Rule2026-18559
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 11, 2026
Effective
October 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-06-16 for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 engines. AD 2020-06-16 required 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 AD requires 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 issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57782-57785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18559]
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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;
Amendment 39-23459; AD 2026-18-04]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-06-16
for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model RB211 Trent
768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 engines. AD 2020-06-16 required 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 AD requires 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 issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective October 16, 2026. The Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain
publication listed in this AD as of October 16, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
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 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:
<bullet> For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (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="fbbabf88bb9e9a889ad59e8e89948b9ad59e8e">[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. It is also available at
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2026-2287.
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#56373a332e3f25783c78213e3f22373d33241630373778313920"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="31505d544958421f5b1f46595845505a5443715750501f565e47">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2020-06-16, Amendment 39-19885 (85 FR
17738, March 31, 2020) (AD 2020-06-16). AD 2020-06-16 applied to
certain RRD Model RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 engines. AD
2020-06-16 required initial and repetitive UIs of the affected LPC
blades and, depending on the results of the UIs, replacement with a
part eligible for installation. The FAA
[[Page 57783]]
issued AD 2020-06-16 to prevent LPC blade airfoil separation.
The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on March 3, 2026 (91
FR 10349). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2025-0144, dated July 9,
2025 (EASA AD 2025-0144) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union. The MCAI states that occurrences have been reported of
LPC partial airfoil blade release events on RRD Model Trent 700
engines. The MCAI also states that RRD issued updated service material
providing improvements to the ultrasonic inspection procedures and
updated initial inspection compliance times.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 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.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2026-2287.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received comments from two commenters. Commenters included
the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) and an anonymous
commenter. ALPA supported the NPRM without change. The following
presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to
each comment.
Request To Clarify Reporting Requirement
An individual commenter requested that the FAA clarify why
paragraph (i) of the proposed AD eliminates the manufacturer's
reporting requirement, including identifying what specific data
elements are collected under the EASA AD specifications and whether the
data is used by RRD to monitor fleet-wide anomaly rates, refine
inspection intervals, or update service instructions. The commenter
stated that the NPRM removes the requirement to submit inspection
findings to RRD but does not describe the content of that requirement
or provide any reasoned explanation for its omission. The commenter
also stated that if the reporting requirement supports fleet-level
surveillance or service bulletin development, its omission would
disrupt the data feedback loop and reduce the completeness of data
available to the manufacturer. The commenter asserted that if the
requirement does not serve these functions, the FAA should explicitly
state as much.
The FAA disagrees with the request. The FAA normally requires
reporting if the results are needed to determine the scope of the
identified unsafe condition or to develop future corrective actions.
For this AD, reporting is not necessary as the inspection and
replacement of the LPC blade addresses the unsafe condition. Operators
are encouraged to voluntarily submit data to RRD by normal processes.
The FAA did not change this AD as a result of this comment.
Request To Clarify Effective Date Exception
An individual commenter requested that the FAA clarify why
paragraph (h)(1) of the proposed AD substitutes the effective date of
the FAA AD for all references to the effective date of EASA AD 2025-
0144. The commenter stated that the FAA should not replace EASA AD
effective dates with FAA AD effective dates without identifying how
EASA AD 2025-0144 measures its compliance times, the resulting
inspection deadlines under both effective dates, and whether any
affected engines would operate longer before initial inspection under
the FAA rule than under the EASA AD specifications. The commenter noted
that compliance times are date-relative and substitution of the FAA AD
effective date extends the initial inspection window for U.S.-
registered engines relative to the EASA AD specifications. The
commenter asserted that without this comparison, the record does not
demonstrate that the proposed framework avoids a timing gap for a known
blade release hazard or maintains equivalence with EASA's safety
intent.
The FAA acknowledges the commenter's concerns and clarifies that
FAA standard procedure is to reference the FAA AD effective date rather
than the EASA AD effective date because applying the EASA effective
date would impose retroactive compliance requirements and could place
operators in immediate noncompliance upon issuance of the FAA AD. The
use of the FAA AD effective date rather than the EASA AD effective date
prevents grounding of airplanes that are above the threshold while
still allowing for an acceptable level of safety. The FAA did not
change this AD as a result of this comment.
Request To Clarify Retainment of Affected Part Numbers
An individual commenter requested that the FAA clarify whether part
numbers FK25441, FK25968, FW11901, and FW15393, which were removed from
the applicability of EASA AD 2025-0144, are currently installed on
U.S.-registered engines and, if so, identify the estimated number of
affected engines or parts. The commenter stated that if the FAA lacks
current installation data at the part-number level, it should consult
RRD service records or require operators to report current installation
status as part of the initial compliance action, rather than imposing
indefinite regulatory applicability on parts that may no longer be in
service.
The FAA disagrees with request because the unsafe condition applies
to part numbers FK25441, FK25968, FW11901, and FW15393, regardless of
whether they are currently in service or not. The LPC blades are
rotable parts that can be later installed in engines. The FAA did not
change this AD as a result of this comment.
Conclusion
These products have been approved by the civil 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, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant
data, considered any comments received, 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.
None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.
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.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI
Where EASA AD 2025-0144 applies to RRD Model RB211 Trent 772C-60
engines, this AD does not, as these engines do not have an FAA type
certificate.
Where EASA AD 2025-0144 removes LPC part numbers FK25441, FK25968,
[[Page 57784]]
FW11901, and FW15393 from the affected parts list, this AD includes
these part numbers in the applicability in the event that any of these
parts remain in service.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 140 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated costs
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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
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
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
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:
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:
2026-18-04 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Amendment 39-23459;
Docket No. FAA-2026-2287; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01208-E.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 16, 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,
[[Page 57785]]
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#a8e9e5e7ebe8cec9c986cfc7de"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2564686a66654344440b424a53">[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#6a0b060f1203194400441d02031e0b010f182a0c0b0b440d051c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7819141d00110b5612560f10110c19131d0a381e1919561f170e">[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#92d3d6e1d2f7f3e1f3bcf7e7e0fde2f3bcf7e7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a4e5e0d7e4c1c5d7c58ac1d1d6cbd4c58ac1d1">[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 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 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#197f6b3770776a697c7a6d7076775977786b78377e766f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9ef8ecb0f7f0edeefbfdeaf7f1f0def0ffecffb0f9f1e8">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on August 28, 2026.
Brian Knaup,
Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-18559 Filed 9-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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