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1888; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00298-E; Amendment 39-22615; AD 2023-23-13]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model RB211-Trent 800 engines. This AD is prompted by reports of cracks on certain intermediate-pressure compressor (IPC) rotor shaft balance lands. This AD requires initial and repetitive on-wing or in-shop borescope inspections (BSIs) of certain IPC rotor shaft balance lands for cracks, dents, and nicks, and replacement of the IPC rotor shaft if necessary, and would prohibit the installation of a certain IPC rotor shaft on any engine, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (IBR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES:
This AD is effective January 4, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 4, 2024.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1888; 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), any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
• For service information identified in this final rule, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
• You may view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1888.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sungmo Cho, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7241; email: sungmo.d.cho@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all RRD Model RB211-Trent 800 engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 15, 2023 (88 FR 63539); corrected on September 27, 2023 (88 FR 66314). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2023-0040, dated February 16, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0040) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI states that cracking on the IPC rotor shaft balance land has been historically observed on RRD Model RB211-Trent 800 engines. To address this unsafe condition, the manufacturer developed a modification, which introduced a revised balancing method that removed the original balancing weights from the IPC rotor shaft, and published service information to provide instructions for in-service modification. In addition, the manufacturer published service information to provide instructions for in-shop eddy current (EC) inspection of the IPC rotor shaft balance land. Consequently, EASA issued EASA AD 2014-0152, dated June 20, 2014; corrected June 25, 2014; revised March 2, 2018 (EASA AD 2014-0152R1).
Since EASA issued EASA AD 2014-0152R1, the manufacturer determined that certain RB211-Trent 800 engines were not inspected during engine refurbishment. The manufacturer then identified the IPC rotor shaft balance lands that were not inspected and published service information that describes procedures to perform a BSI of the IPC rotor shaft balance land until the in-shop EC inspection is accomplished. To address this, EASA issued the MCAI.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require initial and repetitive on-wing or in-shop BSIs of certain IPC rotor shaft balance lands for cracks, dents, and nicks, and replacement of the IPC rotor shaft if necessary, and proposed to prohibit the installation of a certain IPC rotor shaft on any engine. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1888.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received a comment from The Boeing Company (Boeing). Boeing supported the NPRM without change.
Conclusion
[top] These products have been approved by the aviation authority of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and determined that air safety requires
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2023-0040, which specifies procedures for performing initial and repetitive on-wing or in-shop BSIs of the IPC rotor shaft balance land for cracks, dents, and nicks, and replacing the IPC rotor shaft if necessary. The MCAI also specifies prohibiting the installation of a certain IPC rotor shaft on any engine and that accomplishing an in-shop EC inspection of the IPC rotor shaft balance land or replacing the IPC rotor shaft constitutes as terminating action for the repetitive BSIs.
This service information is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in ADDRESSES .
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 194 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product | Cost on U.S. operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSI of IPC rotor shaft balance land | 4.5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $382.50 | $0 | $382.50 | $74,205 |
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary replacements that would be required based on the results of the inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these replacements:
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace IPC rotor shaft | 50 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,250 | $2,123,908 | $2,128,158 |
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.
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, I certify that this AD:
(1) Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866,
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.
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
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority:
49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
§?39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends §?39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:
2023-23-13 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Amendment 39-22615; Docket No. FAA-2023-1888; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00298-E.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 4, 2024.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model RB211-Trent 875-17, RB211-Trent 877-17, RB211-Trent 884-17, RB211-Trent 884B-17, RB211-Trent 892-17, RB211-Trent 892B-17, and RB211-Trent 895-17 engines.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine Compressor Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of cracks on the intermediate-pressure compressor (IPC) rotor shaft balance land. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect cracks on the IPC rotor shaft balance land. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to IPC rotor shaft failure and consequent uncontained high-energy debris, resulting in damage to the airplane.
(f) Compliance
[top] Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Perform all required actions within the compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0040, dated February 16, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0040).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0040
(1) Where EASA AD 2023-0040 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) This AD does not adopt the Remarks paragraph of EASA AD 2023-0040.
(3) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-0040 specifies to use certain tooling, equivalent tooling may be used.
(i) No Reporting Requirement
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2023-0040 specifies to notify the manufacturer or supply pictures to the manufacturer of any cracks, dents, or nicks, this AD does not include that requirement.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety 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 branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD and email 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.
(k) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Sungmo Cho, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7241; email: sungmo.d.cho@faa.gov.
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference 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) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0040, dated February 16, 2023.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov.
Issued on November 20, 2023.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-26302 Filed 11-29-23; 8:45 am]
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