DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2009-0246; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-04-AD] RIN 2120
-AA64
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; Rolls-Royce Corporation AE 3007A1/1, AE3007A1/3,
AE 3007A1, AE 3007A1E, AE 3007A1P, AE 3007A3, AE 3007C, and AE 3007C1
Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE 3007A1/1, AE 3007A1/3, AE 3007A1, AE
3007A1E, AE 3007A1P, AE 3007A3, AE 3007C, and AE 3007C1 turbofan engines
with a fan spinner part number (P/N) 23070964 or P/N 23078783, installed.
This proposed AD would require replacement of the fan spinner. This
proposed AD results from a report of a fan spinner releasing from an AE
3007A turbofan engine, during flight. We are proposing this AD to prevent
the fan spinner from releasing, which could result in injury, damage to
the engine, and damage to the airplane.
DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by August 24,
2009.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this proposed
AD.
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 Corporation, P.O. Box 420, Indianapolis, IN 46206;
telephone (317) 230-3774; fax (317) 230-8084; e-mail:
indy.pubs.services@rolls-royce.com, for a copy of the service information
identified in this proposed AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Downs, Aerospace Engineer, Chic-
ago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 2300
East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018; e-mail: michael.downs@faa.gov;
telephone: (847) 294-7870; fax: (847) 294-7834.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
COMMENTS INVITED
We invite you to send us any written relevant data, views, or arguments
regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include "Docket No. FAA-2009-0246; Directorate Identifier 2009
-NE-04-AD" in the subject line of your comments. We specifically invite
comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy
aspects of the proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend the proposed AD in light of 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).
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.
DISCUSSION
We received a report of a fan spinner releasing from an AE 3007A turbofan
engine, during flight. After observing noise and vibration, the flight
crew shut down the No. 1 engine and made an uneventful landing. Inspection
of the No. 1 engine revealed a missing fan spinner and damage to the fan
blades. Also noted was debris penetration through the forward engine cowl
in three locations, and through the airplane outer skin in two locations.
At the time of inspection, the No. 1 engine had accumulated 11,682
operating hours time-since-new, and 8,535 cycles-in-service-since-new. RRC
then performed spin pit testing of the affected design fan spinner, and
found a high stress concentration in the 12 bolt hole windows of the fan
spinner. This stress concentration can potentially develop into low-cycle
-fatigue cracks. This condition, if not corrected, could result in the fan
spinner releasing, which could result in injury, damage to the engine, and
damage to the airplane.
FAA'S DETERMINATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROPOSED AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an unsafe
condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products of this
same type design. We are proposing this AD, which would require
replacement of the fan spinner, P/N 23070964 or P/N 23078783.
COSTS OF COMPLIANCE
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 1,600 RRC AE 3007A series
and AE 3007C series turbofan engines installed on airplanes of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about one work-hour per
engine to perform the proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is
$80 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $12,943 per engine.
Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to
U.S. operators to be $20,836,800.
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 have 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 that the proposed AD:
1. Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866;
2. Is not a "significant rule" under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Proc-
edures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
3. Would 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. You may get a copy of this summary at the address listed
under ADDRESSES.
LIST OF SUBJECTS IN 14 CFR PART 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal
Aviation Administration 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 airworthiness
directive: