Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 2, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60676-60679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24031]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0090; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-149-AD; 
Amendment 39-17595; AD 2013-19-13]
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 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 
747-200C, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, and 747SP series airplanes. This 
AD was prompted by reports of worn or incorrectly assembled latches on 
main deck escape slides installed on airplane doors. This AD requires 
determining if the latches are correctly assembled; and doing 
corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires, for certain 
airplanes, modifications to the escape slide/rafts and escape slides. 
We are issuing this AD to prevent a latch hook moving from closed to 
open in an escape slide/raft or escape slide, which could result in the 
escape slide/raft or escape slide not deploying correctly in an 
emergency, or releasing/inflating into the passenger cabin and causing 
injury to passengers and crew.

DATES: This AD is effective November 6, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of November 6, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: 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. For Goodrich service information identified in 
this AD, contact Goodrich Corporation, Aircraft Interior Products, 
ATTN: Technical Publications, 3414 South Fifth Street, Phoenix, AZ 
85040-1169; telephone 602-243-2200; 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 and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 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 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to the specified products. The 
NPRM published in the Federal Register on February 8, 2013 (78 FR 
9346). The NPRM proposed to require determining if the latches on main 
deck escape slides installed on airplane doors are correctly assembled; 
and doing corrective actions if necessary. The NPRM also proposed to 
require, for certain airplanes, modifications to the escape slide/rafts 
and escape slides.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the proposal 
(78 FR 9346, February 8, 2013) and the FAA's response to each comment.

Request To Extend Compliance Time

    Delta Air Lines (DAL) requested that the compliance time in the 
NPRM (78 FR 9346, February 8, 2013) be extended to 60 months. DAL 
stated that this will

[[Page 60677]]

allow for the modification to be accomplished at the next scheduled 
overhaul for DAL's affected slides.
    We disagree with DAL's request to extend the compliance time. In 
developing an appropriate compliance time for this action, we 
considered the safety implications, parts availability, and normal 
maintenance schedules for the timely accomplishment of the inspections 
and modification. However, under the provisions of paragraph (j) of 
this final rule, we will consider requests for approval of an extension 
of the compliance time if sufficient data are submitted to substantiate 
that the new compliance time would provide an acceptable level of 
safety. We have not changed this final rule in this regard.

Requests To Refer to Revised Service Information

    United Airlines and Boeing stated that Boeing has issued revised 
service information. The commenters requested that the service 
information in the NPRM (78 FR 9346, February 8, 2013) be updated to 
refer to Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3428, 
Revision 4, dated February 25, 2013.
    DAL requested that the NPRM (78 FR 9346, February 8, 2013) be 
revised to allow the replacement of affected slides with slides on 
which the inspection and modification have been done in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 747-25-3428, Revision 3, dated June 14, 2012.
    We agree with United Airlines' and Boeing's requests and have 
revised paragraphs (c), (g), and (h) in this final rule to refer to 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3428, Revision 4, 
dated February 25, 2013.
    We also agree with DAL's request and have revised paragraph (i) of 
this final rule by redesignating paragraph (i) of the NPRM (78 FR 9346, 
February 8, 2013) as paragraph (i)(2), and adding new paragraph (i)(1), 
which provides credit for the applicable actions required by paragraph 
(g) of this final rule, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this final rule using Boeing Special Attention 
Service Bulletin 747-25-3428, Revision 3, dated June 14, 2012.

Request To Allow Replacement of Slides Using a Means Other Than the 
Service Information

    DAL requested that, alternatively, the proposed AD (78 FR 9346, 
February 8, 2013) be revised to include a statement that accomplishment 
of the inspection and modification by means of an approved routine 
maintenance item would be acceptable.
    As previously stated, we deem it acceptable to replace an affected 
part with a part that has been inspected and modified in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention 
Service Bulletin 747-25-3428, Revision 3, dated June 14, 2012.
    Regarding the use of an approved maintenance item instead of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 747-25-3428, Revision 3, dated June 14, 2012, DAL included 
this as a conditional statement if the slide replacement discussed 
above was deemed unacceptable. As stated above, we agree that affected 
slides can be replaced with slides that have completed the inspection 
and modification in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3428, Revision 3, 
dated June 14, 2012. However, once this final rule is issued, any 
person may request approval of an AMOC under the provisions of 
paragraph (j) of this final rule. We have not changed this final rule 
in this regard.

Additional Change to This Final Rule

    We added Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this final rule to reference 
additional guidance material.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD with the changes described previously--and minor editorial 
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (78 FR 9346, February 8, 2013) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (78 FR 9346, February 8, 2013).
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 121 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on  U.S.
             Action                    Labor cost            Parts cost      Cost per product      operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Determine if latches are         1 work-hour x $85 per   $0...............  $85..............  $10,285.
 correctly assembled.             hour = $85.
Option to rework/replace         Between 3 and 24 work-  $286 per latch...  Between $541 and   Between $65,461
 latches instead of determining   hours x $85 per hour                       $2,326.            and $281,446.
 if latches are correctly         = Between $255 and
 assembled.                       $2,040.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that would be required based on the results of the latch assembly 
determination. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft 
that might need this replacement:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                         Labor cost                Parts cost           Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corrective action..................  Between 3 and 24 work-hours  $286 per latch........  Between $541 and
                                      x $85 per hour = Between                             $2,326.
                                      $255 and $2,040.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 60678]]

    According to the manufacturer, all 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):

2013-19-13 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17595; Docket No. FAA-
2013-0090; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-149-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective November 6, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-100B, 
747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, and 
747SP series airplanes; certificated in any category; as identified 
in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3428, Revision 
4, dated February 25, 2013; except for Groups 3-4, Configuration 2, 
and Group 9, Configuration 2, airplanes.

(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 worn or incorrectly assembled 
latches on main deck escape slides installed on airplane doors. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent a latch hook moving from closed to 
open in an escape slide/raft or escape slide, which could result in 
the escape slide/raft or escape slide not deploying correctly in an 
emergency, or releasing/inflating into the passenger cabin and 
causing injury to passengers and crew.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Replacement or Rework of Escape Slide Latch Assembly

    Within 48 months after the effective date of this AD: Determine 
if the latches in the main deck escape slide/rafts and the escape 
slides installed on the airplane doors are correctly assembled, and 
do all applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 747-25-3428, Revision 4, dated February 25, 2013. Do all 
applicable corrective actions before further flight. Options 
provided in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3428, 
Revision 4, dated February 25, 2013, for determining the correct 
assembly of the latches are acceptable for the corresponding 
requirement of this paragraph.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD: Boeing Special Attention 
Service Bulletin 747-25-3428, Revision 4, dated February 25, 2013, 
refers to Goodrich Service Bulletin 25-367, Revision 1, dated May 1, 
2012, as an additional source of guidance for unpacking the escape 
slide/raft assemblies.

(h) Concurrent Requirements

    For Groups 1, 5, 10, and 13 airplanes, as identified in Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3428, Revision 4, dated 
February 25, 2013: Prior to or concurrently with accomplishing the 
actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD, replace the packboard 
cap nuts with flush-type inserts, reinforce the lower packboard 
support bracket attachments, install hooks, modify the lower liner 
of the main entry door and packboard, and remove the ``Press to 
Test'' circuit panel and associated circuitry, in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-
2425, Revision 1, dated September 7, 1979.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    (1) This paragraph provides credit for the applicable actions 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were 
performed before the effective date of this AD using Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3428, Revision 3, dated June 14, 
2012, which is not incorporated by reference in this AD.
    (2) This paragraph provides credit for the applicable concurrent 
actions required by paragraph (h) of this AD, if those actions were 
performed before the effective date of this AD using Boeing Service 
Bulletin 747-25-2425, dated August 25, 1978, 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 paragraph (k) 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.
    (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, and the approval must 
specifically refer to this AD.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Sarah Piccola, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems

[[Page 60679]]

Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 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, AZ 85040-
1169; telephone 602-243-2200; Internet http://www.goodrich.com/TechPubs.
    (3) Boeing service information identified in this AD that is not 
incorporated by reference may be obtained at the addresses specified 
in paragraphs (l)(3) and (l)(4) of this AD.

(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) Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3428, 
Revision 4, dated February 25, 2013.
    (ii) Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2425, Revision 1, dated 
September 7, 1979. (Pages 1 through 4 of this document are dated 
September 7, 1979. Pages 5 through 20 of this document are dated 
August 25, 1978.)
    (3) 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.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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 September 13, 2013.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-24031 Filed 10-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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