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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2538; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01211-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2022-24-06, which applies to certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co
KG (RRD) Model BR700-710A1-10, BR700-710A2-20, and BR700-710C4-11
engines. AD 2022-24-06 requires initial and repetitive visual
inspections of certain low-pressure compressor (LPC) rotor (fan) disks
and replacement of any LPC rotor (fan) disk with cracks detected. AD
2022-24-06 also allows for modification of the engine in accordance
with RRD service information as a terminating action to these
inspections. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-24-06, the manufacturer
published updated service information and revised the engine
maintenance manual (EMM) to provide instructions for an improved
ultrasonic inspection method, which prompted this AD. This proposed AD
would require initial and repetitive visual inspections of certain LPC
rotor (fan) disks and replacement of any LPC rotor (fan) disk with
cracks detected and would allow modification of the engine as a
terminating action to the inspections, as specified in a European Union
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation
by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by January 10, 2025.
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 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.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-2538; 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) any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For EASA material identified in this proposed 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone:
(781) 238-7146; email: barbara.caufield@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include "Docket No. FAA-2024-2538; Project Identifier
MCAI-2023-01211-E" at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
the proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as "PROPIN." The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to
Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th
Street, Des Moines, WA 98198. Any commentary that the FAA receives
which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the
public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA issued AD 2022-24-06, Amendment 39-22246 (87 FR 73919,
December 2, 2022) (AD 2022-24-06), for certain RRD Model BR700-710A1-
10, BR700-710A2-20, and BR700-710C4-11 engines. AD 2022-24-06 was
prompted by an MCAI originated by EASA, which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of the European Union. EASA issued AD 2022-0110,
dated June 15, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0110), to correct an unsafe condition
identified as cracks on certain LPC rotor (fan) disks.
AD 2022-24-06 requires initial and repetitive visual inspections of
certain LPC rotor (fan) disks and replacement of any LPC rotor (fan)
disk with cracks detected. The FAA issued AD 2022-24-06 to prevent
failure of the LPC rotor fan or blade.
Actions Since AD 2022-24-06 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 2022-24-06, EASA superseded EASA AD 2022-
0110 and issued AD 2022-0110R1, dated November 22, 2023 (EASA AD 2022-
0110R1) (also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that the
manufacturer published updated service information and revised the EMM
to provide instructions for an improved ultrasonic inspection method
for certain LPC rotor (fan) disks.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-2538.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2022-0110R1, which 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 material 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
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 is issuing this NPRM after
determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to
exist or develop on other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would retain all of the requirements of AD 2022-
24-06. This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions
specified in the MCAI described previously, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 586 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
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ACTION
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LABOR COST
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PARTS COST
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COST PER PRODUCT
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COST ON U.S. OPERATORS
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Inspect LPC compressor rotor (fan) disk.
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4 work-hours x $85 per hour = $340.
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$0
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$340
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$199,240
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacements that would be required based on the results of the
proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of
engines that might need these replacements:
On-Condition Costs
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ACTION
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LABOR COST
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PARTS COST
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COST PER PRODUCT
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Replace LPC compressor rotor (fan) disk.
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10 work-hours x $85 per hour = $850
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$470,000
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$470,850
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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
The FAA 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 regulation:
(1) Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.
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:
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2022-24-06, Amendment 39-22246 (87
FR 73919, December 2, 2022); and
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:
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