90 FR 150 pgs. 38078-38080 - Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines
Type: PRORULEVolume: 90Number: 150Pages: 38078 - 38080
Pages: 38078, 38079, 38080Docket number: [Docket No. FAA-2025-1730; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01122-E]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-14965 Filed 8-6-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-1730; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01122-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
SUMMARY:
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent 7000-72 and Trent 7000-72C engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the manufacturer's determination that certain intervals for visual inspection of the intermediate pressure 8 (IP8) and high pressure 3 (HP3) air tubes need to be reduced for certain engines, and instructions for visual inspection of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes were not available for certain other engines. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear, and replacement if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES:
The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by September 22, 2025.
ADDRESSES:
You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: (202) 493-2251.
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-1730; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
• For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material identified in this NPRM, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
• You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7146; email: barbara.caufield@faa.gov .
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments using a method listed under ADDRESSES . Include "Docket No. FAA-2025-1730; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01122-E" at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to regulations.gov , including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
[top] CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner.
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2023-0186, dated October 27, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0186) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition on RRD Model Trent 7000-72 and Trent 7000-72C engines. The MCAI states that the manufacturer's normal engine maintenance instructions for visual inspection to determine the integrity of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes at intervals consistent with exposure assumptions used in critical part life assessments may result in the fracture of an affected part to remain undetected for a longer period than assumed. Thus, more frequent visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes are necessary. Also, instructions for visual inspection of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes were not available for certain other engines. The manufacturer issued service material that provides instructions for visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes for all affected engines. The FAA is proposing this AD to prevent failure of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-1730.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2023-0186, which specifies procedures for performing initial and repetitive visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear, and replacement if necessary. This material is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the mean identified in the ADDRESSES section.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in the MCAI described previously, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2023-0186 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2023-0186 in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular section in EASA AD 2023-0186 does not mean that operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD requirement refers to "all required actions and compliance times," compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the section titled "Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)" in EASA AD 2023-0186. Material required by EASA AD 2023-0186 for compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-1730 after the FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 100 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product | Cost on U.S. operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspect the IP8 and HP3 air tubes | 3 work-hours × $85 per hour = $255 | $0 | $255 | $25,500 |
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary replacements that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of engines that might need these replacements:
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace air tube | 3 work-hours × $85 per hour = $255 | $1,000 | $1,255 |
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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.
The FAA is 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
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation:
(1) Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39-AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority:
49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
§?39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends §?39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG: Docket No. FAA-2025-1730; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01122-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by September 22, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Model Trent 7000-72 and Trent 7000-72C engines.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7500, Engine Bleed Air System.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by the manufacturer's determination that certain intervals for visual inspection of the intermediate pressure 8 (IP8) and high pressure 3 (HP3) air tubes need to be reduced for certain engines, and instructions for visual inspection of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes were not available for certain other engines. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the IP8 and HP3 air tubes. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced efficiency of internal cooling and sealing flows, failure of the IP8 air tubes and HP3 air tubes, damage to the engine, and reduced control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD, perform all required actions within the compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2023-0186, dated October 27, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0186).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0186
(1) Where EASA AD 2023-0186 requires compliance from its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where paragraph (6) of EASA AD 2023-0186 states "any damage is detected", this AD requires replacing that text with "any cracking or sign of air leakage is detected".
(3) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" paragraph of EASA AD 2023-0186.
(i) No Reporting Requirement
Although the service material referenced in EASA AD 2023-0186 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD and email to: AMOC@faa.gov.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office.
(k) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: (781) 238-7146; email: barbara.caufield@faa.gov .
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0186, dated October 27, 2023.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email:
ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov.
Issued on August 4, 2025.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-14965 Filed 8-6-25; 8:45 am]
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