Rule2025-02031
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines
Primary source
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Published
January 31, 2025
Effective
February 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent XWB-97 engines. This AD was prompted by a report of damage to the main fuel hose assembly of the fuel manifold, which resulted an in-flight shut down. This AD requires a one-time set of visual and dimensional inspections of the main fuel hose assembly of the fuel manifold to confirm softness, compliance, and lack of resistance, and for shrinkage, cracks, chafing, dents, kinks, necking, and degradation of the hose braid wire; and, if necessary, replacement of the main fuel hose assembly of the fuel manifold, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 20 (Friday, January 31, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 20 (Friday, January 31, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8661-8663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02031]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2664; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00518-E;
Amendment 39-22912; AD 2024-25-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent XWB-97
engines. This AD was prompted by a report of damage to the main fuel
hose assembly of the fuel manifold, which resulted an in-flight shut
down. This AD requires a one-time set of visual and dimensional
inspections of the main fuel hose assembly of the fuel manifold to
confirm softness, compliance, and lack of resistance, and for
shrinkage, cracks, chafing, dents, kinks, necking, and degradation of
the hose braid wire; and, if necessary, replacement of the main fuel
hose assembly of the fuel manifold, as specified in a European Union
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: This AD is effective February 18, 2025.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 18,
2025.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by March 17, 2025.
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-2024-2664; 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
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA,
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999
000; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1c5d586f5c797d6f7d3279696e736c7d327969"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7a3b3e093a1f1b091b541f0f08150a1b541f0f">[email protected]</span></a>; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find
this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
<bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, 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 <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2024-2664.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone:
(781) 238-7146; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b0d2d1c2d2d1c2d19ed3d1c5d6d9d5dcd4f0d6d1d19ed7dfc6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="761417041417041758151703101f131a123610171758111900">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-2664; Project Identifier MCAI-
2024-00518-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the
reason for any recommended
[[Page 8662]]
change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments
received by the closing date and may amend this final rule 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 final rule.
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 AD 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 AD, 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 AD. 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
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA Emergency AD 2024-0174-E, dated
September 5, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0174-E) (also referred to as the MCAI),
to correct an unsafe condition on certain RRD Model Trent XWB-97
engines. The MCAI states that damage to a fuel manifold flexible tube
was reported, which led to a controlled, temporary engine fire and heat
damage to the exterior and interior of the engine nacelle (thrust
reverser C-ducts). The occurrence resulted in an in-flight shut down.
The MCAI also states that the AD is considered an interim action and
further AD action may follow. To address this potential unsafe
condition, the manufacturer published service information that
specifies procedures for a one-time set of visual and dimensional
inspections of the fuel manifold main fuel hoses and corrective action
instructions. This condition, if not addressed, in combination with
additional failures, could lead to a more severe engine fire and result
in damage to the airplane.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-2664.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2024-0174-E, which specifies procedures
for a one-time set of visual and dimensional inspections of the main
fuel hose assembly of the fuel manifold to confirm softness,
compliance, and lack of resistance, and for shrinkage, cracks, chafing,
dents, kinks, necking, and degradation of the hose braid wire, and, if
necessary, replacement of the main fuel hose assembly of the fuel
manifold. EASA AD 2024-0174-E also specifies reporting the inspection
results to RRD. EASA AD 2024-0174-E also allows installation of an
affected part on any airplane provided that the part is serviceable and
allows installation of an affected engine provided that the engine
passed the required inspections, or the findings were corrected.
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 AD after determining
that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same type design.
AD Requirements
This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the
material already described, except for any differences identified as
exceptions in the regulatory text of this AD.
Interim Action
The FAA considers this AD to be an interim action. This unsafe
condition is still under investigation by the manufacturer and,
depending on the results of that investigation, the FAA may consider
further rulemaking action.
Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
Date
Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C.
551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment
procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds that
those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the
public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
The FAA justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of
this rule because no domestic operators use this product. It is
unlikely that the FAA will receive any adverse comments or useful
information about this AD from any U.S. operator. Accordingly, notice
and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(b). In addition, for the foregoing reason(s), the FAA finds
that good cause exists pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making this
amendment effective in less than 30 days.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because the FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and
comment, RFA analysis is not required.
Costs of Compliance
There are no costs of compliance with this AD because there are no
engines with this type certificate on the U.S. Registry.
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 currently 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.
[[Page 8663]]
All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. 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
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, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.
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
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:
2024-25-10 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Amendment 39-22912;
Docket No. FAA-2024-2664; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00518-E.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 18,
2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Model
Trent XWB-97 engines as identified in European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA) Emergency AD 2024-0174-E, dated September 5, 2024
(EASA AD 2024-0174-E).
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7200, Engine
(Turbine/Turboprop); 7310, Engine Fuel Distribution.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of damage to the main fuel hose
assembly of the fuel manifold, which resulted in an in-flight shut
down. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent damage to the main fuel
hose assembly of the fuel manifold. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could result in a controlled, temporary engine fire and
heat damage to the exterior and interior of the engine nacelle
(thrust reverser C-ducts), which in combination with additional
failures, could lead to a more severe engine fire and result in
damage to the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Do all required
actions within the compliance times specified in, and in accordance
with, EASA AD 2024-0174-E.
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0174-E
(1) Where EASA AD 2024-0174-E refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' paragraph of EASA AD
2024-0174-E.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety 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, AIR-520 Continued Operational
Safety 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#93d2dedcd0d3f5f2f2bdf4fce5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d3c30323e3d1b1c1c531a120b">[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.
(j) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Barbara Caufield,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines,
WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7146; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f3d3e2d3d3e2d3e713c3e2a39363a333b1f393e3e71383029"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f391928191928192dd909286959a969f97b3959292dd949c85">[email protected]</span></a>.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Emergency AD
2024-0174-E, dated September 5, 2024.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA,
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999
000; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5514112615303426347b3020273a25347b3020"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fabbbe89ba9f9b899bd49f8f88958a9bd49f8f">[email protected]</span></a>; website: easa.europa.eu.
(4) You may view this material at the FAA, 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 material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c4a2b6eaadaab7b4a1a7b0adabaa84aaa5b6a5eaa3abb2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d7b1a5f9beb9a4a7b2b4a3beb8b997b9b6a5b6f9b0b8a1">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on December 13, 2024.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-02031 Filed 1-30-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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