Proposed Rule2026-04148
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines
Primary source
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Published
March 3, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-06-16, which applies to certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 engines. AD 2020-06-16 requires initial and repetitive ultrasonic inspections (UIs) of the affected low-pressure compressor (LPC) blades and, depending on the results of the UIs, replacement with a part eligible for installation. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-06-16, RRD issued updated service material providing improvements to the ultrasonic inspection procedures and updated initial inspection compliance times. This proposed AD would continue to require initial and repetitive UIs of the affected LPC blades for sub-surface anomalies and, depending on the results of the UIs, replacement with a part eligible for installation. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 41 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10349-10352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04148]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2026-2287; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01208-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)
2020-06-16, which applies to certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co
KG (RRD) Model RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 engines. AD
2020-06-16 requires initial and repetitive ultrasonic inspections (UIs)
of the affected low-pressure compressor (LPC) blades and, depending on
the results of the UIs, replacement with a part eligible for
installation. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-06-16, RRD issued updated
service material providing improvements to the ultrasonic inspection
procedures and updated initial inspection compliance times.
[[Page 10350]]
This proposed AD would continue to require initial and repetitive UIs
of the affected LPC blades for sub-surface anomalies and, depending on
the results of the UIs, replacement with a part eligible for
installation. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by April 17, 2026.
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-2026-2287; 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 European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material
identified in this proposed AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3,
50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eeafaa9dae8b8f9d8fc08b9b9c819e8fc08b9b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b2a2f182b0e0a180a450e1e19041b0a450e1e">[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, 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: Alexis Whitaker, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone:
(516) 228-7309; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#40212c253829336e2a6e37282934212b2532002621216e272f36"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="43222f263b2a306d296d342b2a3722282631032522226d242c35">[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 using a method listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2026-2287; Project Identifier
MCAI-2025-01208-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
<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
Alexis Whitaker, 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 2020-06-16, Amendment 39-19885 (85 FR 17738,
March 31, 2020) (AD 2020-06-16), for RRD Model RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-
60, and 772B-60 engines with LPC blade having part number (P/N)
FK23411, FK25441, FK25968, FW11901, FW15393, FW23643, FW23741, FW23744,
KH23403, or KH23404, installed. AD 2020-06-16 was prompted by an MCAI
originated by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States
of the European Union. EASA issued AD 2018-0188R1, dated September 5,
2021 (EASA AD 2018-0188R1) to correct an unsafe condition identified as
LPC blade airfoil separation.
AD 2020-06-16 requires initial and repetitive UIs of the affected
LPC blades and, depending on the results of the UIs, their replacement
with a part eligible for installation. The FAA issued AD 2020-06-16 to
prevent LPC blade airfoil separation.
Actions Since AD 2020-06-16 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 2020-06-16, EASA superseded EASA AD 2018-
0188R1 and issued a series of ADs, each superseding the previous one,
with the latest one being EASA AD 2025-0144, dated July 9, 2025 (EASA
AD 2025-0144) (also referred to as the MCAI). Since EASA AD 2018-0188R1
was published, RRD published updated service material with improved
instructions for the UIs of the affected LPC blades and updated initial
inspection compliance times. The MCAI states that occurrences have been
reported of LPC partial airfoil blade release events on RRD Model Trent
700 engines. To address this potential unsafe condition, the MCAI
requires repetitive UIs of the affected LPC blades, and depending on
the results of the UIs, replacement with a part eligible for
installation.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2026-2287.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0144, which specifies procedures for
performing an ultrasonic inspection of the LPC blade for sub-surface
anomalies, and replacement, if necessary.
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 civil aviation authority
(CAA) 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, that authority 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.
[[Page 10351]]
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would retain none of the requirements of AD 2020-
06-16. This proposed AD would require the actions specified in EASA AD
2025-0144, described previously, as incorporated by reference, except
for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of
this proposed AD. See ``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the
MCAI'' for a discussion of the general differences included in this AD.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI
Where EASA AD 2025-0144 applies to RRD Model RB211 Trent 772C-60
engines this proposed AD does not, as these engines do not have an FAA
type certificate.
Where EASA AD 2025-0144 removes LPC part numbers FK25441, FK25968,
FW11901, FW15393 from the affected parts list, this proposed AD
includes these part numbers in the applicability in the event that any
of these parts remain in service.
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 CAA ADs as the
primary source of information for compliance with requirements for
corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been coordinating this process with
manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to incorporate
EASA AD 2025-0144 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD
would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2025-0144 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 EASA AD 2025-0144 does not mean that operators need comply
only with that section. For example, where the AD requirement refers to
``all required actions and compliance times,'' compliance with this AD
requirement is not limited to the section titled ``Required Action(s)
and Compliance Time(s)'' in EASA AD 2025-0144. Material required in
EASA AD 2025-0144 for compliance will be available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>
under Docket No. FAA-2026-2287 after the FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 140 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Inspect LPC blade..................... 37 work-hours x $85 per $0 $3,145 $440,300
hour = $3,145.
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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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace one LPC blade......................... 6 work-hours x $85 per hour = $225,000 $225,510
$510.
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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
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:
[[Page 10352]]
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2020-06-16, Amendment 39-19885 (85
FR 17738, March 31, 2020); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Docket No. FAA-2026-2287;
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01208-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by April 17, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2020-06-16, Amendment 39-19885 (85 FR 17738,
March 31, 2020).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD)
Model RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 engines, with a low-
pressure compressor (LPC) blade having part number (P/N) FK23411,
FK25441, FK25968, FW11901, FW15393, FW23643, FW23741, FW23744,
KH23403, KH23404, or LV11570, installed.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine
Compressor Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of LPC partial airfoil blade
release events. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent LPC blade
airfoil separation. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could
result in engine nose cowl loss, under cowl fires, forward
projection of secondary debris, damage to the engine, damage to the
airplane, and injury to persons on the ground.
(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 2025-0144, dated July 9, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0144).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0144
(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0144 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where the Groups definition in EASA AD 2025-0144 specifies
``NMSB'', this AD requires replacing that text with ``RR Alert NMSB
RB.211-72-AL191, Initial Issue, dated May 30, 2025''.
(3) Where the definition of an affected part in EASA AD 2025-
0144 specifies ``Part Number (P/N) FK23411, FW23643, FW23741,
FW23744, KH23403, KH23404 or P/N LV11570,'' this AD requires
replacing that text with ``P/N FK23411, FW23643, FW23741, FW23744,
FK25441, FK25968, FW11901, FW15393, KH23403, KH23404, or LV11570,
installed''.
(4) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' paragraph of EASA AD
2025-0144.
(i) No Reporting Requirement
Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0144 specifies
to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not
include that requirement.
(j) 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 of the 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#a0e1edefe3e0c6c1c18ec7cfd6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e7a6aaa8a4a7818686c9808891">[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 Alexis Whitaker,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines,
WA 98198; phone: (516) 228-7309; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ea8b868f928399c480c49d82839e8b818f98aa8c8b8bc48d859c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6809040d10011b4602461f00011c09030d1a280e0909460f071e">[email protected]</span></a>.
(l) 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) AD 2025-0144,
dated July 9, 2025.
(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#9cddd8efdcf9fdeffdb2f9e9eef3ecfdb2f9e9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d3c390e3d181c0e1c5318080f120d1c531808">[email protected]</span></a>; website: easa.europa.eu. You may
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) You may view this material at 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 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#91f7e3bff8ffe2e1f4f2e5f8feffd1fff0e3f0bff6fee7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2244500c4b4c51524741564b4d4c624c4350430c454d54">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on February 26, 2026.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-04148 Filed 3-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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