Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 248 (Thursday, December 27, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76230-76232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29999]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1222; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-268-AD; 
Amendment 39-17286; AD 2012-25-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER 
series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of escape slides 
failing to deploy from the forward and aft right-hand doors during 
scheduled maintenance slide deployments. This AD requires modifying the 
escape slide. Also, for certain airplanes, this AD requires modifying 
or replacing the Vespel piston. For certain other airplanes, this AD 
requires an additional modification of the escape slide. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent failure of an escape slide to deploy, which could 
result in the slide being unusable during an emergency evacuation and 
increased likelihood of injury to passengers or crewmembers due to the 
difficulty in evacuating the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective January 31, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of January 31, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, Goodrich 
Corporation, Aircraft Interior Products ATTN: Technical Publications, 
3414 South Fifth Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85040; phone: 602-243-2270; 
Internet: http://www.goodrich.com/TechPubs. You may review copies of 
the 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.

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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Piccola, Aerospace Engineer, 
Cabin Safety & Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 
98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6483; fax: 425-917-6590; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to 
amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that 
would apply to the specified products. That SNPRM published in the 
Federal Register on August 31, 2012 (77 FR 53155). The original NPRM 
(76 FR 69159, November 8, 2011) proposed to require checking the escape 
slide girt for serviceability, and replacement if necessary; modifying 
the cable routing provision; replacing the regulator padding; modifying 
the aspirator orientation; and modifying the valise. The original NPRM 
also proposed to require, for certain airplanes, modifying or replacing 
the Vespel piston, modifying the pilot valve regulator, installing a 
new firing cable and safety pin, and modifying the slide valise. The 
SNPRM proposed to add airplanes to the applicability of the original 
NPRM, and specify revised service information. For certain other 
airplanes, this AD requires an additional modification of the escape 
slide.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We have considered the comments received.

Support for the SNPRM (77 FR 53155, August 31, 2012)

    Boeing stated that it concurs with the contents of the SNPRM (77 FR 
53155, August 31, 2012), and therefore, no additional comments will be 
forthcoming.
    Goodrich Corporation stated that the comments it submitted to the 
original NPRM (76 FR 69159, November 8, 2011) have been satisfactorily 
addressed, and therefore, it has no additional comments or changes to 
offer.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the AD as proposed-except for minor editorial changes. We have 
determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
SNPRM (77 FR 53155, August 31, 2012) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the SNPRM (77 FR 53155, August 31, 2012).

Additional Change Made to This Final Rule

    We have removed the girt replacement on-condition cost specified in 
the SNPRM (77 FR 53155, August 31, 2012) from this AD, because the 
proposed girt check for continued serviceability was removed from the 
SNPRM and is not included in this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 557 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 76231]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                   Labor cost          Parts cost       Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modify girt and valise, and       2 work-hours x $85  $223..............  $393..............  $218,901.
 replace padding.                  per hour = $170.
Modify regulator valve, install   1 work-hour x $85   Between $1,749 and  Between $1,834 and  Between $1,021,538
 cable and pin, and modify slide   per hour = $85.     $1,836.             $1,921.             and $1,069,997.
 valise.
Modify Vespel piston............  1 work-hour x $85   $0................  $85...............  $47,345.
                                   per hour = $85.
Optional Vespel piston            Up to 1 work-hour   Up to $612........  Up to $697........  Up to $388,229.
 replacement.                      x $85 per hour =
                                   $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the parts supplier, some of the costs of this AD may 
be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected 
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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

    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),
    (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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    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):

2012-25-05 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17286; Docket No. FAA-
2011-1222; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-268-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective January 31, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD affects AD 2008-24-08, Amendment 39-15748 (73 FR 72320, 
November 28, 2008).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -
700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes, certificated in any 
category, with Goodrich Corporation door escape slide part number 
(P/N) 5A3307-1, -3, -5, or -301, serial numbers (S/N) BNG0001 
through BNG14499 inclusive.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/Furnishings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of escape slides failing to 
deploy from the forward and aft right-hand doors during scheduled 
maintenance slide deployments. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of an escape slide to deploy, which could result in the 
slide being unusable during an emergency evacuation and increased 
likelihood of injury to passengers or crewmembers due to the 
difficulty in evacuating the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Slide Modification

    Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD: Modify the 
escape slide, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3307-25-389, Revision 2, dated May 4, 
2012.

(h) Concurrent Requirements

    (1) For slide P/N 5A3307-301: Prior to or concurrently with 
accomplishing the actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD, 
modify the escape slide, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3307-25-339, Revision 5, 
dated May 4, 2012.
    (2) For slide P/N 5A3307-301 or 5A3307-5: Prior to or 
concurrently with accomplishing the actions required by paragraph 
(g) of this AD, modify the Vespel piston in the regulator valves, or 
replace the Vespel piston with a new or serviceable Vespel piston P/
N 3A3566-2 or 3A3832-2, as applicable, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-349, 
Revision 1, dated January 11, 2010.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    (1) This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by 
paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, if those actions were performed before 
the effective date of this AD using the service bulletins specified 
in paragraphs (i)(1)(i) through (i)(1)(iv) of this AD, which are not 
incorporated by reference in this AD.
    (i) Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3307-25-339, Revision 1, dated 
September 26, 2003.
    (ii) Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3307-25-339, Revision 2, dated 
March 31, 2004.
    (iii) Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3307-25-339, Revision 3, dated 
May 8, 2009.
    (iv) Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3307-25-339, Revision 4, dated 
October 1, 2011.
    (2) This paragraph provides credit for the modification or 
replacement of the Vespel piston in the regulator valves required by 
paragraph (h)(2) of this AD, if those actions

[[Page 76232]]

were performed before the effective date of this AD using Goodrich 
Service Bulletin 25-349, dated September 15, 2004, which is not 
incorporated by reference in this AD.

(j) 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 the Related Information 
section of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (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.

 (k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Sarah Piccola, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety & Environmental Systems Branch, 
ANM-150S, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6483; fax: 
425-917-6590; email: [email protected].
    (2) For Goodrich service information identified in this AD, 
contact Goodrich Corporation, Aircraft Interior Products, ATTN: 
Technical Publications, 3414 South Fifth Street, Phoenix, Arizona 
85040; phone: 602-243-2270; Internet: http://www.goodrich.com/TechPubs.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-349, Revision 1, dated January 
11, 2010.
    (ii) Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3307-25-339, Revision 5, dated 
May 4, 2012.
    (iii) Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3307-25-389, Revision 2, dated 
May 4, 2012.
    (3) For Goodrich service information identified in this AD, 
contact Goodrich Corporation, Aircraft Interior Products, ATTN: 
Technical Publications, 3414 South Fifth Street, Phoenix, Arizona 
85040; phone: 602-243-2270; Internet: http://www.goodrich.com/TechPubs.
    (4) You may review copies of the 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.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 4, 2012.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-29999 Filed 12-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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