[Federal Register: March 24, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 57)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 13761-13763]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24mr04-15]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2004-NM-29-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -
300, -400, and -500 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to revise an existing airworthiness
directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -
200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes, that currently requires
replacing existing screw, nut, and washers that attach the latch cable
assembly to the latch block assembly of the door mounted escape slides,
with new, improved screw, nut, and washers. The actions specified by
that AD are intended to prevent the latch cable assembly from
disconnecting from the latch block assembly of the door mounted escape
slide, which could result in an escape slide not deploying in an
emergency situation. This action would revise the parts installation
paragraph to allow certain nuts to be installed and is intended to
address the identified unsafe condition.
[[Page 13762]]
DATES: Comments must be received by May 10, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2004-NM-29-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. 2004-NM-29-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 or 2000 or
ASCII text.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Ladderud, Aerospace Engineer,
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6435; fax (425) 917-6590.
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:
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.
For each issue, state what specific change to
the proposed AD is being requested.
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 2004-NM-29-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. 2004-NM-29-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
On February 5, 2004, the FAA issued AD 2004-03-34, amendment 39-
13478 (69 FR 7553, February 18, 2004), applicable to certain Boeing
Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes, to
require replacing existing screw, nut, and washers that attach the
latch cable assembly to the latch block assembly of the door mounted
escape slides, with new, improved screw, nut, and washers. That action
was prompted by a report that the cable on a door mounted escape slide
had disconnected from the latch block assembly on a Boeing Model 737
series airplane. The requirements of that AD are intended to prevent
the latch cable assembly from disconnecting from the latch block
assembly of the door mounted escape slide, which could result in an
escape slide not deploying in an emergency situation.
Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule
Since the issuance of AD 2004-03-34, the FAA has recognized that
paragraph (b) of that AD does not allow any nut, part number (P/N)
BACN10R10L, to be installed ``on the latch block assembly of any
airplane.'' It is not our intention to prevent nut, P/N BACN10R10L,
from being installed on the latch block assembly. We do however want to
prevent any nuts, P/N BACN10R10LH, that were removed from any airplane,
from being installed on the latch block assembly. While the notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for AD 2004-03-34 states ``no person may
install a nut, part number (P/N) BACN10R10L, that was removed from any
airplane,'' the text ``that was removed from any airplane,'' was
inadvertently removed from paragraph (b) of the final rule. We have
revised paragraph (b) of this proposed AD to state, ``* * * no person
may install a nut, part number (P/N) BACN10R10L, that was removed from
any airplane.''
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 revise AD 2004-03-34 to continue to require replacing
the existing screw, nut, and washers that attach the latch cable
assembly to the latch block assembly of the door mounted escape slides,
with new, improved screw, nut, and washers. In addition, the proposed
AD would allow nuts, P/N BACN10R10L, that were not removed from the
airplane, to be installed on the latch block assembly.
Cost Impact
The proposed changes in this action add no additional economic
burden. The current costs for this proposed AD are repeated for the
convenience of affected operators, as follows:
There are approximately 2,919 airplanes of the affected design in
the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 1,129 airplanes of U.S.
registry would be affected by this proposed AD. The FAA estimates that
it would take approximately 2 work hours for each airplane specified as
Group 1 in the referenced service bulletin, and approximately 1 work
hour for each airplane specified as Group 2 in the referenced service
bulletin, to accomplish the proposed actions; the average labor rate is
estimated to be $65 per work hour. Parts and materials are standard and
are to be supplied by the operator. Based on these figures, the cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $130 per
Group 1 airplane, and $65 per Group 2 airplane.
The cost impact figures discussed above are 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
[[Page 13763]]
incidental costs, such as the time required to gain access and close
up, planning time, or time necessitated by other administrative
actions. The manufacturer may cover the cost of replacement parts
associated with this proposed AD, subject to warranty conditions.
Manufacturer warranty remedies may also be available for labor costs
associated with this proposed AD. As a result, the costs attributable
to the proposed AD may be less than stated above.
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 removing amendment 39-13478 (69 FR
7553, February 18, 2004), and by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD), to read as follows:
2004-03-34 R1 Boeing: Docket 2004-NM-29-AD. Revises AD 2004-03-34,
Amendment 39-13478.
Applicability: Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500
series airplanes, as listed in Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 737-25-1434, dated March 22, 2001; certificated in any
category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent the latch cable assembly from disconnecting from the
latch block assembly of the door mounted escape slide, which could
result in an escape slide not deploying in an emergency situation,
accomplish the following:
Replacement
(a) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD,
replace existing screw, nut, and washers that attach the latch cable
assembly to the latch block assembly of the door mounted escape
slides, with new, improved screw, nut, and washers; per the Work
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-25-
1434, dated March 22, 2001.
Parts Installation
(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install
either of the parts specified in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of
this AD on the latch block assembly of any airplane.
(1) A nut, part number (P/N) BACN10R10L, that has been removed
from any airplane.
(2) A screw, P/N NAS623-3-8.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(c)(1) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, is authorized to approve
alternative methods of compliance (AMOC) for this AD.
(2) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for repair of the latch cable assembly and the latch block
assembly for the door mounted escape slide, if it is approved by a
Boeing Company Designated Engineering Representative (DER) who has
been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make such findings.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 15, 2004.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-6503 Filed 3-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P