2026-11179: Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 33604-33607] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-11179] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2026-0742; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01337-E; Amendment 39-23361; AD 2026-10-21] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Engines

Agency

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

Action

Final rule. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-26-04 for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent 1000-AE3, Trent 1000-CE3, Trent 1000-D3, Trent 1000-G3, Trent 1000-H3, Trent 1000-J3, Trent 1000-K3, Trent 1000-L3, Trent 1000-M3, Trent 1000-N3, Trent 1000-P3, Trent 1000-Q3, and Trent 1000-R3 engines. AD 2023-26-04 required initial and repetitive in-shop visual inspections of the intermediate-pressure stage 8 (IP8) and high-pressure stage 3 (HP3) air transfer tubes and front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear, and replacement, if necessary. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-26-04, the FAA has determined that a new set of initial and repetitive on-wing visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear are necessary, and consequently the inspection interval for the repetitive in-shop visual inspections of front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes may be increased. This AD requires initial and repetitive in-shop visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes and front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes (with increased inspection interval) for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear, and replacement, if necessary. This AD also requires initial and repetitive on-wing visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear, and replacement, if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Dates

This AD is effective July 9, 2026. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 9, 2026.

Addresses

AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-0742; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and [[Page 33605]] 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Material Incorporated by Reference: For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: [email protected]; 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. It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-0742.

For Further Information Contact

Alexis Whitaker, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: (516) 228-7309; email: [email protected].

Supplementary Information

Background The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2023-26-04, Amendment 39-22647 (89 FR 251, January 3, 2024) (AD 2023-26-04). AD 2023-26-04 applied to all RRD Model Trent 1000-AE3, Trent 1000-CE3, Trent 1000-D3, Trent 1000-G3, Trent 1000-H3, Trent 1000-J3, Trent 1000-K3, Trent 1000-L3, Trent 1000- M3, Trent 1000-N3, Trent 1000-P3, Trent 1000-Q3, and Trent 1000-R3 engines. AD 2023-26-04 required initial and repetitive in-shop visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes and front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear, and replacement, if necessary. The FAA issued AD 2023-26-04 to prevent failure of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes and front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 6, 2026 (91 FR 5378). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2025-0176, dated August 7, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0176) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI states that since EASA AD 2023-0087 was published, the manufacturer has issued service information to include initial and repetitive on-wing visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes, and an increase to the interval for the in-shop visual inspections of front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require initial and repetitive in-shop visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes and front bearing housing IP8 air feed tubes (with increased inspection interval) for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear, and replacement, if necessary. In the NPRM, the FAA also proposed to require initial and repetitive on-wing visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes for cracking, damage, or air leakage wear, and replacement, if necessary. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-0742. Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive Comments The FAA received comments from two commenters. Commenters included the Airline Pilots Association, International (ALPA) and The Boeing Company (Boeing). All commenters supported the NPRM without change. Conclusion 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 reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator. Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51 The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0176, which specifies procedures for performing initial and repetitive on-wing and in-shop visual inspections of the IP8 and HP3 air transfer tubes and front bearing housing IP8 air feed 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 means identified in the ADDRESSES section. Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this AD affects four engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD: Estimated Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost per Cost on U.S. Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On-wing inspection of air tubes....... 4 work-hours x $85 per $0 $340 $1,360 hour = $340. In-shop inspection of air tubes....... 4 work-hours x $85 per 0 340 1,360 hour = $340. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The FAA estimates the following costs to do any replacements that would be required based on the results of the inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of engines that might need these replacements: On-Condition Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost per Action Labor cost Parts cost product ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Replace IP8 air transfer tubes................ 2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $7,600 $7,770 $170. [[Page 33606]] Replace HP3 air transfer tubes................ 2 work-hours x $85 per hour = 11,900 12,070 $170. Replace front bearing housing IP8 air feed 2 work-hours x $85 per hour = 10,000 10,170 tubes. $170. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 has 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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. List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety. 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