[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 13, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37015-37017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14312]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-NM-313-AD; Amendment 39-11767; AD 2000-11-19]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD),
applicable to certain Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes,
that requires repetitive inspections to detect wear or damage of the
door latches and disconnect housings in the off-wing escape slide
compartments, and replacement of any discrepant component with a new
component. This amendment is prompted by reports of worn and damaged
door latches and disconnect housings in the off-wing escape slide
compartments. The actions specified by this 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. The actions specified by this AD are also intended to
detect damaged disconnect housings in the off-wing escape slide
compartments, which could result in unexpected deployment of an escape
slide during maintenance, and consequent injury to maintenance
personnel.
DATES: Effective July 18, 2000.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of July 18, 2000.
ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA),
[[Page 37016]]
Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
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: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 767-200 and -
300 series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on December
29, 1999 (64 FR 72967). That action proposed to require repetitive
inspections to detect wear or damage of the door latches and disconnect
housings in the off-wing escape slide compartments. If wear or damage
is found, the action proposed to require replacement of these
discrepant components with new components.
Comments
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to
the comments received.
Support for the Proposed Rule
Two commenters support the proposed rule and indicate that they are
accomplishing the requirements of this AD on their airplanes. A third
commenter offers no comment on the proposed rule.
Request To Revise Wording in Proposed Rule
One commenter requests that the FAA revise certain wording in the
preamble and body of the proposed rule. The commenter's suggestions and
rationale are as follows:
1. Revise statement of unsafe condition throughout the AD to state
that the actions specified by this AD are intended to ``ensure
deployment of an escape slide during an emergency evacuation and[,]
additionally[,] in the case of the disconnect housing, to ensure the
safety of mechanics during maintenance.'' The commenter states that a
broken disconnect housing could result in unexpected inflation of an
off-wing slide during maintenance.
2. Revise the ``Discussion'' section of the proposed rule to
incorporate more details about the events that prompted this AD.
Specifically, state that ``Worn or broken latches and broken disconnect
housings have also been discovered during maintenance.''
3. Revise the ``Differences Between Proposed Rule and Alert Service
Bulletin'' section to reference specific part numbers acceptable for
installation.
4. Revise description of subject parts throughout the AD from
``worn and damaged door latches and disconnect housings of the off-wing
escape slide compartments'' to ``worn and damaged door latches and
broken disconnect housings in the off-wing escape slide compartments.''
The commenter states that, ``To date, there are no reports of `worn'
disconnect housings, only `broken' ones.''
The FAA partially concurs with the commenter's requests. The FAA
concurs with the commenter's suggested changes to the statement of
unsafe condition described above in item 1. Accordingly, the FAA has
revised the statement of unsafe condition in the ``Summary'' section of
this final rule.
The FAA also concurs that the commenter's suggested changes
described above in items 2. and 3. are accurate; however, these
sections are not restated in the final rule; thus, no change to the
final rule is necessary in this regard.
The FAA does not concur that any change is necessary to the
description of subject parts, as described above in item 4. The FAA
considers ``damage'' of the disconnect housings to include broken
disconnect housings. However, the FAA does concur with the commenter's
suggestion to revise the words ``of the off-wing escape slide
compartments'' to ``in the off-wing escape slide compartments.'' This
change has been made throughout this final rule.
Request To Reference Forthcoming Terminating Action
One commenter requests that the FAA revise the proposed rule to
reference a terminating action. The commenter states that the airplane
manufacturer will release a new service bulletin that describes
procedures for replacing disconnect housings with new, improved
disconnect housings. The commenter states that such replacement is
intended to eliminate the need for the repetitive inspections of the
disconnect housings that would be required by the proposed AD.
(However, repetitive inspections of the latches would still be
necessary.) The commenter also suggests changes to the cost impact
information related to adding the terminating action.
The FAA does not concur with the commenter's request. To date, the
FAA has not reviewed or approved the service bulletin referenced by the
commenter. Considering the degree of urgency associated with addressing
the subject unsafe condition, the FAA finds that it would be
inappropriate to delay issuance of this final rule until the service
bulletin has been approved. However, once the service bulletin and
improved parts referenced by the commenter are available, the commenter
may request approval of an alternative method of compliance, in
accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD. No change to the final rule
is necessary in this regard.
Conclusion
After careful review of the available data, including the comments
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public
interest require the adoption of the rule with the changes previously
described. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of
the AD.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 634 Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes
of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that
241 airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it
will take approximately 3 work hours per airplane to accomplish the
required inspections, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work
hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of this 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 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 adopted herein 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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); and (3) will not have a
significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a
[[Page 37017]]
substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act. A final evaluation has been prepared for
this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may
be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the
caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:
2000-11-19 Boeing: Amendment 39-11767. 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.
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; and to detect damaged
disconnect housings in the off-wing escape slide compartments, which
could result in unexpected deployment of an escape slide during
maintenance, and consequent injury to maintenance personnel;
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 in 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
Secs. 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.
Incorporation by Reference
(e) The actions shall be done in accordance with Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 767-25A0260, dated July 9, 1998. This incorporation
by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707,
Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. Copies may be inspected at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
Effective Date
(f) This amendment becomes effective on July 18, 2000.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 1, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-14312 Filed 6-12-00; 8:45 am]
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