[Federal Register: August 9, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 152)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 46067-46069]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09au05-5]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-21184; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-111-AD;
Amendment 39-14211; AD 2005-16-06]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Boeing Model 747 airplanes. This AD requires modifying the
inflation systems of the upper deck escape slides; single-piece off-
wing escape ramps/slides; two-piece off-wing escape slides; and door 1,
2, 4, and 5 escape slides/rafts. This AD results from a report of 30-
to 60-second delays in the inflation of escape slides/rafts. We are
issuing this AD to prevent actuation delays in the inflation systems of
the escape slides/rafts, which could result in delayed or failed
deployment of escape slides/rafts during emergency evacuation of an
airplane.
DATES: Effective September 13, 2005.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of September 13,
2005.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207, for service information identified in this AD.
[[Page 46068]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald Wren, 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) 917-6451; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Examining the Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in person at the Docket Management Facility office between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket
Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the
plaza level of the Nassif Building at the street address stated in the
ADDRESSES section.
Discussion
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Boeing Model
747 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on May
12, 2005 (70 FR 24994). That NPRM proposed to require modifying the
inflation systems of the upper deck escape slides; single-piece off-
wing escape ramps/slides; two-piece off-wing escape slides; and door 1,
2, 4, and 5 escape slides/rafts.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comment that has been
received on the NPRM. The commenter supports the NPRM.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comment that has been received, and determined that air safety and the
public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 958 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 169 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The actions in this AD take about 1 work hour per door, at an average
labor rate of $65 per work hour.
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators
to comply with this AD.
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of U.S.
Model Work Parts costs Cost per registered Fleet hours
hours airplane planes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, 12 $34,832 (2 each: $35,612 53 $1,887,436
and -200C series airplanes, doors 1, 2, 4, 5,
identified as Group 1 in Boeing upper deck, and two-
Service Bulletin 747-25-3279. piece off-wing).
747-200B and -300 series 8 $26,368 (2 each: 26,888 4 107,552
airplanes, identified as Group 2 doors 1, 2, 4, and
in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25- 5).
3279.
747-200B series airplanes, 10 $30,600 (2 each: 31,250 1 31,250
identified as Group 3 in Boeing doors 1, 2, 4, 5,
Service 747-25-3279. and two-piece off-
wing).
747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, 10 $30,600 (2 each: 31,250 17 531,250
747SP, and 747SR series doors 1, 2, 4, and
airplanes, identifed as Group 4 5, and upper deck).
in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-
3279.
747-200F and and -400F series 2 $4,232 (2 upper deck 4,362 32 139,584
airplanes, identified as Group 5 doors).
in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-
3279.
747-200B series airplanes, 2 $4,232 (2 two-piece 4,362 0
identified as Group 6 in Boeing off-wing doors).
Service Bulletin 747-25-3279.
747-400 and -400D series 2 $8,250 (2 single- 8,380 59 494,420
airplanes, identified in Boeing piece off-wing
Service Bulletin Bulletin 747-25- doors).
3232.
747-200B series airplanes, 10 $30,600 (2 each: 31,250 3 93,750
identified as Group 4 in Boeing doors 1, 2, 4, 5,
Service Bulletin 747-25-3279 and upper deck and
also identified in Boeing Service single-piece off-
Bulletin 747-25-3232. wing).
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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.
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 Findings
We have 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) 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
[[Page 46069]]
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 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. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
2005-16-06 Boeing: Amendment 39-14211. Docket No. FAA-2005-21184;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-111-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective September 13, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability: (c) This AD applies to the airplanes listed in
Table 1 of this AD, certificated in any category.
Table 1.--Applicability
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Boeing-- As identified in--
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Model 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-
-200C, -200F, -300, -400F, 747SP, and 3279, Revision 1, dated July
747SR series airplanes. 11, 2002.
Model 747-200B, -200C, -300, -400, and - Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-
400D series airplanes. 3232, dated July 6, 2000.
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Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report of 30- to 60-second delays
in the inflation of escape slides/rafts. We are issuing this AD to
prevent actuation delays in the inflation systems of the escape
slides/rafts, which could result in delayed or failed deployment of
escape slides/rafts during emergency evacuation of an airplane.
Compliance: (e) You are responsible for having the actions
required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified,
unless the actions have already been done.
Modification for Upper Deck, Two-Piece Off-Wing, and Door 1, 2, 4, and
5 Slides and Slide/Rafts
(f) For Model 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200C, -200F, -
300, -400F, 747SP, and 747SR series airplanes identified in Boeing
Service Bulletin 747-25-3279, Revision 1, dated July 11, 2002:
Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, do the actions
specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD, as applicable,
in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-3279, Revision 1,
dated July 11, 2002.
(1) Modify the inflation systems of the upper deck and two-piece
off-wing escape slides.
(2) Modify the inflation systems of the door 1, 2, 4, and 5
escape slides/rafts, as applicable.
Note 1: Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-3279 refers to Goodrich
Service Bulletin 4A3037-25-327, dated November 30, 2001; Goodrich
Service Bulletin 4A3056-25-331, dated December 21, 2001; and
Goodrich Service Bulletin 4A3221-25-332, dated December 21, 2001; as
additional sources of service information for doing the
modifications.
Modification for Single-Piece Off-Wing Ramp/Slides
(g) For Model 747-200B, -200C, -300, -400, and -400D series
airplanes identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-3232, dated
July 6, 2000: Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD,
modify the inflation system of the single-piece off-wing escape
ramps/slides, in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-
3232, dated July 6, 2000.
Note 2: Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-3232 refers to Goodrich
Service Bulletin 4A3416-25-305, Revision 2, dated October 15, 2001,
as an additional source of service information for doing the
modification.
Parts Installation
(h) As of the effective date of this AD, unless the regulator
assembly of the inflation system has been modified in accordance
with paragraph (f) or (g) of this AD, as applicable, no person may
install on any airplane a regulator assembly with any of the
following part numbers (P/Ns): P/N 4A3047, -2, -3, -4, -5, -8, -9,
or -10; P/N 4A3194-1, -2, -3, or -4; or P/N 4A3474-3.
Credit for Previous Service Bulletin
(i) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-3279, dated May 16,
2002, are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding
requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(j) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has
the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(k) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-3279, Revision
1, dated July 11, 2002; and Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-3232,
dated July 6, 2000; as applicable, to perform the actions that are
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of
these documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part
51. Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207, for a copy of this service information. You
may review copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department
of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Room PL-401, Nassif
Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 29, 2005.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-15584 Filed 8-8-05; 8:45 am]
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