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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0213; Product Identifier 2019-NE-03-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) model Tay 611-8C
turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of low-
pressure compressor (LPC) rotor blade retention lug failures. This
proposed AD would limit the service life of the LPC rotor blades based
on the number of dry-film lubricant (DFL) re-applications. We are
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 20,
2019.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in
14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202 493 2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12 140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Rolls-
Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, Blankenfelde-
Mahlow, Germany; phone: +49 0 33-7086-4040; fax: +49 0 33-7086-51-4040;
email: rrd.techhelp@rolls.royce. You may view this service information
at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA, 01803. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.
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-2019-
0213; 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 NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI),
the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aerospace Engineer,
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone:
781-238-7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email: barbara.caufield@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2019-0213;
Product Identifier 2019-NE-03-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM because
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 we
receive about this NPRM.
Discussion
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has
issued EASA AD 2018-0055, dated March 12, 2018 (referred to after this
as "the MCAI"), to address the unsafe condition on these products.
The MCAI states:
The airworthiness limitations for the Tay 611-8C engines, which
are approved by EASA, are currently defined and published in the
ALS. Among others, the ALS contains limitation(s) applicable to the
maximum number of Dry Film Lubrication (DFL) treatments applied on
fan blade retention lugs. These instructions have been identified as
mandatory for continued airworthiness.
Failure to accomplish these instructions could result in an
unsafe condition.
In addition to the ALS, RRD issued the NMSB to provide
alternative methods to establish, in case this cannot be determined
from the engine maintenance records, the number of DFL treatments
that have been applied to an engine.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0213.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed RRD Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) TAY-72-
1835, Initial Issue, dated December 15, 2017. The service information
describes procedures for marking the LPC rotor blades with a suffix
code during the next scheduled LPC fan blade removal. 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.
FAA's Determination
This product has been approved by Germany and is approved for
operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement
with the European Community, EASA has notified us of the unsafe
condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced
above. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition
described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of
the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require a determination of the number of DFL
re-applications that have been applied to the LPC rotor blades and,
depending on the number of DFL re-applications, replacement of LPC
rotor blades.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service
Information
This proposed AD and EASA AD 2018-0055 do not include the RRD Tay
611-8 model turbofan engines in the Applicability section, while RRD
NMSB TAY-72-1835, Initial Issue, dated December 15, 2017, does include
this engine model. For the RRD Tay 611-8 engines, EASA has already
approved the new limitation to the service life of the blade. In
addition, RRD has revised the aircraft maintenance program, on the
basis of which the operator or the owner ensures the continuing
airworthiness of each operated airplane (on which an affected engine is
installed), to limit the number of DFL applications, as specified in
this AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 12 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Record Search to establish number
of DFL applications |
1.5 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $127.50 |
$0
|
$127.50
|
$1,530
|
We estimate the following costs to
do any necessary replacements
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection.
We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need
these replacements:
On-Condition Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
| Replace LPC blade |
2 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$170 |
$11,270
|
$11,440
|
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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.
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),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.
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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
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