AD 2005-20-23

This AD becomes effective November 8, 2005.

You may examine the AD docket at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. You may examine the service information at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA.

Christopher Spinney, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone: (781) 238-7175, fax: (781) 238-7199.

The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39 with a proposed airworthiness directive (AD). The proposed AD applies to RR RB211 Trent 875, 877, 884, 892, 892B, and 895 series turbofan engines with LPC fan blade P/Ns: FK 30838, FK30840, FK30842, FW12960, FW12961, FW12962, FW13175, FW18548, or FW23552. We published the proposed AD in the Federal Register on February 18, 2005 (70 FR 8303). That action proposed to require repetitive application of DFL to LPC fan blade roots at more frequent intervals than the existing AD. That action also proposed to add the Trent 884B engine to the applicability, to add a fan blade P/N to the affected list of fan blades, and to relax the initial DFL repetitive application compliance time for certain fan blades that have never been removed from the disk.

You may examine the AD Docket (including any comments and service information), by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. See ADDRESSES for the location.

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the development of this AD. We received one comment on the proposal and it was favorable.

We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

There are approximately 388 RR RB211 Trent 875, 877, 884, 884B, 892, 892B, and 895 series turbofan engines of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. We estimate that 106 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD. We also estimate that it will take approximately six work hours per engine to perform the DFL application, and that the average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to perform one repetitive application of DFL to the affected engines to be $41,340.

Paragraph (d) of the current AD, AD 2002-10-15, contains a paragraph pertaining to special flight permits. Even though this final rule does not contain a similar paragraph, we have made no changes with regard to the use of special flight permits to operate the airplane to a repair facility to do the work required by this AD. In July 2002, we published a new Part 39 that contains a general authority regarding special flight permits and airworthiness directives; see Docket No. FAA-2004-8460, Amendment 39-9474 (69 FR 47998, July 22, 2002). Thus, when we now supersede ADs we will not include a specific paragraph on special flight permits unless we want to limit the use of that general authority granted in section 39.23.

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.

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 by sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “AD Docket No. 2001-NE-12-AD” in your request.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-12761 (67 FR 36803, May 28, 2002) and by adding a new airworthiness directive, Amendment 39-14319, to read as follows: