[Federal Register: April 29, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 82)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 22644-22646]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ap03-30]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2000-NM-326-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Lockheed Model 382G Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Lockheed Model 382G series
airplanes. This proposal would require repetitive general visual
inspections of certain bearings located in the emergency exit door for
evidence of excessive wear; and repair of certain bearings, which would
terminate the repetitive inspections. These actions are necessary to
prevent failure of the latch mechanism, which could result in the
inability to open the emergency exit door in an emergency. This action
is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Comments must be received by June 13, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-326-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232.
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address:
9-anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must
contain ``Docket No. 2000-NM-326-AD'' in the subject line and need not
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or
ASCII text.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Lockheed Martin Corporation/Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Company, Airworthiness Office, Dept. 6A0M, Zone 0252, Column P-58, 86
S. Cobb Drive, Marietta, Georgia 30063. This information may be
examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue,
SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification
Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta,
Georgia.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Herderich, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe and Propulsion Branch, ACE-117A, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft
Certification Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite
450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone (770) 703-6082; fax (770) 703-
6097.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Submit comments using the following format:
[sbull] Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
[sbull] For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed
AD is being requested.
[sbull] Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each
request.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 2000-NM-326-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped
and returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 2000-NM-326-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The FAA received a report from an operator that, during an
inspection, an emergency exit door could not be opened on a Lockheed
Model 382G series airplane. Further investigation revealed that the
latch mechanism failed due to excessive wear of the latch bearings in
the door. The excessive wear was caused by steel roll pins rubbing
against aluminum bearings and creating grooves, which consequently
inhibited the rotation of the tube that retracts the door latches. The
same operator also reported that excessive bearing wear was found in
nine additional airplanes. Failure of the latch mechanism, if not
corrected, could result in the inability to open the emergency exit
door in an emergency.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
The FAA has reviewed and approved Hercules Service Bulletin 382-52-
9, dated July 5, 2000, which describes procedures for repetitive
general visual inspections of certain bearings located in the emergency
exit door for evidence
[[Page 22645]]
of excessive wear (demonstrated by a groove in excess of 0.060 inch
deep); and repair of certain bearings, which would terminate the
repetitive inspections. The repair procedures include machining the
bearing faces so the roll pins will not contact the bearings and cause
additional wear. Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service
bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified unsafe
condition.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the
proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in
the service bulletin described previously, except as discussed below.
Differences Between Proposed Rule and Service Bulletin
Operators should note that this proposed AD would require, within
90 days of the effective date of this AD, repair of bearings having P/N
3326653-1 and P/N 3326653-2, as terminating action for the repetitive
inspections. The referenced service bulletin specifies the repair as
optional. The FAA has determined that long-term continued operational
safety will be better assured by removing the source of the problem,
rather than by repetitive inspections. Long-term inspection may not be
providing the degree of safety assurance necessary for the transport
airplane fleet. This, coupled with a better understanding of the human
factors associated with numerous continual inspections, has led the FAA
to consider placing less emphasis on inspections and more emphasis on
repairs. The proposed repair requirement is consistent with these
conditions.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 10 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 1 airplane of U.S. registry
would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately
16 work hours to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the average
labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $9,600,
or $960 per airplane.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in
the future if this proposed AD were not adopted. The cost impact
figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time
necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD.
These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the
time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time
necessitated by other administrative actions.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
and (3) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Lockheed: Docket 2000-NM-326-AD.
Applicability: Model 382G series airplanes, as listed in
Hercules Service Bulletin 382-52-9, dated July 5, 2000, certificated
in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent failure of the latch mechanism located inside the
emergency exit door, which could result in the inability to open the
door in an emergency, accomplish the following:
Inspection
(a) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Perform
a general visual inspection of bearings having part numbers (P/N)
3326653-1 and 3326653-2, for evidence of a groove greater than 0.060
inch deep. Perform the inspection per paragraph 2.A. of the
Accomplishment Instructions specified in Hercules Service Bulletin
382-52-9, dated July 5, 2000.
Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection
is defined as: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior
area, installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure,
or irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within
touching distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be
necessary to enhance visual access to all exposed surfaces in the
inspection area. This level of inspection is made under normally
available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting,
flashlight, or droplight and may require removal or opening of
access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be
required to gain proximity to the area being checked.''
(1) If evidence of a groove greater than 0.060 inch deep is not
found: Repeat the inspection at 30-day intervals until
accomplishment of the terminating action required by paragraph (b)
of this AD.
(2) If evidence of a groove greater than 0.060 inch deep is
found: Before further flight, repair the bearings per paragraph (b)
of this AD.
Repair
(b) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD: Repair
bearings having P/N 3326653-1 and P/N 3326653-2 per paragraph 2.B.
of the Accomplishment Instructions specified in Hercules Service
Bulletin 382-52-9, dated July 5, 2000. Accomplishment of this repair
terminates the requirements of paragraph (a) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Atlanta
[[Page 22646]]
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA. Operators shall submit
their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance
Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager,
Atlanta ACO.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Atlanta ACO.
Special Flight Permits
(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Sec. Sec. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 23, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-10513 Filed 4-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P