[Federal Register: December 14, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 239)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 73935-73937]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14de05-8]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-21715; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-277-AD;
Amendment 39-14416; AD 2005-25-23]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 Series
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 767-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD
requires measuring the turnbuckle gap of the inflation cylinder of the
off-wing emergency escape slide; corrective action if necessary; and
installing a safety device on the inflation cylinder of the off-wing
emergency escape slide. This AD results from a report indicating that
the inflation trigger cable may inadvertently disconnect from the
inflation turnbuckle of the inflation cylinder of the off-wing
emergency escape slide, due to incorrect spacing of the cable insertion
gap; and additional reports indicating that the pull force increase
mechanism on the off-wing charged cylinder assemblies of the escape
slide may be inadvertently disengaged. We are issuing this AD to
prevent failed deployment of the emergency escape slide during an
emergency, which could impede an evacuation and result in injury to
passengers or airplane crewmembers, or inadvertent inflation and loss
of an emergency escape slide during flight, which could result in
possible structural damage to the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective January 18, 2006.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of January 18,
2006.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue Rosanske, 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) 917-6448; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Examining the Docket
You may examine the airworthiness directive (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
767-200 and -300 series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on July 6, 2005 (70 FR 38821). That NPRM proposed to
require measuring the turnbuckle gap of the inflation cylinder of the
off-wing emergency escape slide; corrective action if necessary; and
installing a safety device on the inflation cylinder of the off-wing
emergency escape slide.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.
Supportive Comment
One commenter concurs with the content of the NPRM.
Requests To Extend Compliance Time
Several commenters ask that the compliance time for the actions
specified in paragraph (f) of the NPRM be extended to 36 months. The
commenters make their requests to extend the compliance time for
several reasons, including:
To align the proposed actions with existing maintenance
schedules for corresponding levels of maintenance on escape slide
systems and increased efficiency and management of spare parts stocks
of escape slides.
To correspond with the compliance time specified in the
Goodrich service information (referenced in the NPRM) of accomplishing
the actions at the next scheduled maintenance visit.
To be consistent with slide restoration intervals that
allow the modifications of the inflation cylinder to be accomplished in
a controlled shop environment. In addition, accomplishing the actions
within 18 months would require operators to significantly increase
spare parts stock for escape slides, which would cause an undue burden
and substantial cost increase.
To be consistent with the removal of the off-wing escape
slide cylinders from the airplane for cylinder hydrostatic testing and
overhaul, which eliminates the need for multiple removals. Additional
removals would increase the potential for injuries to maintenance
personnel and damage to parts.
We agree that the compliance time may be extended. We have
reconsidered the urgency of the unsafe condition and the amount of work
related to the required actions, in addition to the fact that our
intent was to require the actions be accomplished during regular
maintenance visits. We find that extending the compliance time from 18
to 36 months will not adversely affect safety, and, for the majority of
affected operators, will allow the required actions to be performed
during regularly scheduled maintenance at a base where special
equipment and trained maintenance personnel will be available if
necessary. We have changed the
[[Page 73936]]
compliance time for accomplishing the actions required by paragraph (f)
of this AD accordingly.
Request To Revise Goodrich Service Bulletin
Two commenters ask that Goodrich Service Bulletin 130104-25-328,
Revision 1, dated July 23, 2003, referenced in the NPRM as an
additional source of service information for accomplishing the actions,
be revised to include a change to the part numbers for modified off-
wing cylinder assemblies. One commenter states that this should be done
in order to track compliance with the AD.
We disagree with the commenters' request. Revision 1 of the service
bulletin already specifies a change to the part numbers for the off-
wing cylinder assemblies and the regulator valve to account for the
modification. The parts are identified in Table 6 of the Accomplishment
Instructions of the service bulletin. We have made no change to the AD
in this regard.
Request To Increase Work Hours
One commenter asks that we increase the amount of time needed to
complete the proposed actions to 6 work hours per airplane.
We do not agree that it is necessary to revise the work hour
estimates of the NPRM, which reflect only the actual time needed for
accomplishing the actions based on the best data available from the
manufacturer. The work hours do not include the time for planning,
access and close, and associated administrative actions. The compliance
times in this AD should allow ample time for operators to do the
required actions at the same time as scheduled major airplane
inspection and maintenance activities, which would reduce the
additional time associated with special scheduling. We have made no
change to the AD in this regard.
Clarification of Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) Paragraph
We have changed this AD to clarify the appropriate procedure for
notifying the principal inspector before using any approved AMOC on any
airplane to which the AMOC applies.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 696 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This AD will affect about 297 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
The inspection takes about 1 work hour per airplane, at an average
labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated
cost of the inspection for U.S. operators is $19,305, or $65 per
airplane.
The safety device installation takes about 3 work hours per
airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts
cost is minimal. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the
installation for U.S. operators is $57,915, or $195 per airplane.
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.
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):
2005-25-23 Boeing: Amendment 39-14416. Docket No. FAA-2005-21715;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-277-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective January 18, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 series
airplanes; certificated in any category; equipped with off-wing
emergency escape slides; as identified in Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 767-25-0358, dated September 18, 2003; and Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0317, dated June 27, 2002.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report indicating that the
inflation trigger cable may inadvertently disconnect from the
inflation turnbuckle of the inflation cylinder of the off-wing
emergency escape slide, due to incorrect spacing of the cable
insertion gap; and additional reports indicating that the pull force
increase mechanism (PFIM) on the off-wing charged cylinder
assemblies of the escape slide may be inadvertently disengaged. We
are issuing this AD to prevent failed deployment of the emergency
escape slide during an emergency, which could impede an evacuation
and result in injury to passengers or airplane crewmembers, or
inadvertent inflation and loss of an emergency escape slide during
flight, which could result in possible structural damage to the
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.
[[Page 73937]]
Measurement/Corrective Action
(f) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD:
Accomplish the actions specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of
this AD.
(1) Measure the turnbuckle gap of the inflation cylinder of the
off-wing emergency escape slides to ensure it meets the maximum
allowable spacing limit and do applicable corrective actions by
doing all the actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions
of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0358, dated
September 18, 2003. Accomplish any corrective action before further
flight in accordance with the service bulletin.
(2) Install a safety device on the PFIM of the inflation
cylinder of the off-wing emergency escape slides, and part-mark the
inflation cylinder as applicable, by doing all the actions specified
in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 767-25-0317, dated June 27, 2002.
Note 1: Goodrich Service Bulletins 130104-25-342, dated July 23,
2003; and 130104-25-328, Revision 1, dated July 23, 2003; may be
used as additional sources of service information for accomplishing
the actions.
Parts Installation
(g) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install
an inflation cylinder of the off-wing emergency escape slides on any
airplane, unless it has been modified according to paragraph (f) of
this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) 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.
(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with 14 CFR
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-
25-0358, dated September 18, 2003; and Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 767-25-0317, dated June 27, 2002; 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 December 6, 2005.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-23957 Filed 12-13-05; 8:45 am]
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