[Federal Register: February 12, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 28)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 6461-6462]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12fe07-6]
[[Page 6461]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-25272; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-16-AD;
Amendment 39-14924; AD 2007-03-13]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
(formerly Rolls-Royce plc) Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 Series
Turboprop Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (formerly Rolls-Royce plc) (RRD)
Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 series turboprop engines. This AD
would require repetitive inspections of high pressure turbine (HPT)
blade platforms and shrouds, and reworking the engines if the
inspections reveal excessive gaps between blade shrouds. This AD
results from reports of HPT disk rim failures. We are issuing this AD
to prevent HPT disk rim failures resulting in the release of portions
of the HPT disk, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the
airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective March 19, 2007. The Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain
publications listed in the regulations as of March 19, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD
from Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, D-15827
Dahlewitz, Germany; telephone 49 (0) 33-7086-1768; fax 49 (0) 33-7086-
3356.
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Yang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-7747;
fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to RRD Dart 528, 529, 532,
535, 542, and 552 series turboprop engines. We published the proposed
AD in the Federal Register on September 12, 2006 (71 FR 53610). That
action proposed to require repetitive inspections of HPT blade
platforms and shrouds, and reworking the engines if the inspections
reveal excessive gaps between blade shrouds.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the docket that contains the AD, any comments
received, and any final disposition in person at the Docket Management
Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is
located on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation Nassif
Building at the street address stated in ADDRESSES. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comment received.
Incorporate Service Bulletin By Reference
The Modification & Replacement Parts Association requests that we
incorporate the service bulletin by reference. We agree that the
material should be incorporated by reference. We did so in the AD. The
commenter also requests that we post service bulletins on the DMS. We
are currently reviewing issues surrounding the posting of this material
on the DMS as part of an AD docket. Once we have thoroughly examined
all aspects of this issue and have made a final determination, we will
decide whether our current practice of not posting service bulletins on
the DMS should be changed. The final rule remains unchanged.
Changes to the AD
We have made two changes to the AD. In the proposed AD, we
mistakenly referred to the RRD Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552
series turboprop engines as turbofan engines. They are turboprop
engines and we corrected the final rule accordingly.
Additionally, to clarify paragraph (f)(3), we added the words
``rework to DRS 611 standard.'' The sentence now reads ``Before
exceeding 7,400 hours since last HPT blade inspection or rework to DRS
611 standard.''
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect about 30 RRD Dart 528, 529,
532, 535, 542, and 552 series turboprop engines installed on airplanes
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 22 work-
hours per engine to perform the actions, and that the average labor
rate is $80 per work-hour. No parts are required. Based on these
figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be
$52,800.
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.
We are 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
We have determined that 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the
address listed under ADDRESSES.
[[Page 6462]]
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the Federal Aviation Administration 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:
2007-03-13 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (formerly Rolls-Royce
plc): Amendment 39-149824. Docket No. FAA-2006-25272; Directorate
Identifier 2006-NE-16-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March
19, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD)
Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 series turboprop engines.
These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Hawker Siddeley,
Argosy AW.650, Fairchild Hiller F-27, F-27A, F-27B, F-27F, F-27G, F-
27J, FH-227, FH-227B, FH-227C, FH-227D, FH-227E, Fokker F.27 all
makes; British Aircraft Corporation Viscount 744, 745D and 810; and
Gulfstream G-159 airplanes.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of high pressure turbine (HPT)
disk rim failures. We are issuing this AD to prevent HPT disk rim
failures resulting in the release of portions of the HPT disk,
uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the
actions have already been done.
(f) Using RRD Dart Service Bulletin (SB) Da72-543, dated July
11, 2003, and the scheme detailed in RRD Repair Instruction,
``Restoration of Platform and Shroud gaps by welding, DRS 611,''
dated July 15, 2005, inspect and repair HPT blade platforms and
shroud abutment faces by weld build-up:
(1) After no more than 1,500 flight hours from the date of issue
of this AD, if the engine has not been previously inspected or
reworked to the DRS 611 standard;
(2) Each time new blades are installed; and
(3) Before exceeding 7,400 hours since last HPT blade inspection
or rework to DRS 611 standard.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(g) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, has the authority
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD if
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(h) LBA airworthiness directive 2003-217, dated August 7, 2003,
also addresses the subject of this AD.
(i) Contact Jason Yang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification
Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-7747, fax
(781) 238-7199; e-mail: jason.yang@faa.gov for more information
about this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(j) You must use Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Dart
Service Bulletin Da72-543, dated July 11, 2003, and RRD Dart Repair
Instruction, ``Restoration of Platform and Shroud Gaps by Gaps by
Welding, DRS 611,'' dated July 15, 2005, to perform the actions
required by this AD.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service bulletin in accordance
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) Contact Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11,
D-15827 Dahlewitz, Germany; telephone 49 (0) 33-7086-1768; fax 49
(0) 33-7086-335 for a copy of this service information.
(3) You may review copies at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://
http://www.archives.gov/
federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 26, 2007.
Francis A. Favara,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-1708 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am]
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