[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5937]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 93-NM-106-AD]

 

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-100, -200, -300, and -
400 Series Airplanes Equipped With BFGoodrich Evacuation Ramp/Slides

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 747-100, -200, -300, 
and -400 series airplanes, that would have required various 
modifications of certain evacuation ramp/slides. That proposal was 
prompted by reports of several evacuation ramp/slide malfunctions. This 
action revises the proposed rule by adding requirements for additional 
modifications of the ramp/slides. The actions specified by this 
proposed AD are intended to prevent delayed inflation of evacuation 
ramp/slides, which could delay or impede the evacuation of passengers 
during an emergency.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 25, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 93-NM-106-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from the BFGoodrich Company, Aircraft Evacuation Systems, 
Sustaining Engineering, D/7916, Phoenix, AZ 85040. This information may 
be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3229 East 
Spring Street, Long Beach, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Gfrerer, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-131L, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3229 East 
Spring Street, Long Beach, California 90806-2425; telephone (310) 988-
5338; fax (310) 988-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 93-NM-106-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 93-NM-106-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations to 
add an airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 
747-100, -200, -300, and -400 series airplanes, was published as a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on 
September 8, 1993 (58 FR 47224). That NPRM would have required various 
modifications of certain evacuation ramp/slides. That NPRM was prompted 
by reports of several evacuation ramp/slide malfunctions. That 
condition, if not corrected, could result in delayed inflation of 
evacuation ramp/slides, which could delay or impede the evacuation of 
passengers during an emergency.
    Two commenters to the proposal, Boeing and BFGoodrich, request that 
the proposed rule be revised to require modification of the packboard 
and girt. This modification is described in paragraph 2.C. of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 7A1418-25-
253, dated April 28, 1993; that service bulletin is cited in the NPRM. 
The commenters explain that accomplishment of the modifications 
proposed in the NPRM will lower the force required to activate the 
slide inflation bottle by a significant amount. Therefore, in order to 
prevent accidental inflations during handling, the commenters state 
that it is also necessary to modify the packboard and girt. -
    The FAA concurs. Paragraph 2.C. of the Accomplishment Instructions 
of BFGoodrich service bulletin references Boeing Service Bulletin 747-
25-2885 as the appropriate source of service information for 
modification of the packboard and girt. The modification involves 
updating the later-style packboards to include a locking device for the 
firing lanyard, adding a firing lanyard with a provision for a 
packboard lock, and modifying the girt for use with the new firing 
lanyard. At the time the NPRM was issued, the FAA planned to issue a 
separate AD to address the Boeing service bulletin referenced in 
paragraph 2.C. of the Accomplishment Instructions of BFGoodrich service 
bulletin. Therefore, the actions described in that paragraph were 
excluded from the proposed requirements of the NPRM. However, since the 
issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has determined that the modification 
requirement specified in that paragraph should be included in this 
supplemental NPRM, rather than addressing that modification in a 
separate rulemaking action.
    In addition, at the time the NPRM was issued, the FAA considered 
certain other modifications described in the BFGoodrich service 
bulletin to be product improvements. Those modifications are specified 
in paragraph 2.G. of the service bulletin, and included adding chafe 
patches to the forward end and installing velcro patches between the 
girt plies on the units, and adding safety pin locating decals to the 
regulator actuator assembly and a protective patch to a clevis/pin 
assembly. Since the issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has determined that 
these modifications are necessary in order to positively address the 
unsafe condition and to enhance the safety and reliability of the 
evacuation ramp/slides.
    In light of these changes, the FAA has revised paragraph (a) of 
this proposed rule to require accomplishment of all paragraphs 
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of BFGoodrich Service 
Bulletin 7A1418-25-253, dated April 28, 1993. In addition, ``Note 1'' 
has been added to this proposal to inform operators that modification 
of certain reservoir assemblies, as specified in paragraph 2.D.(1) of 
the service bulletin, is required currently by AD 91-25-02, Amendment 
39-8103 (56 FR 63629, December 5, 1991).
    Since these changes expand the scope of the originally proposed 
rule, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to reopen the comment 
period to provide additional opportunity for public comment.
    There are approximately 1,100 BFGoodrich ramp/slides of the 
affected design installed on Boeing Model 747-100, -200, -300, and -400 
series airplanes in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 300 of 
these subject ramp/slides are installed on Boeing Model 747-100, -200, 
-300, and -400 series airplanes of U.S. registry, and would be affected 
by this proposed AD. It would take approximately 22 work hours per 
ramp/slide to accomplish the proposed actions, at an average labor rate 
of $55 per work hour. Required parts would be provided by the ramp/
slide manufacturer at no cost to operators. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to 
be $363,000, or $1,210 per ramp/slide.
    The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on 
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed 
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish 
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
    The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct 
effects 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, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this 
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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); 
and (3) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft 
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the 
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules 
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 
CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Boeing: Docket 93-NM-106-AD.

    Applicability: Model 747-100, -200, -300, and -400 series 
airplanes equipped with BFGoodrich evacuation ramp/slides; as listed 
in BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 7A1418-25-253, dated April 28, 1993; 
certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent delayed inflation of evacuation ramp/slides, which 
could delay or impede the evacuation of passengers during an 
emergency, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the door 3 offwing evacuation ramp/slide, part number 7A1418-(  ), 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of BFGoodrich 
Service Bulletin 7A1418-25-253, dated April 28, 1993, as applicable.

    Note 1: Modification of the reservoir assembly (part number 
4A3416-1) to the part number 4A3416-3 configuration, as specified in 
paragraph 2.D.(1) of the service bulletin, is required currently by 
AD 91-25-02, Amendment 39-8103 (56 FR 63629, December 5, 1991).

    (b) 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, Los Angeles 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, Los Angeles ACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the 
airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be 
accomplished.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 1994.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-5937 Filed 3-14-94; 8:45 am]
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