[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 67 (Thursday, April 8, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17887-17889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7945]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0377; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-246-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 767 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Model 767 airplanes. This proposed AD would require doing a
detailed inspection for correct main track downstop assembly, thread
protrusion, and damaged and missing parts of the main track downstop
assemblies of the outboard slats, and related investigative and
corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also require
doing a detailed inspection for foreign objects debris and damage to
the wall of the track housing of the outboard slats, and corrective
actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of broken
bolts in the outboard slat main track downstop assembly. We are
proposing this AD to detect and correct incorrectly installed main
track downstop assemblies, which can allow the main track downstop
hardware to fall into the track housing and cause a puncture in the
track housing when the slat is retracted. This condition, if not
corrected, could result in a fuel leak and an increased risk of fire.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 24, 2010.
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 proposed 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.
[[Page 17888]]
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: Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone
(425) 917-6577; 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-2010-0377;
Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-246-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
We have received two reports of broken bolts on the main track
downstop assembly of the outboard slat. In one case, the broken bolt
was found at the bottom of the track housing. The main track downstop
assembly was found to have had only one of the two required spacers
installed, which allowed the bolt to slide and contact the wing spar
web cutout. This contact fractured the bolt and scratched the wing spar
web cutout. In the second case the bolt was found fractured at the
thread. The bolt, spacers, and nut were found at the bottom of the
track housing, and no damage was found on the wing spar web cutout or
the track housing. An incorrectly installed main track downstop
assembly can allow the main track downstop hardware to fall into the
track housing, which could cause a puncture in the track housing when
the slat is retracted. This condition, if not corrected, could result
in a fuel leak and an increased risk of fire.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-57-
0118, dated October 8, 2009. The service bulletin describes procedures
for doing a detailed inspection of the main track downstop assemblies
of the outboard slats number 1 through 5 and 8 through 12 for correct
assembly, thread protrusion, and damaged or missing parts to make sure
that the bolt, nut, and two spacers are in place and correctly
installed, and doing related investigative and corrective actions if
necessary. The related investigative actions include doing a detailed
inspection of the bolt and spacer for corrosion and damage, and
inspecting for looseness of the bolt and nut by applying torque to the
nut and bolt of the main track downstop assembly. The corrective
actions include:
Installing a bolt and spacer with a new nut (including
applying torque to make sure that it has been correctly installed).
Replacing a missing, corroded, or damaged spacer or bolt,
and installing a new nut.
Tightening the existing nut.
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-57-0118, dated
October 8, 2009, also describes procedures for doing a detailed
inspection for foreign objects debris and damage to the wall of the
track housing of the outboard slats 1 through 5 and slats 8 through 12,
and corrective actions if necessary. The corrective actions include:
Removing foreign object debris.
Repairing damage.
Replacing the track housing or contacting Boeing for
repair instructions and doing the repair.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type
designs. This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions
specified in the service information described previously, except as
discussed under ``Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service
Bulletin.''
Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-57-0118, dated
October 8, 2009, specifies to contact the manufacturer for instructions
on how to repair certain conditions, but this proposed AD would require
repairing those conditions in one of the following ways:
Using a method that we approve; or
Using data that meet the certification basis of the
airplane, and that have been approved by the Boeing Commercial
Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) whom we have
authorized to make those findings.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 361 airplanes of
U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 8 work-hours
per product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is
$85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost $0 per product. Based on
these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed AD to the U.S.
operators to be $245,480, or $680 per product.
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 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.
[[Page 17889]]
For the reasons discussed above, I certify this 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.
You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of
compliance in the AD Docket.
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 adding the following new AD:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2010-0377; Directorate Identifier
2009-NM-246-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by May 24, 2010.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 767-200, -300, -
300F, and -400ER series airplanes, certificated in any category, as
identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-57-0118,
dated October 8, 2009.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57: Wings.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from reports of broken bolts in the main
track downstop assembly of the outboard slat. The Federal Aviation
Administration is issuing this AD to detect and correct incorrectly
installed main track downstop assemblies, which can allow the main
track downstop hardware to fall into the track housing and cause a
puncture in the track housing when the slat is retracted. This
condition, if not corrected, could result in a fuel leak and an
increased risk of fire.
Compliance
(f) 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
(g) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, do the
actions specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD.
(1) Do a detailed inspection for correct assembly, thread
protrusion, and damaged and missing parts of the main track downstop
assemblies of outboard slats 1 through 5 and slats 8 through 12, and
do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions, in
accordance with Part 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-57-0118, dated October 8,
2009. Do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions
before further flight.
(2) Do a detailed inspection for foreign objects debris and
damage to the wall of the track housing of the outboard slats 1
through 5 and slats 8 through 12, and do all applicable corrective
actions, in accordance with Part 3 of the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-57-
0118, dated October 8, 2009, except as required by paragraph (h) of
this AD. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight.
Exception to the Service Bulletin
(h) If any damage is found during any inspection required by
paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, and Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 767-57-0118, dated October 8, 2009, specifies to replace
the track housing or contact Boeing for appropriate action: Before
further flight, replace the track housing or repair the damage using
a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in
paragraph (j) of this AD.
Reporting
(i) Submit a report of positive findings of the inspections
required by paragraph (g) of this AD to the Manager, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), at the applicable time
specified in paragraph (i)(1) or (i)(2) of this AD. The report must
include the inspection results, a description of any discrepancies
found, the airplane registry, variable or line number, and the
number of landings and flight hours on the airplane. Under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.),
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements contained in this AD and has
assigned OMB Control Number 2120 0056.
(1) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
(2) If the inspection was done before the effective date of this
AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date of
this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(j)(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO, FAA, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found
in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Berhane Alazar, Aerospace
Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6577; fax (425) 917-6590.
Information may be e-mailed to: [email protected].
(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 principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office.
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair required by this AD if it is approved by the
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization
(ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 1, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-7945 Filed 4-7-10; 8:45 am]
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