[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 154 (Thursday, August 10, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40783-40785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19775]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-NM-83-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747SP Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 747SP series 
airplanes. This proposal would require modification of the escape 
slide/raft on Door 2 of the airplane. This proposal is prompted by 
reports indicating that the escape slide/raft on Door 2 deployed onto 
the wing of the airplane and did not inflate automatically. The actions 
specified by the proposed AD are intended to ensure that the escape 
slide/raft on Door 2 inflates automatically so that passengers are able 
to exit the airplane through Door 2 in the event of an emergency 
evacuation.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 4, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-NM-83-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this location 
between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from BFGoodrich Company, Aircraft Evacuation Systems, 
Department 7916, Phoenix, Arizona 85040. This information may be 
examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue 
SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monica Nemecek, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 


[[Page 40784]]
98055-4056; telephone (206) 227-2773; fax (206) 227-1181.

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 95-NM-83-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. 95-NM-83-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-
4056.

Discussion

    The FAA has received reports indicating that, during an annual 
check, the escape slide/raft on Door 2 of a Boeing Model 747SP series 
airplane deployed onto the wing of the airplane, but did not inflate 
automatically. Investigation revealed that the firing lanyard was not 
being pulled from the regulator actuator assembly because the bottle 
and bottle pouch were trapped on the wing by the remainder of the 
slide/raft pack bundle. This condition, if not corrected, could result 
in the inability of passengers to exit the airplane through Door 2 in 
the event of an emergency evacuation.
    The FAA has reviewed and approved BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 
7A1255-25-275, dated February 25, 1994, which describes procedures for 
modification of the escape slide/raft on Door 2. The modification 
entails adding a four-inch (10.2 cm) extension to the bottle pouch 
hanger, installing a lanyard lever (force intensifier) on the firing 
lanyard, and enhancing the packing instructions for the unit. 
Accomplishment of the modification will provide more reliable automatic 
inflation of the Door 2 slide/raft.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the 
proposed AD would require modification of the escape slide/raft on Door 
2 of the airplane. The actions would be required to be accomplished in 
accordance with the service bulletin described previously.
    Operators should note that, although this action addresses a 
problem associated with a component and not specifically with the 
airplane itself, the proposed AD would be applicable to the airplane 
model (Boeing Model 747SP's, in this case) rather than to the 
discrepant component (BFGoodrich slide/rafts, in this case). The FAA's 
general policy is that, when an unsafe condition results from the 
installation of an appliance or other item that is installed in only 
one particular make and model of aircraft, the AD is issued so that it 
is applicable to the aircraft, rather than the item. Making the AD 
applicable to the airplane model on which the item is installed ensures 
that operators of those airplanes will be notified directly of the 
unsafe condition and the action required to correct it. While it is 
assumed that an operator will know the models of airplanes that it 
operates, there is a potential that the operator will not know or be 
aware of specific items that are installed on its airplanes. It is for 
this reason that this proposed AD would be applicable to Model 747SP's 
rather than to the BFGoodrich evacuation system. Additionally, calling 
out the airplane model as the subject of the AD prevents ``unknowing 
non-compliance'' on the part of the operator.
    As a result of recent communications with the Air Transport 
Association (ATA) of America, the FAA has learned that, in general, 
some operators may misunderstand the legal effect of AD's on airplanes 
that are identified in the applicability provision of the AD, but that 
have been altered or repaired in the area addressed by the AD. The FAA 
points out that all airplanes identified in the applicability provision 
of an AD are legally subject to the AD. If an airplane has been altered 
or repaired in the affected area in such a way as to affect compliance 
with the AD, the owner or operator is required to obtain FAA approval 
for an alternative method of compliance with the AD, in accordance with 
the paragraph of each AD that provides for such approvals. A note has 
been included in this notice to clarify this long-standing requirement.
    There are approximately 45 Model 747SP series airplanes of the 
affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 12 
airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that 
it would take approximately 2 work hours per airplane to accomplish the 
proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. 
Required parts would cost approximately $259 per airplane. Based on 
these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $4,548, or $379 per airplane.
    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 
part 

[[Page 40785]]
39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

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

    Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

Boeing: Docket 95-NM-83-AD.

    Applicability: Model 747SP series airplanes equipped with 
BFGoodrich evacuation systems identified in BFGoodrich Service 
Bulletin 7A1255-25-275, dated February 25, 1994; certificated in any 
category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must use the authority 
provided in paragraph (b) of this AD to request approval from the 
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current 
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition; or different actions 
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such 
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent the inability of passengers to exit the airplane 
through Door 2 in the event of an emergency evacuation, accomplish 
the following:
    (a) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the escape slide/raft on Door 2 in accordance with BFGoodrich 
Service Bulletin 7A1255-25-275, dated February 25, 1994.
    (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, Seattle 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, Seattle ACO.

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

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 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 August 4, 1995.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-19775 Filed 8-9-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U