[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 29, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72967-72969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33732]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-NM-313-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 767-200 and -
300 series airplanes. This proposal would require repetitive
inspections to detect wear or damage of the door latches and disconnect
housings of the off-wing escape slide compartments. If wear or damage
is found, the proposed AD would require replacement of these discrepant
components with new components. This proposal is prompted by reports of
worn and damaged door latches and disconnect housings of the off-wing
escape slide compartments. The actions specified by the proposed AD are
intended to ensure deployment of an escape slide during an emergency
evacuation. Non-deployment of an escape slide during an emergency could
slow down the evacuation of the airplane and result in injury to
passengers or flightcrew.
DATES: Comments must be received by February 14, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-NM-313-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Cashdollar, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2785; fax (425) 227-1181.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 98-NM-313-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 98-NM-313-AD , 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The FAA has received reports of broken and worn door latches and
disconnect housings of the off-wing escape slide compartments on Boeing
Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes. These worn or broken parts
have caused non-deployment of a slide during an emergency evacuation
and during a test. This condition, if not corrected, could result in
non-deployment of an escape slide during an emergency evacuation. Non-
deployment of an escape slide during an emergency could slow down the
evacuation of the airplane and result in injury to passengers or
flightcrew.
[[Page 72968]]
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
The FAA has reviewed and approved Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
767-25A0260, dated July 9, 1998, which describes procedures for
repetitive detailed visual inspections to detect wear or damage of the
door latches and disconnect housings of the off-wing escape slide
compartments. The alert service bulletin also describes procedures for
replacement of these components with new components if wear or damage
is found. Accomplishment of the actions specified in the alert service
bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified unsafe
condition.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the
proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in
the alert service bulletin described previously, except as discussed
below.
Differences Between Proposed Rule and Alert Service Bulletin
Operators should note that the alert service bulletin recommends
accomplishing the initial inspection within 180 days (after the release
of the service bulletin) for airplanes with 6,000 flight hours or more;
and within 6,000 flight hours or 180 days after release of the service
bulletin, whichever is later, for airplanes with less than 6,000 flight
hours. However, the FAA has determined that a compliance time of 6,000
total flight hours, or 18 months after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs later, would address the identified unsafe condition
in a timely manner. By aligning the initial inspections with an 18-
month interval, they can be incorporated into the maintenance schedules
recommended by the Boeing Maintenance Manual.
In developing an appropriate compliance time for this AD, the FAA
considered not only the manufacturer's recommendation, but the degree
of urgency associated with addressing the subject unsafe condition, the
average utilization of the affected fleet, and the time necessary to
perform the inspection (less than three hours). In light of all of
these factors, the FAA finds a compliance time of 6,000 total flight
hours, or 18 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever
occurs later, for initiating the required actions to be warranted, in
that it represents an appropriate interval of time allowable for
affected airplanes to continue to operate without compromising safety.
Additionally, operators should note that the alert service bulletin
allows door latches having part numbers H2052-11 and H2052-115 to
remain installed provided that they are not worn or damaged. However,
the FAA has previously issued AD 92-16-17, amendment 39-8327 (57 FR
47987, October 21, 1992), and AD 95-08-11, amendment 39-9200 (60 FR
20013, April 24, 1995). Those AD's require, among other things,
modification of escape slide compartment door latching mechanisms in
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-25A0174, dated August
15, 1991. Part of the modification entails replacement of latches
having part numbers H2052-11 or H2052-115 with new latches having part
number H2052-13. Therefore, a NOTE has been included in the body of
this proposed AD to clarify that latches having part number H2052-11 or
H2052-115 are not acceptable. The FAA finds that this proposed rule
does not need to include a requirement to replace latches having part
numbers H2052-11 or H2052-115, because such replacement is already
required by AD 92-16-17 and AD 95-08-11.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 634 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 241 airplanes of U.S. registry
would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately
3 work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspections, and
that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these
figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $43,380, or $180 per airplane, per inspection cycle.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in
the future if this AD were not adopted.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Boeing: Docket 98-NM-313-AD.
Applicability: Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes, as
listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-25A0260, dated July 9,
1998; certificated in any category; except Model 767 series
airplanes that have undergone conversion to freighter
configurations, and on which the off-wing escape system has been
removed or deactivated.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
[[Page 72969]]
To prevent non-deployment of an escape slide during an emergency
evacuation, which could slow down the evacuation of the airplane and
result in injury to passengers or flightcrew, accomplish the
following:
Inspections
(a) Prior to the accumulation of 6,000 total flight hours, or
within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever
occurs later, perform a detailed visual inspection to detect wear or
damage of the door latches and disconnect housings of the off-wing
escape slide compartments, in accordance with Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 767-25A0260, dated July 9, 1998. Repeat the inspection
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 6,000 flight hours or 18
months, whichever occurs later.
Note 2: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-25A0260, dated July 9,
1998, allows repetitive inspections of a door latch having part
number H2052-11 or H2052-115, provided that the latch is not worn or
damaged. However, replacement of any latch having part number H2052-
11 or H2052-115 with a new latch having part number H2052-13 is
described as part of a modification of the escape slide compartment
door latching mechanism that is specified in Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 767-25A0174, dated August 15, 1991. Accomplishment of that
modification is required by AD 92-16-17, amendment 39-8327, and AD
95-08-11, amendment 39-9200. Therefore, operators should note that
any latch having part number H2052-11 or H2052-115 found during an
inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD is already required
to be replaced in accordance with AD 92-16-17 or AD 95-08-11, as
applicable.
Note 3: Inspections and corrective actions accomplished prior to
the effective date of this AD, in accordance with the Validation
Copy of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-25A0260, dated April 28,
1998, are considered acceptable for compliance with the applicable
action specified in this AD.
Replacement
(b) If any part is found to be worn or damaged during the
inspections performed in accordance with paragraph (a) of this AD,
prior to further flight, replace the worn or damaged part with a new
part, and perform an adjustment of the off-wing escape slide system,
in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-25A0260, dated
July 9, 1998.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office (ACO), FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall
submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the
Manager, Seattle ACO.
Note 4: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Seattle ACO.
Special Flight Permits
(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 22, 1999.
D.L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-33732 Filed 12-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U