[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 39 (Monday, February 29, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10072-10074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04036]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2015-1423; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-173-AD;
Amendment 39-18418; AD 2016-04-24]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 757-200 Series
Airplanes Modified by Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01529SE or
STC ST02278SE
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
The Boeing Company Model 757-200 series airplanes modified by
particular STCs. This AD was prompted by reports of a main cargo door
being blown past its full open position while on the ground during
gusty wind conditions, which resulted in uncontrolled fall down to its
closed position. This AD requires installing a new placard and bracket,
replacing an existing placard, and replacing the main cargo door
control panel. We are issuing this AD to prevent damage to the main
cargo door, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane,
or injury to maintenance and ground crew during ground operations.
DATES: This AD is effective April 4, 2016.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 4,
2016.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Precision Conversions LLC, 4900 SW Griffith Drive, Suite 133,
Beaverton, OR 97005; ATTN: Steven A. Lopez; phone: 503-601-3001; email:
[email protected]. You may view this referenced
service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. It is also available on
the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2015-1423.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
1423; 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Narinder Luthra, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-
6513;
[[Page 10073]]
fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain The Boeing Company
Model 757-200 series airplanes modified by particular STCs. The NPRM
published in the Federal Register on June 5, 2015 (80 FR 32061) (``the
NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by reports of a main cargo door being
blown past its full open position while on the ground during gusty wind
conditions, which resulted in uncontrolled fall down to its closed
position. The NPRM proposed to require installation of a new placard
and bracket, replacement of an existing placard, and replacement of the
main cargo door control panel. We are issuing this AD to prevent damage
to the main cargo door, which could result in rapid decompression of
the airplane, or injury to maintenance and ground crew during ground
operations.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and
the FAA's response to each comment.
Request To Revise Description of the Unsafe Condition
Precision Conversions, LLC requested that we revise the SUMMARY and
Discussion sections of the NPRM and the unsafe condition section of the
proposed AD. Precision Conversions, LLC stated that it was concerned by
certain conclusions stated in the NPRM for which it does not believe
there is a factual basis. Precision Conversions, LLC noted that the
NPRM stated that wind damage to a cargo door could result in rapid
decompression, leading to in-flight breakup. However, even without the
accomplishment of Precision Conversions Service Bulletin PC-757-11-
0023, dated August 1, 2014, Precision Conversions, LLC stated that the
suggested scenario would not occur. If, during ground operations, the
main cargo door were to deflect beyond the fully open position enough
to be of concern, its damaged operating system would prevent the cargo
door from closing as usual, which would not go unnoticed by the crew,
and the airplane would not be dispatched. Thus, a potential unsafe
condition would occur only on the ground, not in the air.
Precision Conversions, LLC stated that a potential for an unsafe
condition does arise from the possibility of ground crew operating the
main cargo door outside of the wind limits published in the aircraft
maintenance manual and operations manual supplements. Precision
Conversions, LLC asserted that exceeding published limits could result
in damage to the door operating system and loss of control of the door,
creating an unsafe condition, but only during ground operations; thus,
Precision Conversions, LLC believed that the proposed language
regarding rapid decompression and in-flight breakup had no basis, given
the relevant factual scenario, and should not be included in the final
rule. Precision Conversions, LLC requested that we revise the unsafe
condition to indicate that the NPRM will ``prevent wind damage to the
main cargo door operating system and ensure its safe use during ground
operations.''
We partially agree with the request. We disagree that a damaged
door will always be detected because of human factors. We agree,
however, that rapid decompression might not necessarily lead to in-
flight breakup, which would depend on the decompression. We have
therefore revised the SUMMARY and Discussion sections of this final
rule and paragraph (e), Unsafe Condition, of this AD to remove
reference to in-flight breakup, and to include injury to maintenance
and ground crew during ground operations.
Statement Regarding Content of NPRM
Boeing stated that the NPRM does not address or affect any Boeing
designs; therefore, Boeing can neither review the data nor comment on
the content of the NPRM.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD with the changes described previously and minor editorial
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Precision Conversions LLC Service Bulletin PC-757-11-
0023, dated August 1, 2014. The service information describes
procedures for installing a new placard and bracket, replacement of an
existing placard, and replacement of the main cargo door control panel.
This service information is reasonably available because the interested
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 9 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Installation...................... 6 work-hours x $85 per $0 * $510 $4,590
hour = $510.
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* According to the manufacturer, the kits will be provided at no charge to operators.
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
[[Page 10074]]
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
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),
(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.
Adoption of the Amendment
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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2016-04-24 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-18418; Docket No. FAA-
2015-1423; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-173-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective April 4, 2016.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 757-200 series
airplanes, certificated in any category, modified by the applicable
supplemental type certificate identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and
(c)(2) of this AD.
(1) ST01529SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/
Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgstc.nsf/0/
0af09c3701a237ee86257a5d0064b3aa/$FILE/ST01529SE.pdf).
(2) ST02278SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/
Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgstc.nsf/0/
e54b5289a2e9f6ef86257b7f0056edaf/$FILE/ST02278SE.pdf).
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 11, Placards and
Markings.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of a main cargo door being blown
past its full open position while on the ground during gusty wind
conditions, which resulted in uncontrolled fall down to its closed
position. We are issuing this AD to prevent damage to the main cargo
door, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane, or
injury to maintenance and ground crew during ground operations.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Installation
Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, install a
new placard and bracket, replace the existing placard, and replace
the main cargo door control panel, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Precision Conversions Service
Bulletin PC-757-11-0023, dated August 1, 2014.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(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 paragraph (i)(1) of this AD.
Information may be emailed 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.
(i) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Narinder Luthra,
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; phone: 425-917-6513; fax: 425-917-6590; email:
[email protected].
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Precision Conversions Service Bulletin PC-757-11-0023, dated
August 1, 2014.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Precision Conversions LLC, 4900 SW Griffith Drive, Suite 133,
Beaverton, OR 97005; ATTN: Steven A. Lopez; phone: 503-601-3001;
email: [email protected].
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
425-227-1221.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 16, 2016.
Dionne Palermo,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-04036 Filed 2-26-16; 8:45 am]
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