[Federal Register: March 2, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 40)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10030-10032]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02mr05-3]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2004-19202; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-95-AD;
Amendment 39-13989; AD 2005-05-01]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 757 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 757 series airplanes. This AD requires
identification of the part number for the cable assembly for the lower
anti-collision light, and related
[[Page 10031]]
investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD is prompted
by a report of damage caused by an electrical arc in a connector on the
cable assembly for the lower anti-collision light. We are issuing this
AD to prevent an electrical arc in the cable assembly for the lower
anti-collision light, which could result in a fire in a flammable
leakage zone of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective April 6, 2005.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April
6, 2005.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207. You can examine this information 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
.
Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any
final disposition. You can 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 U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401,
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-19202; the directorate
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-95-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marcia Smith, 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) 917-6484; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39
with an AD for certain Boeing Model 757 series airplanes. That action,
published in the Federal Register on September 29, 2004 (69 FR 58107),
proposed to require identification of the part number for the cable
assembly for the lower anti-collision light, and related investigative
and corrective actions if necessary.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comment that has been
submitted on the proposed AD.
Request for an Additional Method of Corrective Action
The commenter states that potting and/or sealing the backshells of
the connectors on the existing cable, to preclude liquid contamination,
could provide an equivalent level of safety. We infer that the
commenter is requesting that we revise the proposed AD to include
potting and/or sealing the backshells of the connectors on the existing
cable as an additional method for correcting the unsafe condition.
We do not agree. Due to the variety of potting material and
methodologies available, we would need to review each operator's
proposed potting material and methodology on a case-by-case basis.
Operators may apply for an alternative method of compliance under the
provisions of paragraph (i) of this AD. We have not made any changes to
this AD regarding this issue.
Clarification of Applicability of Paragraph (g)
We have revised paragraph (g) of this AD to clarify that only
airplanes having a cable assembly with a certain Boeing or Grimes part
number, or airplanes on which the part number of the cable assembly
cannot be positively identified, are required to accomplish the actions
specified in paragraph (g).
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comment that has been submitted, 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
This AD affects about 974 airplanes worldwide, and 650 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.
Estimated Costs
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplane airplanes
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Inspection/Records Review.............. 1 $65 None...................... $65 650 $42,250
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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. See the ADDRESSES section for
[[Page 10032]]
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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2005-05-01 Boeing: Amendment 39-13989. Docket No. FAA-2004-19202;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-95-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective April 6, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 757-200, -200CB, and -200PF
series airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-
33A0048, dated March 28, 2002; and Boeing Model 757-300 series
airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-33A0049,
dated March 28, 2002; certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report of damage caused by an
electrical arc in a connector on the cable assembly for the lower
anti-collision light. We are issuing this AD to prevent an
electrical arc in the cable assembly for the lower anti-collision
light, which could result in a fire in a flammable leakage zone of
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.
Identification of Cable Assembly Part Number (P/N)
(f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD: Do an
inspection or a review of airplane maintenance records to identify
the P/N of the cable assembly for the lower anti-collision light. If
Boeing P/N S283T012-15 or Grimes P/N 60-3414-9 is identified, or if
the part number of the cable assembly cannot be positively
identified, do the related investigative and corrective actions
required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
Related Investigative and Corrective Actions
(g) For airplanes having Boeing P/N S283T012-15 or Grimes P/N
60-3414-9, or airplanes on which the P/N of the cable assembly
cannot be positively identified: Within 60 months after the
effective date of this AD, replace the cable assembly for the lower
anti-collision light with a new, improved cable assembly, or modify
the existing cable assembly; and do the related investigative
actions; in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-33A0048 (for Model 757-200, -
200CB, and -200PF series airplanes); or 757-33A0049 (for Model 757-
300 series airplanes); both dated March 28, 2002; as applicable.
Parts Installation
(h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a
cable assembly, Boeing P/N S283T012-15 or Grimes P/N 60-3414-9, in a
flammable leakage zone on any airplane.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i) 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
(j) You must use the service information that is specified in
Table 1 of this AD to perform the actions that are required by this
AD, as applicable, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director
of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of
those documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part
51. For copies of the service information, contact Boeing Commercial
Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. For
information on the availability of this material at the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or
go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
You may view the AD docket at the
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.
Table 1.--Material Incorporated by Reference
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Revision
Boeing alert service bulletin level Date
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757-33A0048......................... Original March 28, 2002.
757-33A0049......................... Original March 28, 2002.
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Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 16, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-3784 Filed 3-1-05; 8:45 am]
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