Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727-200 Series Airplanes Equipped With a No. 3 Cargo Door

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 7, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32984-32986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11055]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19988; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-30-AD; 
Amendment 39-14111; AD 2005-11-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727-200 Series Airplanes 
Equipped With a No. 3 Cargo Door

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Boeing Model 727-200 series airplanes equipped with a No. 3 
cargo door. This AD requires repetitive detailed and high frequency 
eddy current inspections for cracking of the forward, lower corner 
frame and forward end of the lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door, and 
corrective actions if necessary. The AD provides an optional 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD is prompted 
by reports of cracking at the forward, lower corner frame and lower 
beam of the No. 3 cargo door. We are issuing this AD to detect and 
correct cracking of the forward, lower corner frame and forward end of 
the lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door, which could result in failure 
of the affected door stops, loss of the cargo door, and consequent 
rapid decompression of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective July 12, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of July 
12, 2005.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
    Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any 
final disposition. You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401, 
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-19988; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-30-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel F. Kutz, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
917-6456; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with an AD for certain Boeing Model 727-200 series airplanes equipped 
with a No. 3 cargo door. That action, published in the Federal Register 
on January 5, 2005 (70 FR 729), proposed to require repetitive detailed 
and high frequency eddy current inspections for cracking of the 
forward, lower corner frame and forward end of the lower beam of the 
No. 3 cargo door, and corrective actions if necessary. That action also 
proposed to provide an optional terminating action for the repetitive 
inspections.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have

[[Page 32985]]

considered the comments that have been submitted on the proposed AD.

Support for the Proposed AD

    One commenter supports the intent of the NPRM and actions of the 
proposed AD.

Request To Replace Reference to Designated Engineering Representative 
(DER)

    One commenter, the manufacturer, requests that paragraph (k)(2) of 
the final rule be changed to replace the reference to a Designated 
Engineering Representative (DER) with references to a Boeing Authorized 
Representative as a part of the Boeing Delegated Compliance 
Organization with Delegated Option Authorization.
    We agree with this request. Boeing has received a Delegation Option 
Authorization (DOA). We have revised this final rule to delegate the 
authority to approve an alternative method of compliance for any repair 
required by this AD to the Authorized Representative for the Boeing DOA 
Organization rather than the Designated Engineering Representative 
(DER).

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments that have been submitted, and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD with the change described 
previously. We have determined that this change will neither increase 
the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 390 Model 727-200 series airplanes of the affected 
design in the worldwide fleet. The following table provides the 
estimated costs for U.S. operators to comply with this AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                                          Number of U.S.-
                  Action                     Work hours     Average labor              Parts                 Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                                            rate per hour                                    airplane        airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Detailed and HFEC Inspections, per                      2             $65  None.........................            $130             274         $35,620
 inspection cycle.
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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 have determined that 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); 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to 
examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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):

2005-11-09 Boeing: Amendment 39-14111. Docket No. FAA-2004-19988; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-30-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective July 12, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 727-200 series airplanes, 
equipped with a No. 3 cargo door, as identified in Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 727-52-0149, dated October 16, 2003; 
certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by reports of cracking at the forward, 
lower corner frame and lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the forward, lower 
corner frame and forward end of the lower beam of the No. 3 cargo 
door, which could result in failure of the affected door stops, loss 
of the cargo door, and consequent rapid decompression of the 
airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Repetitive Detailed and High Frequency Eddy Current (HFEC) Inspections

    (f) Do detailed and HFEC inspections for cracking of the 
forward, lower corner frame and forward end of the lower beam of the 
No. 3 cargo door by accomplishing all of the applicable actions 
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 727-52-0149, dated October 16, 2003. Do 
the inspections at the times specified in the applicable table in 
paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of the service bulletin, except as 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD.

[[Page 32986]]

Repeat the inspections thereafter at intervals not to exceed 4,500 
flight cycles. Doing the applicable actions in paragraph (h) or (j) 
of this AD terminates the repetitive inspections.
    (g) Where the service bulletin specified in paragraph (f) of 
this AD provides a threshold relative to the release date of the 
service bulletin, this AD requires compliance within the applicable 
threshold following the effective date of this AD, if the ``total 
airplane flight cycles'' or ``total replaced door flight cycles'' 
threshold has been exceeded.

Corrective Actions

    (h) For airplanes on which cracking is found during any 
inspection required by paragraph (f) of this AD: Before further 
flight, do all of the applicable corrective actions specified in the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 727-52-0149, dated October 16, 2003. Repairing any affected 
area terminates the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (f) 
of this AD.

Parts Installation

    (i) Any replacement No. 3 cargo door installed on any airplane 
after the effective date of this AD must be inspected or modified in 
accordance with either paragraph (i)(1) or (i)(2) of this AD, as 
applicable.
    (1) If the number of total flight cycles on the door can be 
positively determined: Do the actions required by paragraphs (f) and 
(h) of this AD, as applicable, or paragraph (j) of this AD. Do the 
actions at the times specified in Table 2 of paragraph 1.E., 
``Compliance,'' of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-52-
0149, dated October 16, 2003.
    (2) If the number of total flight cycles on the door cannot be 
positively determined: Do the actions required by paragraphs (f) and 
(h) of this AD, as applicable, or paragraph (j) of this AD, before 
installing the door.

Optional Terminating Action

    (j) Concurrently with doing the inspection required by paragraph 
(f) of this AD, if no cracking is found, doing the preventative 
modification specified in paragraph 3.B.2. of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-52-
0149, dated October 16, 2003, terminates the repetitive inspections 
required by paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k)(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.
    (2) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any repair for cracking required by this AD, if it is 
approved by an Authorized Representative for the Boeing Delegated 
Option Authorization Organization who has been authorized by the 
Manager, Seattle ACO, to make such 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-
52-0149, dated October 16, 2003, to perform the actions that are 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director 
of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of 
this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
To get copies of the service information, contact Boeing Commercial 
Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. To view 
the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif 
Building, Washington, DC. To review copies of the service 
information, go to 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 26, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-11055 Filed 6-6-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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