[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 19, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42607-42609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18136]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-0719; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-087-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 767-200, -300,
and -400ER Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive
(AD) that applies to the products listed above. The existing AD
currently requires replacing the separation link assembly on the
applicable entry and service doors with an improved separation link
assembly, and doing related investigative and corrective actions if
necessary. Since we issued that AD, we have received a report that an
additional airplane is subject to the unsafe condition. This proposed
AD would add that airplane to the applicability and also remove certain
other airplanes from the applicability. We are proposing this AD to
prevent failure of an entry or service door to open fully in the event
of an emergency evacuation, which could impede exit from the airplane.
This condition could result in injury to passengers or crewmembers.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 2,
2011.
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: Deliver to Mail address above 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, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box
3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000,
extension 1, fax 206-766-5680; e-mail [email protected]; Internet
https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review copies of the referenced
service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Styskal, Aerospace Engineer,
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; phone: (425) 917-6439; fax: (425) 917-6590; e-
mail: [email protected].
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-2011-0719;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-087-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 January 22, 2009, we issued AD 2009-04-12, Amendment 39-15818
(74 FR 8717, February 26, 2009), for certain Model 767-200, -300, and -
400ER series airplanes. That AD requires replacing the separation link
assembly on the applicable entry and service doors with an improved
separation link assembly, and doing related investigative and
corrective actions if necessary. That AD resulted from reports that
entry and service doors did not open fully during deployment of
emergency escape slides, and additional reports of missing snap rings.
We issued that AD to prevent failure of an entry or service door to
open fully in the event of an emergency evacuation, which could impede
exit from the airplane. This condition could result in injury to
passengers or crewmembers.
Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued
Since we issued AD 2009-04-12, we have received a report indicating
that an additional airplane is subject to the unsafe condition. In
addition, four airplanes were converted to freighter configurations
without the affected slides, and, therefore, are no longer subject to
the unsafe condition.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0428,
Revision 3, dated October 21, 2010. This service bulletin describes the
same procedures that are described in Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 767-25-0428, Revision 1, dated May 8, 2008 (which was
referenced in AD 2009-04-12 as the appropriate source of service
information). Revision 3 of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin
767-25-0428 adds a step to the entry/service door bustle installation
process, and contains information on airplanes identified in the
revised Effectivity section and a changed part number for a cap screw.
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0428, Revision 2,
dated February 4, 2010, included an additional airplane in the
Effectivity section and removed four airplanes from the Effectivity
section.
FAA's Determination
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would retain all the requirements of AD 2009-04-12
using the revised service information described previously. This
proposed AD would add an airplane to the
[[Page 42608]]
applicability and also remove certain other airplanes from the
applicability.
Change to Existing AD
This proposed AD would retain all requirements of AD 2009-04-12.
Since AD 2009-04-12 was issued, the AD format has been revised, and
certain paragraphs have been rearranged. As a result, the corresponding
paragraph identifiers have changed in this proposed AD, as listed in
the following table:
Revised Paragraph Identifiers
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Corresponding requirement in this
Requirement in AD 2009-04-12 proposed AD
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paragraph (f) paragraph (g)
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Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 355 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
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Replacement (retained actions Up to 7 work-hours x Up to $10,671.... Up to $11,266.... Up to $3,999,430.
from existing AD). $85 per hour = $595.
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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 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),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, 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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing airworthiness directive
(AD) 2009-04-12, Amendment 39-15818 (74 FR 8717, February 26, 2009),
and adding the following new AD:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2010-0719; Directorate Identifier
2010-NM-087-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by September
2, 2011.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2009-04-12, Amendment 39-15818.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 767-200, -300,
and -400ER series airplanes, certificated in any category, as
identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0428,
Revision 3, dated October 21, 2010.
Subject
(d) Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport
Association (ATA) of America Code 25: Equipment/Furnishings.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD was prompted by reports that entry and service doors
did not open fully during deployment of emergency escape slides, and
additional reports of missing snap rings. We are issuing this AD to
prevent failure of an entry or service door to open fully in the
event of an emergency evacuation, which could impede exit from the
airplane. This condition could result in injury to passengers or
crewmembers.
Compliance
(f) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
Restatement of Requirements of AD 2009-04-12, with Revised
Service Information and Additional Airplane:
Replacement
(g) At the applicable time specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and
(g)(2) of this AD, replace the separation link assembly on the
deployment bar of the emergency escape system on all the applicable
entry and service doors with an improved separation link assembly;
and do all the applicable related investigative and corrective
actions before further flight; by accomplishing all of the
applicable actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of
any service bulletin identified in table 1 of this AD. After April
2, 2009 (the effective date of AD 2009-04-12), only Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0428, Revision 1 or Revision 3 may
be used to accomplish the requirements of AD 2009-04-12. After the
effective date of this AD, only Revision 3 may be used.
[[Page 42609]]
Table 1--Service Information
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Boeing special attention Service
Bulletin-- Revision-- Dated--
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767-25-0428.............................. Original.................... August 23, 2007.
767-25-0428.............................. 1........................... May 8, 2008.
767-25-0428.............................. 3........................... October 21, 2010.
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(1) For airplanes other than those having variable number VN
137: Within 48 months after April 2, 2009.
(2) For the airplane having variable number VN 137: Within 48
months after the effective date of this AD.
Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service
Information
(h) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-
0428, Revision 2, dated February 4, 2010, are acceptable for
compliance with the corresponding requirements of this AD.
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
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the
attention of the person identified in the Related Information
section of this AD. Information may be e-mailed to: [email protected].
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(3) AMOCs approved for AD 2009-04-12 are approved as AMOCs for
the corresponding provisions of this AD.
Related Information
(j) For more information about this AD, contact Stephen Styskal,
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch,
ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone: (425) 917-6439;
fax: (425) 917-6590; e-mail: [email protected].
(k) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management,
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone
206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail
[email protected]; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You
may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at
the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 8, 2011.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-18136 Filed 7-18-11; 8:45 am]
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