Proposed Rule2023-12697
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines
Primary source
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Published
June 14, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of malformed scallop edge geometry and surface conditions at the front flange scallops of affected low-pressure compressor (LPC) booster rotors. This proposed AD would require repetitive fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) of the front flange scallops of the LPC booster rotor for any cracks, replacement or repair of the LPC booster rotor if necessary and, as an optional terminating action to the repetitive FPIs, a visual inspection for malformed scallop edge geometry and malformed surface conditions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 114 (Wednesday, June 14, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 14, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38762-38765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12697]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1211; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01598-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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model BR700-715A1-30,
BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 engines. This proposed AD was
prompted by reports of malformed scallop edge geometry and surface
conditions at the front flange scallops of affected low-pressure
compressor (LPC) booster rotors. This proposed AD would require
repetitive fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) of the front flange
scallops of the LPC booster rotor for any cracks, replacement or repair
of the LPC booster rotor if necessary and, as an optional terminating
action to the repetitive FPIs, a visual inspection for malformed
scallop edge geometry and malformed surface conditions, as specified in
a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed
for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by July 31, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> 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 <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1211; 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:
<bullet> For EASA service information that is proposed for IBR in
this NPRM, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne,
Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7e3f3a0d3e1b1f0d1f501b0b0c110e1f501b0b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1455506754717567753a7161667b64753a7161">[email protected]</span></a>. You may
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. It is also
available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2023-1211.
<bullet> You may view this service information 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: Sungmo Cho, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (781)
238-7241; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0350766d646e6c2d472d406b6c436562622d646c75"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3261475c555f5d1c761c715a5d725453531c555d44">[email protected]</span></a>.
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-2023-1211; Project Identifier
MCAI-2022-01598-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
this 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
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, 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
Sungmo Cho, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite
410, Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2022-0252, dated December 16, 2022
(EASA AD 2022-0252) (referred to after this as the MCAI), to correct an
unsafe condition
[[Page 38763]]
for all RRD Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30
engines. The MCAI states that occurrences have been reported of finding
malformed scallop edge geometry and surface conditions at the front
flange scallops of certain LPC booster rotors. To address this unsafe
condition, the manufacturer published service information that
specifies procedures for inspecting the front flange scallops of the
LPC booster rotors with accept and reject criteria. This condition, if
not addressed, could lead to failure of the LPC booster rotor,
resulting in release of high-energy debris, with consequent engine in-
flight shutdown, and reduced control of the airplane.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1211.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2022-0252, which specifies procedures for
accomplishing repetitive FPIs (on-wing or in-shop) of the front flange
scallops of the affected part and, if any cracks are detected, removing
the engine from service and contacting the manufacturer for approved
corrective actions. EASA AD 2022-0252 also specifies procedures for
performing a visual inspection, taking photographs, and submitting
photograph documentation of the LPC booster rotor front flange scallops
for malformed scallop edge geometry and malformed surface conditions,
including validation of the results from the manufacturer, as
terminating action for the repetitive FPIs.
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 ADDRESSES.
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 described 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 require accomplishing the actions specified
in the MCAI, except as discussed under ``Differences Between this
Proposed AD and the MCAI,'' and under Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0252.
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has since
coordinated with other manufacturers and CAAs to use this process. As a
result, the FAA proposes to incorporate by reference EASA AD 2022-0252
in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require
compliance with EASA AD 2022-0252 in its entirety through that
incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in
the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Using common terms that are
the same as the heading of a particular section in the EASA AD does not
mean that operators need comply only with that section. For example,
where the AD requirement refers to ``all required actions within the
compliance times,'' compliance with this AD requirement is not limited
to the section titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in
EASA AD 2022-0252. Service information required by the EASA AD for
compliance will be available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2023-1211 after the FAA final rule is
published.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI
Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2022-0252 specifies to contact RRD
for approved corrective action(s) and accomplish those actions
accordingly, this proposed AD would require replacement or repair of
the LPC booster rotor.
Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0252 specifies to contact RRD
for approved corrective action(s) and accomplish those actions
accordingly, this proposed AD would require replacement or repair of
the LPC booster rotor.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 148 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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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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FPI front flange scallops of the LPC 5 work-hours x $85 per $0 $425 $62,900
booster rotor. hour = $425.
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacement, repair, or visual inspection that would be required based
on the results of the proposed inspection. Operators have the option of
performing a visual inspection of the affected LPC booster rotor as an
optional terminating action for the repetitive FPIs. The agency has no
way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this
replacement, repair, or visual inspection:
On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
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Replace the LPC booster rotor................. 10 work-hours x $85 per hour = $461,897 $462,747
$850.
Repair the LPC booster rotor.................. 10 work-hours x $85 per hour = 185,000 185,850
$850.
Visual inspection and photograph documentation 7 work-hours x $85 per hour = 0 595
of the LPC booster rotor front flange $595.
scallops.
[[Page 38764]]
Send Accomplishment Form (Part C) and 1 hour x $85 per hour = $85..... 0 85
photographs to RRD.
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Paperwork Reduction Act
A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of
information displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to take
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. All responses to this collection of
information are mandatory if operators elect to perform the optional
terminating action. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any
other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions
for reducing this burden, to: Information Collection Clearance Officer,
Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX
76177-1524.
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 this 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
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Docket No. FAA-2023-1211;
Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01598-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by July 31, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD)
Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 engines.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine
Compressor Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of malformed scallop edge
geometry and surface conditions at the front flange scallops of
affected low-pressure compressor (LPC) booster rotors. The FAA is
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LPC booster rotor. The
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in release of high-
energy debris, with consequent engine in-flight shutdown, and
reduced control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD:
Perform all required actions within the compliance times specified
in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA) AD 2022-0252, dated December 16, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0252).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0252
(1) Where EASA AD 2022-0252 requires compliance from its
effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this
AD.
(2) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2022-0252 specifies to
contact RRD for approved corrective action(s) and accomplish those
actions accordingly, this AD requires replacement of the LPC booster
rotor. In lieu of replacement of the affected LPC booster rotor,
operators may repair the affected LPC booster rotor using a method
approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or
EASA; or RRD's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved
by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
(3) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0252 specifies to
contact RRD for approved corrective action(s) and accomplish those
actions accordingly, this AD requires replacement of the LPC booster
rotor. In lieu of replacement of the affected LPC booster rotor,
operators may repair the affected LPC booster rotor using a method
approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or
EASA; or RRD's EASA DOA. If approved by the DOA, the approval must
include the DOA-authorized signature.
(4) This AD does not adopt the Remarks paragraph of EASA AD
2022-0252.
(5) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-
0252 specifies to reject the engine if a crack is found, this AD
requires replacement or repair of the LPC booster rotor.
[[Page 38765]]
(i) Reporting Requirement
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0252
specifies to submit the Accomplishment Forms, Parts A and B, to the
manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement. If
operators elect to perform the optional terminating action specified
in Part C of the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-
0252, this AD requires submission of the Part C Accomplishment Form
and photographic information to the manufacturer.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19,
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information
directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, send
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of
this AD and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#763738335b37325b373b39353610171758111900"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9f8f7fc94f8fd94f8f4f6faf9dfd8d897ded6cf">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(k) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Sungmo Cho, Aviation
Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY
11590; phone: (781) 238-7241; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f3a0869d949e9cddb7ddb09b9cb3959292dd949c85"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1546607b72787a3b513b567d7a557374743b727a63">[email protected]</span></a>.
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2022-0252, dated
December 16, 2022.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA AD 2022-0252, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3,
50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4c0d083f0c292d3f2d6229393e233c2d622939"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5e1f1a2d1e3b3f2d3f703b2b2c312e3f703b2b">[email protected]</span></a>. You may find EASA AD 2022-0252 on the EASA
website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) You may view this service information 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.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c3a5b1edaaadb0b3a6a0b7aaacad83ada2b1a2eda4acb5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="274155094e4954574244534e4849674946554609404851">[email protected]</span></a>, or go to: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html</a>.
Issued on June 8, 2023.
Michael Linegang,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-12697 Filed 6-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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