Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 engines. This AD was prompted by a report that a batch of low-pressure compressor (LPC) blades were exposed to a non- conforming repair and are more prone to cracking due to a deviation from the approved blade configuration design. This AD requires removal from service of the affected LPC blades and replacement with a serviceable part. 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 196 (Tuesday, October 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 13, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64751-64753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20869]



========================================================================
Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 13, 2026 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 64751]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-4648; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01834-E; 
Amendment 39-23484; AD 2026-20-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model RB211 Trent 768-60, 
772-60, and 772B-60 engines. This AD was prompted by a report that a 
batch of low-pressure compressor (LPC) blades were exposed to a non-
conforming repair and are more prone to cracking due to a deviation 
from the approved blade configuration design. This AD requires removal 
from service of the affected LPC blades and replacement with a 
serviceable part. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective November 17, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 17, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-4648; 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#08494c7b486d697b69266d7d7a677869266d7d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="86c7c2f5c6e3e7f5e7a8e3f3f4e9f6e7a8e3f3">[email&#160;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-2026-4648.

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#fe9f929b86978dd094d08996978a9f959b8cbe989f9fd0999188"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f899949d80918bd692d68f90918c99939d8ab89e9999d69f978e">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all RRD Model RB211 
Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 engines. The NPRM was published in 
the Federal Register on June 1, 2026 (91 FR 32364). The NPRM was 
prompted by EASA AD 2025-0288, dated December 17, 2025, issued by EASA, 
which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European 
Union (EASA AD 2025-0288). EASA AD 2025-0288 superseded EASA AD 2024-
0130, dated July 8, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0130), which stated that a batch 
of LPC blades were exposed in service to non-conforming repair 
procedures that resulted in blade configuration deviating from the 
approved design. These LPC blades that do not conform to the approved 
design are prone to blade cracking. EASA AD 2024-0130 required removal 
from service of the affected LPC blades and replacement with a 
serviceable part. EASA AD 2025-0288 retained the removal from service 
and replacement requirements for the affected LPC blades in EASA AD 
2024-0130 and expanded the list of affected parts. In the NPRM, the FAA 
proposed to require removal from service of the affected LPC blades and 
replacement with a serviceable part. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

Actions Since the NPRM Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued the NPRM, EASA superseded EASA AD 2025-0288 
and issued EASA AD 2025-0288R1, dated June 26, 2026 (EASA AD 2025-
0288R1) (also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that since EASA 
AD 2025-0288 was issued, it was determined that the original wording of 
Note 2 is too restricting, since it provides allowance only to cases 
where an affected part is reinstalled in its original position on the 
same engine within a single on-wing maintenance activity. The MCAI 
removes ``on the same position'' from Note 2 to clarify that the 
exception provided by Note 2 applies to the removal and reinstallation 
of the same affected part on the same engine within a single 
maintenance activity, irrespective of its position. The FAA has updated 
this final rule accordingly by replacing EASA AD 2025-0288 with EASA AD 
2025-0288R1 in all affected paragraphs.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-4648.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received one comment from the Air Line Pilots Association, 
International, who supported the NPRM without change.

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, and any other changes described previously, 
this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

[[Page 64752]]

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 2025-0288R1, which specifies procedures 
for removal from service of the affected LPC blades and replacement 
with a serviceable part. 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 2025-0288R1 applies to RRD Model RB211 Trent 772C-60 
engines, this AD does not because these engines do not have an FAA type 
certificate.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects eight engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace LPC blades..................  2 work-hours x $85 per         $225,000         $225,170       $1,801,360
                                       hour = $170.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2026-20-11 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Amendment 39-23484; 
Docket No. FAA-2026-4648; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01834-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective November 17, 
2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Model 
RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that a batch of low-pressure 
compressor blades were exposed to a non-conforming repair and are 
more prone to cracking due to a deviation from the approved blade 
configuration design. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent blade 
cracking. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to 
multiple structural failures of the affected parts, which could 
result in increased risk of in-flight shutdown, engine fire, and 
uncontained high-energy debris release.

(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: Perform all 
required actions within the compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2025-
0288R1, dated June 26, 2026 (EASA AD 2025-0288R1).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0288R1

    (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0288R1 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2025-0288R1 refers to July 22, 2024 (the 
effective date of EASA AD 2024-0130), this AD requires using the 
effective date of this AD.
    (3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' paragraph of EASA AD 
2025-0288R1.

(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 of the AIR-520 Continued 
Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (j) of this AD and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d89995979b98beb9b9f6bfb7ae"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2564686a66654344440b424a53">[email&#160;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 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#0f6e636a77667c2165217867667b6e646a7d4f696e6e21686079"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f59499908d9c86db9fdb829d9c81949e9087b5939494db929a83">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

[[Page 64753]]

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference 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 2025-0288R1, 
dated June 26, 2026.
    (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#b3f2f7c0f3d6d2c0d29dd6c6c1dcc3d29dd6c6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="49080d3a092c283a28672c3c3b263928672c3c">[email&#160;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#89effba7e0e7faf9eceafde0e6e7c9e7e8fbe8a7eee6ff"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6a0c18440304191a0f091e0305042a040b180b440d051c">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

    Issued on September 30, 2026.
Brian Knaup,
Acting Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, 
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-20869 Filed 10-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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