2016-03-04: Life-limited rotating parts

Adoption of 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 (AD): 2016-03-04 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-18391; Docket No. FAA-2015- 3778; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-27-AD. (a) Effective Date This AD becomes effective March 15, 2016. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-37, and RB211-535E4-C-37 turbofan engines. (d) Reason This AD was prompted by a review of operational data that determined that certain RR RB211-535E4-37 engines have been operated to a more severe flight profile than is consistent with the flight profile used to establish the cyclic life limits for the rotating parts. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of life-limited rotating parts, which could result in uncontained parts release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane. (e) Actions and Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. Within 21 days after the effective date of this AD: (1) For RR RB211-535E4-37 engines, establish a new flight profile, Flight Profile G, as the new default profile for flight operations and new part lives for life-limited parts. (i) Use Appendix 6 of RR Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. RB.211-72-AH972, Revision 3, dated August 28, 2015, to define Flight Profile G. (ii) Use the definition of Flight Profile G in Appendix 6 and the maximum approved cyclic lives in Appendix 2 of RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72-AH972, Revision 3, dated August 28, 2015, to identify the new lives for life-limited parts. (iii) If operators meet the requirements of Appendix 6 of RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72-AH972, Revision 3, dated August 28, 2015, they may operate to Flight Profile A or B. (iv) You may use data from either a digital flight data acquisition unit or a digital flight data recorder for flight profile monitoring. (2) For all RR RB211-535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-37, and RB211- 535E4-C-37 engines, determine if any part identified by part number and serial number in Appendix 4 of RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72- AH972, Revision 3, dated August 28, 2015, is installed on the engine. (i) Do not return to service any engine with a part identified in paragraph (e)(2) of this AD after the part reaches the ``Compliance Time'' date or cycles, whichever occurs first, as specified in Appendix 4 of RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72-AH972, Revision 3, dated August 28, 2015. (ii) For each part identified in paragraph (e)(2) of this AD without a ``Compliance Time'' that has a lifing correction identified, apply the lifing correction for each part using the ``Additional Life Consumed Flight Cycles'' specified in Appendix 4 of RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72-AH972, Revision 3, dated August 28, 2015. (3) For RR RB211-535E4-37 engines operated to Flight Profile G with parts listed in Appendix 4 of RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72- AH972, Revision 3, dated August 28, 2015, do the following: (i) Re-calculate the consumed cyclic life of the low-pressure (LP) compressor shaft, LP turbine shaft, LP turbine disk Stage 2, [[Page 6757]] intermediate-pressure compressor rotor shaft Stage 1 to 6, high- pressure (HP) compressor rotor disk Stage 1 and 2, HP compressor rear rotor shaft assembly, and HP turbine disk as follows. (ii) Determine the Flight Profile G cycles in service (CIS). Count all CIS accumulated since April 1, 2015, inclusive. (iii) Use the Flight Profile G cycles in service from paragraph (e)(3)(ii) of this AD, the maximum approved lives in Appendix 2 of RR Alert NMSB No. RB.211-72-AH972, Revision 3, dated August 28, 2015, and Figure 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD to calculate the new consumed cyclic lives. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR09FE16.000 (f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your request. You may email your request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov. (g) Related Information (1) For more information about this AD, contact Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email: robert.green@faa.gov. (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2015-0148, dated July 23, 2015 (Corrected July 24, 2015), for more information. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2015-3778. (h) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (i) Rolls-Royce (RR) Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin No. RB.211-72-AH972, Revision 3, including Appendices 1 through 6, dated August 28, 2015. (ii) Reserved. (3) For RR service information identified in this AD, contact Rolls-Royce plc, Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, England, DE24 8BJ; phone: 011-44-1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332- 249936; email: http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp; Internet: https://customers.rolls-royce.com/public/rollsroycecare. (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. Forinformation on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. (5) You may view this service information 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://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.