AD 2016-03-03

This AD is effective April 14, 2016.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publication listed in this AD as of April 14, 2016.

For service information identified in this AD, contact DA Services Operations Room at Rolls-Royce plc, Defense Sector Bristol, WH-70, P.O. Box 3, Filton, Bristol BS34 7QE, United Kingdom; phone: +44 (0) 117 97 90700; fax: +44 (0) 117 97 95498; email: defence-operations-room@rolls-royce.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2012-1331.

Philip Haberlen, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7770; fax: 781-238-7199; email: philip.haberlen@faa.gov.

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2013-11-13, Amendment 39-17473 (78 FR 34550, June 10, 2013), (“AD 2013-11-13”). AD 2013-11-13 applied to the specified products. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 9, 2015 (80 FR 61131). The NPRM proposed to continue to require reducing the life of certain critical parts. That NPRM also proposed to add additional parts for the RR Viper Mk. 601-22 as well as additional engine models to the applicability of this AD.

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 61131, October 9, 2015).

We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed except for minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:

• Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 61131, October 9, 2015) for correcting the unsafe condition; and

• Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 61131, October 9, 2015).

RR has issued RR Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) Mk. 521 Number 72-A408, Circulation A, dated January 2015; RR ASB Mk. 521 Number 72-A408, Circulation B, dated January 2015; RR ASB Mk. 522 Number 72-A413, Circulation A, dated January 2015; RR ASB Mk. 522 Number 72-A412, Circulation B, dated January 2015; and RR ASB Mk 601-22 Number 72-A207, dated January 2015. The service information describes procedures for identifying the affected parts installed on each engine and determining their respective new life limit. This service information 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 of this final rule.

We estimate that this AD affects about 46 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate a pro-rated parts cost of $66,000 per engine. We also estimate that it will take about 4 hours per engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be $3,051,640.

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) AD 2013-11-13, Amendment 39-17473 (78 FR 34550, June 10, 2013), (“AD 2013-11-13”), and adding the following new AD: