[Federal Register: March 18, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 53)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 14405-14408]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18mr08-20]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0302; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-323-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -400ER
Series 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 certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and
-400ER series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires an
inspection to determine if the door-mounted escape slide/rafts have
certain part numbers. For those door-mounted escape slide/rafts having
certain part numbers, the existing AD also currently requires an
inspection for excessive tension of the firing cable, and procedures
for providing slack in the firing cable or rerouting the firing cable
if necessary. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would require a
review of the airplane maintenance records to determine if a certain
service bulletin has been incorporated, or an inspection to determine
if certain door-mounted escape slide/rafts are installed. This proposed
AD would also require modification of certain escape slide/rafts. This
proposed AD results from reports of uncommanded inflation inside the
airplane of a door-mounted escape slide/raft located in the passenger
compartment. We are
[[Page 14406]]
proposing this AD to prevent injury to maintenance personnel,
passengers, and crew during otherwise normal operating conditions and
to prevent interference with evacuation of the airplane during an
emergency, due to uncommanded inflation of a door-mounted escape slide/
raft.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 2, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing
Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Ladderud, Aerospace Engineer,
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6435; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2008-0302;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-323-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
On June 7, 2005, we issued AD 2005-12-14, amendment 39-14130 (70 FR
34638, June 15, 2005), for certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -
400ER series airplanes. That AD requires an inspection to determine if
the door-mounted escape slide/rafts have certain part numbers. For
those door-mounted escape slide/rafts having certain part numbers, that
AD also requires an inspection for excessive tension of the firing
cable, and procedures for providing slack in the firing cable or
rerouting the firing cable if necessary. That AD resulted from reports
of uncommanded inflation inside the airplane of a door-mounted escape
slide/raft located in the passenger compartment. We issued that AD to
prevent injury to maintenance personnel, passengers, and crew during
otherwise normal operating conditions and to prevent interference with
evacuation of the airplane during an emergency, due to uncommanded
inflation of a door-mounted escape slide/raft.
Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued
The preamble to AD 2005-12-14 specified that we considered the
requirements ``interim action'' and that the manufacturer was
developing a modification to address the unsafe condition. That AD
explained that we might consider further rulemaking if a modification
is developed, approved, and available. The manufacturer now has
developed such a modification, and we have determined that further
rulemaking is indeed necessary; this proposed AD follows from that
determination. Boeing has issued Alert Service Bulletin 767-25A0395,
Revision 1, dated January 25, 2007, to provide instructions for
accomplishing the modification.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Revision 1 of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-
25A0395. For Group 1 and 2 airplanes, the service bulletin describes
procedures for doing either a records verification to determine if
Boeing Service Bulletin 767-25-0266 has been incorporated, or a general
visual inspection to determine if any door-mounted escape slide/raft
having part number (P/N) 5A3294-1, 5A3294-2, 5A3295-1, or 5A3295-3 is
installed. For Group 1 and 2 airplanes, the service bulletin also
describes procedures for doing the corrective action, which is to
modify the escape slide/rafts, if Boeing Service Bulletin 767-25-0266
has been incorporated or if P/N 5A3294-1, 5A3294-2, 5A3295-1, or
5A3295-3 is installed. For Group 3, 4, 5 and 6 airplanes, the service
bulletin describes procedures for modifying the door-mounted escape
slide/rafts. Accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information is intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.
The service bulletin refers to Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3294/
5A3295-25-362, dated July 25, 2006, as an additional source of service
information for modifying a door-mounted escape slide/raft by replacing
the firing cable with a longer cable and testing the regulator valve of
the inflation trigger system for the door-mounted escape slide/raft.
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 products of the
same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, which
would supersede AD 2005-12-14 and would retain the requirements of the
existing AD. This proposed AD would also require accomplishing the
actions specified in the service information described previously.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 1,225 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 355 airplanes of
U.S. registry.
The actions that are required by AD 2005-12-14 and retained in this
proposed AD take up to about 6 work hours per airplane, at an average
labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated
cost of the currently required actions for U.S. operators is $170,400,
or is $480 per airplane.
The new proposed actions would take up to about 6 work hours per
airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. The parts
manufacturer states that it will supply the required parts to operators
at no cost. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the new
[[Page 14407]]
actions specified in this proposed AD for U.S. operators is $170,400,
or $480 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 39-14130 (70 FR 34638, June 15, 2005) and adding the
following new airworthiness directive (AD):
Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2008-0302; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
323-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by May 2,
2008.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2005-12-14.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -400ER
series airplanes, certificated in any category, equipped with door-
mounted escape slide/rafts.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of uncommanded inflation inside
the airplane of a door-mounted escape slide/raft located in the
passenger compartment. We are issuing this AD to prevent injury to
maintenance personnel, passengers, and crew during otherwise normal
operating conditions and to prevent interference with evacuation of
the airplane during an emergency, due to uncommanded inflation of a
door-mounted escape slide/raft.
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 2005-12-14
Inspection for Part Numbers (P/Ns)
(f) Within 30 days after June 30, 2005 (the effective date of AD
2005-12-14), accomplish the actions in either paragraph (f)(1) or
(f)(2) of this AD.
(1) Perform a one-time inspection to determine if any Goodrich
door-mounted escape slide/raft having P/N 5A3294-1, 5A3294-2,
5A3295-1, or 5A3295-3 is installed. If no slide/raft having any of
those part numbers is installed, no further action is required by
this paragraph, except for the requirements of paragraph (j) of this
AD.
(2) Perform a one-time check of the airplane maintenance records
to determine if any Goodrich door-mounted escape slide/raft having
P/N 5A3294-1, 5A3294-2, 5A3295-1, or 5A3295-3 is installed. If it
can be conclusively determined from the airplane maintenance records
that no slide/raft having any of those part numbers is installed, no
further action is required by this AD, except for the requirements
of paragraph (j) of this AD.
Inspection for Excessive Tension on the Firing Cable
(g) If any door-mounted escape slide/raft with any part number
specified in paragraph (f) of this AD is installed: Within 30 days
after June 30, 2005, perform a tension check on the firing cable of
the slide/raft, in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
767-25A0390, dated May 13, 2005. If no excessive tension is
detected, no further action is required by this AD, except for the
requirements of paragraph (j) of this AD.
Note 1: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-25A0390, dated May 13,
2005, references Goodrich Alert Service Bulletin 5A3294/5A3295-
25A356, dated May 11, 2005, as an additional source of service
information.
Corrective Action for Excessive Tension on the Firing Cable
(h) If any excessive tension of the firing cable is detected,
before further flight, do the applicable corrective actions in
accordance with the Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-25A0390, dated
May 13, 2005.
Previous Accomplishment
(i) Inspections of the firing cables for excessive tension in
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-25A0390, dated May
13, 2005, that were accomplished before June 30, 2005, are
acceptable for compliance with the requirements of paragraph (g) of
this AD, provided that any applicable corrective action was
completed.
Parts Installation
(j) As of June 30, 2005, no person may install on any airplane
any Goodrich door-mounted escape slide/raft having P/N 5A3294-1,
5A3294-2, 5A3295-1, or 5A3295-3, unless the tension of the firing
cable has been checked and the applicable corrective action
completed in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-
25A0390, dated May 13, 2005, or the escape slide/raft has been
repacked in accordance with Goodrich Packing Instructions,
Evacuation Slide/Raft, Document 501636, Revision G, dated May 16,
2005; Goodrich Packing Instructions, Evacuation Slide/Raft, LH,
Document 501637, Revision E, dated May 16, 2005; or Goodrich Packing
Instructions, Evacuation Slide/Raft, RH, Document 501638, Revision
D, dated May 16, 2005; as applicable.
New Requirements of This AD
Modification
(k) For airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
767-25A0395, Revision 1, dated January 25, 2007: Within 36 months
after the effective date of this AD, do the applicable actions
specified in paragraph (k)(1) or (k)(2) of this AD, by accomplishing
all of the applicable actions specified in the service bulletin.
(1) For Group 1 and 2 airplanes as identified in the service
bulletin: Review the airplane maintenance records to determine if
Boeing Service Bulletin 767-25-0266 has been incorporated, or do a
general visual inspection to determine if any door-mounted escape
slide/raft having P/N 5A3294-1, 5A3294-2, 5A3295-1, or 5A3295-3 is
installed, and before further flight do all the
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applicable corrective actions. Doing the inspection before the
effective date of this AD in accordance with paragraph (f)(1) of
this AD is acceptable for compliance with the inspection specified
in this paragraph.
(2) For Group 3, 4, 5, and 6 airplanes as identified in the
service bulletin: Modify the escape slide/rafts.
Note 2: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-25A0395, Revision 1,
refers to Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3294/5A3295-25-362, dated July
25, 2006, as an additional source of service information for
modifying a door-mounted escape slide/raft.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(l)(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) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
(3) AMOCs approved previously in accordance with AD 2005-12-14,
amendment 39-14130, are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding
provisions of paragraphs (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) of this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 2008.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-5373 Filed 3-17-08; 8:45 am]
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