[Federal Register: June 27, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 123)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 36481-36483]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jn06-1]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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[[Page 36481]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-24271; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-006-AD;
Amendment 39-14669; AD 2006-13-16]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727 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 727 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive
measurements of the freeplay of the left and right outboard aileron
balance tabs and of the upper and lower rudder tabs, and related
investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires
repetitive lubrication of the hinge bearings and rod end bearings of
the outboard aileron balance tabs. This AD results from reports of
freeplay-induced vibration of the outboard aileron balance tabs and
rudder tabs. We are issuing this AD to prevent excessive vibration of
the airframe during flight, which could result in divergent flutter and
loss of control of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective August 1, 2006.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of August 1,
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: Dennis Stremick, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
917-6450; 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
727 series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register
on April 5, 2006 (71 FR 17033). That NPRM proposed to require
repetitive measurements of the freeplay of the left and right outboard
aileron balance tabs and of the upper and lower rudder tabs, and
related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. That NPRM also
proposed to require repetitive lubrication of the hinge bearings and
rod end bearings of the outboard aileron balance tabs.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.
Request for Clarification
Boeing requests that certain wording about the compliance times in
the ``Relevant Service Information'' paragraph of the preamble of the
NPRM be clarified for consistency purposes with the wording in Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-27-0234, dated November 10, 2005
(referred to as the appropriate source of service information for doing
the actions specified in the NPRM).
We partially agree. We agree that the wording used to describe the
compliance times could be clarified as Boeing suggested. However, the
``Relevant Service Information'' paragraph does not reappear in the
final rule. Therefore, we find no change to the final rule is necessary
in this regard.
Boeing also requests that the words ``aileron balance tabs'' in
paragraph (g)(2) of the NPRM be changed to ``outboard aileron balance
tabs'' for consistency purposes with the words in Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 727-27-0234.
We agree and have revised paragraph (g)(2) of this AD accordingly.
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 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.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 944 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.
[[Page 36482]]
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Cost per registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplane airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freeplay measurement......... 8 $80 $640, per 539 $344,960, per
measurement measurement
cycle. cycle.
Lubrication.................. 4 80 $320, per 539 $172,480, per
lubrication lubrication
cycle. cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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):
2006-13-16 Boeing: Amendment 39-14669. Docket No. FAA-2006-24271;
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-006-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective August 1, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 727, 727C, 727-100, 727-
100C, 727-200, and 727-200F series airplanes, certificated in any
category; as identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin
727-27-0234, dated November 10, 2005.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of freeplay-induced vibration
of the outboard aileron balance tab and rudder tab. We are issuing
this AD to prevent excessive vibration of the airframe during
flight, which could result in divergent flutter and loss of control
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.
Compliance Times
(f) Except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD, at the
applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-27-0234, dated
November 10, 2005, do the actions specified in paragraph (g) of this
AD. Where the service bulletin specifies a compliance time ``from
the initial release of this service bulletin,'' this AD requires
compliance within the applicable compliance time after the effective
date of this AD.
Freeplay Measurement, Related Investigative and Corrective Actions, and
Lubrication
(g) At the applicable times specified in paragraph (f) of this
AD, do the actions specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this
AD in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-27-0234, dated November 10,
2005.
(1) Measure the freeplay of the left and right outboard aileron
balance tabs and of the upper and lower rudder tabs, and do
applicable related investigative and corrective actions if
necessary.
(2) Lubricate the hinge bearings and rod end bearings of the
outboard aileron balance tabs.
Concurrent Repetitive Cycles
(h) If a freeplay measurement required by paragraph (g)(1) of
this AD and a lubrication cycle required by paragraph (g)(2) of this
AD are due at the same time or will be done during the same
maintenance visit, the freeplay measurement and applicable related
investigative and corrective actions must be done before the
lubrication.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
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 Sec.
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.
(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair required by this AD, if it is approved by an
Authorized Representative for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Delegation Option Authorization Organization who has been authorized
by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make those findings. For a repair
method to be approved, the repair must meet the certification basis
of the airplane, and the approval must specifically refer to this
AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(j) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-
27-0234, dated November 10, 2005, to perform the actions that are
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director
of the
[[Page 36483]]
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this
document 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 June 15, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-5652 Filed 6-26-06; 8:45 am]
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