[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 19 (Monday, January 31, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4756-4758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1517]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2003-NM-252-AD; Amendment 39-13955; AD 2005-02-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 757 Series Airplanes
Equipped With Rolls Royce Model RB211 Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD),
applicable to certain Boeing Model 757 series airplanes, that requires
repetitive detailed inspections of the support brackets and associated
fasteners for the hydraulic lines located in the nacelle struts, and
related investigative and corrective actions as necessary. This action
also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive
inspections. This action is necessary to prevent flammable fluids from
leaking into the interior compartment of the nacelle struts where
ignition sources exist, which could result in the ignition of flammable
fluids and an uncontained fire. This action is intended to address the
identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Effective March 7, 2005. The incorporation by reference of
certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the
Director of the Federal Register as of March 7, 2005.
ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules
Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the
availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to:
http://www.archives.gov/federal--register/code--of--federal--
regulations/ibr--locations.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Thorson, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone
(425) 917-6508; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 757 series
airplanes was published in the Federal Register on May 17, 2004 (69 FR
27866). That action proposed to require repetitive detailed inspections
of the support brackets and associated fasteners for the hydraulic
lines located in the nacelle struts, and related investigative and
corrective actions as necessary. That action also proposed to provide
an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
Comments
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to
the comment received.
Request To Revise Paragraph (b), Related Investigative and Corrective
Actions
The commenter, an operator, supports the repetitive inspections
required by paragraph (a) of the proposed AD, but requests that the
related investigative and corrective actions required by paragraph (b)
of the proposed AD be applicable only to a pylon (nacelle strut) that
has damaged or loose hydraulic line support brackets or associated
fasteners.
[[Page 4757]]
(If either pylon has loose or damaged parts, the proposed AD requires
that operators do all of the related investigative and corrective
actions on both pylons concurrently.) The commenter states that, if the
inspection results show that a pylon has no damaged or loose hydraulic
line attachment hardware, operators should be given the opportunity to
repetitively inspect that pylon until damaged or loose attachment
hardware is found. The commenter notes that the service bulletins
estimate 15 labor hours per pylon to modify the hydraulic line
brackets. That modification is the terminating action for the
repetitive inspections required by paragraph (a) of the proposed AD. We
infer that the commenter is making this request to conserve resources
and not expend labor hours to do the terminating action on a pylon that
does not have damaged or loose hydraulic line attachment hardware.
The FAA agrees that operators should be required to only perform
the related investigative and corrective actions on a nacelle strut
that has damaged or loose hydraulic line support brackets or associated
fasteners. We have revised paragraph (b) of this AD accordingly. We
have determined that this allowance will not affect continued
operational safety. If the results of any inspection indicate that a
nacelle strut has no damaged or loose hydraulic line attachment
hardware, operators must continue to repetitively inspect that strut in
accordance with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this AD until
damaged or loose attachment hardware is found, at which time the
requirements of paragraph (b) of this AD must be accomplished.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments that have been submitted, and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD with the change described
previously. We have determined that this change will neither increase
the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 603 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. We estimate that 325 airplanes of U.S. registry will
be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 22 work hours
per airplane to accomplish the required actions, and that the average
labor rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost
impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $464,750, or
$1,430 per airplane.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that
no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD
action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the
future if this 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.
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.
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.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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); 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption
ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
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]
0
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
2005-02-10 Boeing: Amendment 39-13955. Docket 2003-NM-252-AD.
Applicability: Model 757 series airplanes; certificated in any
category; line numbers 1 through 1018 inclusive; equipped with Rolls
Royce Model RB211 engines.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent flammable fluids from leaking into the interior
compartment of the nacelle struts where ignition sources exist,
which could result in the ignition of flammable fluids and an
uncontained fire, accomplish the following:
Inspection
(a) Within 3,000 flight hours after the effective date of this
AD: Do a detailed inspection of the support brackets and associated
fasteners for the hydraulic lines located in the nacelle struts for
loose or damaged parts, by accomplishing all of the actions
specified in Part 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 757-54A0045 (for Model 757-200 series
airplanes), dated May 22, 2003; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
757-54A0046 (for Model 757-300 series airplanes), dated May 29,
2003; as applicable. Do the actions per the applicable service
bulletin. Repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals not to
exceed 3,000 flight hours.
Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is
defined as: ``An intensive visual examination of a specific
structural area, system, installation, or assembly to detect damage,
failure, or irregularity. Available lighting is normally
supplemented with a direct source of good lighting at intensity
deemed appropriate by the inspector. Inspection aids such as mirror,
magnifying lenses, etc., may be used. Surface cleaning and elaborate
access procedures may be required.''
[[Page 4758]]
Related Investigative and Corrective Actions
(b) Except as required by paragraph (d) of this AD: If any loose
or damaged parts are found during any inspection required by
paragraph (a) of this AD, before further flight, for the affected
nacelle strut only, do all of the related investigative and
corrective actions specified in Part 2 of the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-54A0045 (for Model
757-200 series airplanes), dated May 22, 2003; or Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 757-54A0046 (for Model 757-300 series airplanes),
dated May 29, 2003; as applicable. Do the actions in accordance with
the applicable service bulletin. Accomplishment of these actions
constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections
required by paragraph (a) of this AD for that nacelle strut only.
Optional Terminating Action
(c) If performed on both nacelle struts concurrently:
Accomplishment of all of the actions specified in Part 2 of the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-
54A0045 (for Model 757-200 series airplanes), dated May 22, 2003; or
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-54A0046 (for Model 757-300 series
airplanes), dated May 29, 2003; as applicable; constitutes
terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by
paragraph (a) of this AD.
Repair Information
(d) If any damage is found during any inspection required by
this AD, and the service bulletin specifies contacting Boeing for
appropriate action. Before further flight, repair per a method
approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), FAA. For a repair method to be approved by the Manager,
Seattle ACO, as required by this paragraph, the Manager's approval
letter must specifically refer to this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(e) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, Seattle ACO,
is authorized to approve alternative methods of compliance for this
AD.
Incorporation by Reference
(f) Unless otherwise specified in this AD, the actions shall be
done in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-54A0045,
dated May 22, 2003; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-54A0046,
dated May 29, 2003; as applicable. This incorporation by reference
was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington
98124-2207. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information
on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030,
or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal --register/code-- of--
federal-- regulations/ibr--locations.html.
Effective Date
(g) This amendment becomes effective on March 7, 2005.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 18, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-1517 Filed 1-28-05; 8:45 am]
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