[Federal Register: February 26, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 37)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 8303-8305]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26fe07-25]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-27338; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-148-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness
directive (AD) that applies to all McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200
airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revising the
Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for
Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new removal limits for certain
components of the flap system and to reduce the interval of inspections
for fatigue cracking of certain principal structural elements (PSEs).
This proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the Instructions for
Continued Airworthiness to incorporate reduced initial inspection and
repeat inspection intervals for certain PSEs. This proposed AD results
from a revised damage tolerance analysis. We are proposing this AD to
detect and correct fatigue cracking of certain PSEs, which could
adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 12, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855
Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and
Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024), for the service
information identified in this proposed AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Rathfelder, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137;
telephone (562) 627-5229; fax (562) 627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2007-
27338; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-148-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of
that web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union,
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or may
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
, or in
[[Page 8304]]
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 DOT street address stated in
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after the Docket Management System receives them.
Discussion
On August 11, 2003, we issued AD 2003-17-01, amendment 39-13274 (68
FR 49686, August 19, 2003), for all McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200
airplanes. That AD requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations
Section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness, Airworthiness
Limitations Instructions (ALI), to incorporate new removal limits for
certain components of the flap system and to reduce the interval of
inspections for fatigue cracking of certain principal structural
elements (PSEs). That AD resulted from a revised damage tolerance
analysis. We issued that AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of
certain PSEs, which could adversely affect the structural integrity of
the airplane.
Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued
Since we issued AD 2003-17-01, Boeing has made a further damage
tolerance analysis of certain PSEs on Model 717-200 airplanes. The
analysis was repeated to divide one larger PSE into several smaller
PSEs and to include new inspection procedures. The damage tolerance
analysis resulted in a reduction to the inspection initial and repeat
intervals of some PSEs and an increase to intervals for other PSEs.
The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect
fatigue cracking of certain PSEs. Fatigue cracking, if not detected and
corrected, could adversely affect the structural integrity of the
airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing 717-200 Airworthiness Limitations
Instructions (ALI), Report MDC-96K9063, Revision 5, dated February
2006. Among other things, Revision 5 of the ALI revises intervals for
initial and repeat inspections for fatigue cracking of certain PSEs.
Additionally, Revision 5 updates certain portions of the non-
destructive inspection (NDI) techniques and procedures, and corrects
some typographical errors that appeared in an earlier revision.
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service information is
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to develop on other airplanes of the
same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, which
would supersede AD 2003-17-01. This proposed AD would retain the
requirements of AD 2003-17-01. This proposed AD would also require
operators to incorporate the Boeing 717-200 ALI, Report MDC-96K9063,
Revision 5, dated February 2006, into the applicable maintenance and
inspection program.
Change to Existing AD
This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2003-17-01.
Since AD 2003-17-01 was issued, the AD format has been revised, and
certain paragraphs have been rearranged. As a result, paragraphs (a)
and (b) of AD 2003-17-01 have been re-identified as paragraphs (f) and
(g) of this proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that 108 airplanes of U.S. registry are affected
by AD 2003-17-01, that it takes approximately 1 work hour per airplane
to accomplish the required actions, and that the average labor rate is
$80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact on U.S.
operators of the actions required by AD 2003-17-01 and retained in this
proposed AD is estimated to be $8,640, or $80 per airplane.
There are about 155 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 121 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The new proposed maintenance and inspection program
revision would take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an average labor
rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost
of the new proposed AD to U.S. operators is $9,680, or $80 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 proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 the proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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 proposed 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, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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]
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
removing amendment 39-13274 (68 FR 49686, August 19, 2003) and adding
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
McDonnell Douglas: Docket No. FAA-2007-27338; Directorate Identifier
2006-NM-148-AD.
[[Page 8305]]
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by April 12,
2007.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2003-17-01.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200
airplanes, certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD requires revisions to certain operator
maintenance documents to incorporate new inspections for fatigue
cracking of principal structural elements (PSEs). Compliance with
these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes
that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the
areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able
to incorporate the inspections described in the revisions. In this
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must
request approval for an alternative method of compliance according
to paragraph (j) of this AD. The request should include a
description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure
the continued damage tolerance of the affected structure. The FAA
has provided guidance for this determination in Advisory Circular
(AC) 25-1529-1.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a revised damage tolerance analysis. We
are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of
certain PSEs, which could adversely affect the structural integrity
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.
Restatement of Requirements of AD 2003-17-01
Revising Airworthiness Limitations Section
(f) Within 180 days after September 23, 2003 (the effective date
of AD 2003-17-01), revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section of
the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness, Airworthiness
Limitations Instructions (ALI), in accordance with Boeing Report
MDC-96K9063, Revision 3, dated August 2002.
(g) Except as provided by paragraph (j) of this AD: After the
actions specified in paragraph (f) of this AD have been done, no
alternative inspection intervals or replacement times may be
approved for the PSEs and safe-life limited parts specified in
Boeing Report Number MDC-96K9063, Revision 3, dated August 2002.
New Requirements of This AD
Revising Airworthiness Limitations Section Using Revision 5
(h) Within 180 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise
the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for
Continued Airworthiness, ALI, in accordance with Boeing 717-200 ALI,
Report MDC-96K9063, Revision 5, dated February 2006.
(i) Except as provided by paragraph (j) of this AD: After the
actions specified in paragraph (h) of this AD have been done, no
alternative inspection intervals or replacement times may be
approved for the PSEs and safe-life limited parts specified in
Boeing 717-200 ALI, Report MDC-96K9063, Revision 5, dated February
2006.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(j)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) 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, Los Angeles 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.
(3) 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 16, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-3170 Filed 2-23-07; 8:45 am]
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