|
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1158; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00771-E;
Amendment 39-22246; AD 2022-24-06]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
(Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) Turbofan Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-710A1-10,
BR700-710A2-20, and BR700-710C4-11 model turbofan engines. This AD was
prompted by reports of cracks on certain low-pressure compressor (LPC)
rotor (fan) disks. This AD requires initial and repetitive visual
inspections of certain LPC rotor fan disks and, depending on the
results of the inspections, replacement of any LPC rotor fan disk with
cracks detected. This AD also allows modification of the engine in
accordance with RRD service information as a terminating action to
these inspections, 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 6, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 6,
2023.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1158; 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 material that is proposed for IBR in this AD, contact
EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221
8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the
EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
You may view this material 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-2022-1158.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sungmo Cho, Aviation Safety Engineer,
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 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 certain RRD BR700-
710A1-10, BR700-710A2-20, and BR700-710C4-11 model turbofan engines.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2022 (87 FR
56284). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2022-0110, dated June 15,
2022, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member
States of the European Union (referred to after this as ``the MCAI'').
The MCAI states that there have been reports of cracks on certain LPC
rotor
fan disks. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require accomplishing the
actions
specified in EASA AD 2022-0110, described previously, except for any
differences or exceptions identified in the NPRM. The FAA is issuing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.
Conclusion
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 and
determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed.
Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2022-0110. EASA AD 2022-0110 specifies
procedures for initial and repetitive visual inspections of certain LPC
rotor fan disks, and replacement of any LPC rotor fan disk with cracks
detected.
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.
Other Related Service Information
The FAA reviewed RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System Service
Bulletin (SB) SB-BR700-72-101474, Revision 1, dated November 18, 2014
(RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-101474); RRD BR700
Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-101952, Initial Issue, dated
December 1, 2016 (RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-
101952); and RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-A900732,
Initial Issue, dated June 7, 2022 (RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System
SB SB-BR700-72-A900732).
RRD BR700 Series Propulsion System SB-BR700-72-101474 and RRD BR700
Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-101952 describe procedures for
the modification of the engine as a terminating action to the initial
and repetitive visual inspections of certain LPC rotor fan disks. RRD
BR700 Series Propulsion System SB SB-BR700-72-A900732 specifies
procedures for initial and repetitive visual inspections of certain LPC
rotor fan disks.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 2,068 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Inspect LPC compressor rotor
fan disk |
4 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$340 |
$0
|
$340
|
$703,120
|
The FAA estimates the following costs
to do any necessary
replacements that are required based on the results of the inspection.
The agency has 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 compressor rotor
fan disk |
10 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $850 |
$470,000
|
$470,850
|
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
|