DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9553; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-29-AD;
Amendment 39-18904; AD 2017-11-05]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE 3007C and 3007C1 turbofan engines.
This AD was prompted by analysis and by cracks found in the high-
pressure turbine (HPT) wheel during an inspection. This AD requires
replacement of the affected HPT wheels at new, lower life limits. We
are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 18, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 18,
2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Rolls-Royce Corporation, 450 South Meridian Street, Mail Code
NB-01-06, Indianapolis, IN 46225; phone: 317-230-3774; email:
indy.pubs.services@rolls-royce.com; Internet: www.rolls-royce.com. You
may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller
Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on
the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. It is
also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9553.

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-2016- 9553;
or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket
contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kyri Zaroyiannis, Aerospace Engineer,
Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA,
2300 E. Devon Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60018; phone: 847-294-7836; fax:
847-294-7834; email: kyri.zaroyiannis@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain RRC AE 3007C and
3007C1 model turbofan engines. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on February 22, 2017 (82 FR 11327) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM
was prompted by analysis and by cracks found in the HPT wheel during
an inspection. The NPRM proposed to require replacement of the affected
HPT wheels at new, lower life limits. We are issuing this AD to prevent
uncontained failure of the HPT wheels, damage to the engine, and damage
to the airplane.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We have considered the comment received. An individual
commenter supported the NPRM.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed RRC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) AE 3007C-A-72-318,
Revision 2, dated September 23, 2016. The ASB provides updated life
limits for the affected HPT wheels. 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
the ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 307 engines installed on airplanes
of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

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

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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, and
(4) 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.

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

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 (AD):