[Federal Register: August 21, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 161)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48463-48465]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21au06-7]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2004-19676; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-138-AD;
Amendment 39-14717; AD 2006-16-17]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.
(EMBRAER) Model EMB-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE, -135KL, and -135LR
Airplanes; and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP,
and -145EP 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 EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes. This AD
requires determining the torque values of the screws that attach the
seat tracks to the airplane, and corrective action if
[[Page 48464]]
necessary. This AD results from a report of undertorqued screws. We are
issuing this AD to prevent improper torque of those screws, which in
the case of a hard landing or a high deceleration impact condition
could result in damage to the seat and possible subsequent injury to
the passenger.
DATES: This AD becomes effective September 25, 2006.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of September 25,
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 Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER), P.O. Box
343-CEP 12.225, Sao Jose dos Campos--SP, Brazil, for service
information identified in this AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-1175; fax (425) 227-1149.
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 supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain
EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes. That supplemental NPRM
was published in the Federal Register on May 26, 2006 (71 FR 30343).
That supplemental NPRM proposed to require determining the torque
values of the screws that attach the seat tracks to the airplane, and
corrective action if necessary.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. No comments have been received on the
supplemental NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed
in the supplemental NPRM.
Costs of Compliance
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators
to comply with this AD. This AD will affect about 539 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
Estimated Costs
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Average
EMBRAER model airplane(s) Work hours labor rate/ Parts Cost/airplane
hour
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EMB-135 BJ.............................. 24 $80 Minimal................... $1,920
Others.................................. 28 80 Minimal................... 2,240
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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.
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):
2006-16-17 Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER):
Amendment 39-14717. Docket No. FAA-2004-19676; Directorate
Identifier 2004-NM-138-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective September 25, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
[[Page 48465]]
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to EMBRAER Model EMB-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE,
-135KL, and -135LR airplanes; and EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -
145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes; certificated in any category;
as identified in EMBRAER Service Bulletin 145LEG-53-0015, Revision
02, dated May 19, 2005, or 145-53-0049, Revision 03, dated August
10, 2005.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report indicating that some screws
that attach the passenger seat tracks were undertorqued. We are
issuing this AD to prevent improper torque of those screws, which in
the case of a hard landing or a high deceleration impact condition
could result in damage to the seat and possible subsequent injury to
the passenger.
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.
Inspection
(f) Within 5,000 flight hours or 36 months after the effective
date of this AD, whichever occurs first, determine the torque values
of the applicable screws that attach the seat tracks to the
airplane. Use the Accomplishment Instructions of EMBRAER Service
Bulletin 145LEG-53-0015, Revision 02, dated May 19, 2005 (for Model
EMB-135BJ airplanes), or Service Bulletin 145-53-0049, Revision 03,
dated August 10, 2005 (for the remaining airplanes). For any screw
that has a torque value outside the limits specified in the service
bulletin: Before further flight, retorque the screw in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin.
Although the service bulletins recommend applying torque seal to the
heads of the screws, this AD does not require that action.
Actions Accomplished According to Previous Issues of Service Bulletins
(g) Actions accomplished according to the applicable service
bulletin listed in Table 1 of this AD are considered acceptable for
compliance with the corresponding actions specified in this AD.
Table 1.--Acceptable Service Bulletins
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EMBRAER Service Bulletin Revision Date
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145LEG-53-0015................ 01 September 1, 2004.
145-53-0049................... 01 September 1, 2004.
02 November 26, 2004.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport
Airplane Directorate, 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.
Related Information
(i) Brazilian airworthiness directive 2004-05-03R1, effective
September 16, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(j) You must use the service bulletins identified in Table 2 of
this AD to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless
the AD specifies otherwise.
Table 2.--Material Incorporated by Reference
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Revision
EMBRAER Service Bulletin level Date
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145-53-0049................... 01 September 1, 2004.
145-53-0049................... 02 November 26, 2004.
145-53-0049................... 03 August 10, 2005.
145LEG-53-0015................ 01 September 1, 2004.
145LEG-53-0015................ 02 May 19, 2005.
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EMBRAER Service Bulletin 145LEG-53-0015, Revision 02, dated May
19, 2005, contains the following effective pages:
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Revision level
Page Nos. shown on page Date shown on page
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1.............................................. 02 May 19, 2005.
2-8............................................ 01 September 1, 2004.
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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 Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.
(EMBRAER), P.O. Box 343--CEP 12.225, Sao Jose dos Campos--SP,
Brazil, 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 August 3, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-13653 Filed 8-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P