Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Federal Register, Volume 79 Issue 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2014)
Federal Register Volume 79, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2014)
Proposed Rules
Pages 7103-7105
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2014-02520
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Docket No. FAA-2014-0053; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-174-AD
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of corroded, migrated, or broken spring pins of the girt bar floor fitting; in one case the broken pins prevented a door escape slide from deploying during a maintenance test. This proposed AD would require replacing the existing spring pins at each passenger entry door at both girt bar floor fittings with new spring pins. We are proposing this AD to prevent broken or migrated spring pins of the girt bar floor fittings, which could result in improper deployment of the escape slide/raft and consequent delay and injury during evacuation of passengers and crew from the cabin in the event of an emergency.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 24, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, 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 proposed AD, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-
5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0053; 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: Ana Martinez Hueto, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6592; fax: 425-917-6591; email: ana.m.hueto@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-
Page 7104
2014-0053; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-174-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 reports of a total of 23 corroded, migrated, or broken spring pins of the girt bar floor fitting on nine different airplanes; in one case the broken pins prevented a door escape slide from deploying during a maintenance test. Analysis of the broken spring pins revealed that the spring pins failed due to stress corrosion cracking. This condition, if not corrected, could result in improper deployment of the escape slide/raft and consequent delay and injury during evacuation of passengers and crew from the cabin in the event of an emergency.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0050, dated June 18, 2013. For information on the procedures and compliance times, see this service information at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. FAA-2014-0053.
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 require accomplishing the actions specified in the service information identified previously, except as discussed under ``Difference Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information.''
Difference Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information
Although Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0050, dated June 18, 2013, recommends replacing the spring pins within 1,175 days (3 years, 80 days), we and Boeing have determined a 36-month compliance time is appropriate. We have advised Boeing to correct the compliance time statement in the next revision of the service information to specify a 36-month compliance time. In developing an appropriate compliance time for this AD, we considered the degree of urgency associated with the subject unsafe condition, and the average utilization of the affected fleet and time necessary to perform the replacement. In light of these factors, we find that a 36-month compliance time represents an appropriate interval of time for affected airplanes to continue to operate without compromising safety.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 189 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement................... Up to 40 work- $0 Up to $3,400......... Up to $642,600.
hours x $85 per
hour = Up to
$3,400.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 proposed 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.
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),
(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
0
-
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
-
The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2014-0053; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-174-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by March 24, 2014.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -
300, -300ER, and
Page 7105
777F series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0050, dated June 18, 2013.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 52, Doors.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of corroded, migrated, or broken spring pins of the girt bar floor fitting; in one case the broken pins prevented a door escape slide from deploying during a maintenance test. We are issuing this AD to prevent broken or migrated spring pins of the girt bar floor fittings, which could result in improper deployment of the escape slide/raft and consequent delay and injury during evacuation of passengers and crew from the cabin in the event of an emergency.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
(g) Spring Pin Replacement
Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD: Replace the spring pin at both girt bar floor fittings at each passenger entry door with a new spring pin, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
52A0050, dated June 18, 2013.
(h) Parts Installation Prohibition
As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a spring pin having part number MS39086-261 or MS16562-252 on any airplane.
(i) 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) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.
(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) 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.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Ana Martinez Hueto, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6592; fax: 425-917-6591; email: ana.m.hueto@faa.gov.
(2) For Boeing service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 18, 2014.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
FR Doc. 2014-02520 Filed 2-5-14; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
