AD 2014-24-08

This AD is effective January 6, 2015.

For 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://www.aeromanager.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.

Kenneth Steeves, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7765; fax: 781-238-7199; email: kenneth.steeves@faa.gov.

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 98-07-07, Amendment 39-10426 (63 FR 18119, April 14, 1998), (“AD 98-07-07”). AD 98-07-07 applied to the specified products. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 24, 2014 (79 FR 42989). The NPRM proposed to expand the applicability of AD 98-07-07 to include the RB211-535E4-C-37 turbofan engine and added two additional P/Ns identified for removal.

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We considered the comments received.

United Airlines supports issuing the NPRM (79 FR 42989, July 24, 2014) as proposed.

FedEx Express requested that the proposed AD require removal of only fuel tube assemblies, P/Ns 163521538 and 163521545. These are the only fuel tube assemblies that are required to be removed by RR Service Bulletin No. RB.211-73-H131 and European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2014-0123.

We do not agree. This AD will supersede AD 98-07-07. AD 98-07-07 required the removal of fuel tube assemblies, P/Ns UL16692 and AE709623-1. Continuing to include these P/Ns would ensure, in the unlikely event that there is an engine containing fuel tube assemblies, P/Ns UL16692 and AE709623-1, that these fuel tube assemblies would still be removed. We did not change this AD.

We changed paragraph (e)(2) of this AD to mandate installation of LP fuel filter-to-HP fuel pump tube assemblies eligible for installation. Paragraph (e)(2) was changed to support the Costs of Compliance as proposed in the NPRM (79 FR 42989, July 24, 2014).

We reviewed the available data, including the comments received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting this AD with the changes described previously. We determined that these changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

We estimate that this AD affects 500 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 7.33 hours per engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts cost about $10,000 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be $5,311,525.

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.

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),

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, and

(4) 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.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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 airworthiness directive (AD) 98-07-07, Amendment 39-10426 (63 FR 18119, April 14, 1998), and adding the following new AD: