[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 20, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48630-48631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22716]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-NM-35-AD; Amendment 39-9370; AD 95-19-08]


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727-100 and -200 Series 
Airplanes Equipped With an Engine Nose Cowl for Engine Numbers 1 and 3, 
Installed in Accordance With Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 
SA4363NM

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain Boeing Model 727-100 and -200 series airplanes, 
that requires replacing the attaching nutplates on certain engine nose 
cowls with washers and self-locking nuts. This amendment is prompted by 
reports indicating that nose cowls separated (or nearly separated) from 
the engines of certain airplanes following failure of the engine fan 
blade and subsequent vibration of the engine, which caused loosening of 
the attach bolts on the nose cowl of the engine. The actions specified 
by this AD are intended to prevent the attach bolts from becoming 
loose, which could result in subsequent separation of the nose cowl 
from the engine.

DATES: Effective October 20, 1995. -
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of October 20, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from VALSAN Partnership Ltd., Aviation Products Management, 
Product Support Office, 39450 Third Street East, suite 121, Palmdale, 
California 93550. This information may be examined at the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules 
Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of 
the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, 
Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter Sippel, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 227-2774; fax (206) 227-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 727-100 and -
200 series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on May 3, 
1995 (60 FR 21774). That action proposed to require replacing the 
attaching nutplates on certain engine nose cowls with washers and 
selflocking nuts.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the comments received.
    One commenter supports the proposed rule.
    One commenter requests that the subject title of the proposed rule 
be revised to indicate that the specific nose cowls affected are those 
for the No. 1 and No. 3 engines. The FAA concurs. The FAA has revised 
the final rule as requested by the commenter, and has added this 
information to the applicability of the AD.
    The same commenter requests that paragraph (b) of the proposed rule 
be revised to specify that the part numbers listed for the nose cowl 
are VALSAN part numbers. The FAA concurs and has revised the final rule 
accordingly.
    After careful review of the available data, including the comments 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the changes previously 
described. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.
    There are approximately 22 Model 727-100 and -200 series airplanes 
of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 
19 airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will 
take approximately 6 work hours per airplane to accomplish the required 
actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. The cost 
for required parts will be negligible. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$6,840, or $360 per airplane.
    The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on 
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the 
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish 
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 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:

95-19-08 Boeing: Amendment 39-9370. Docket 95-NM-35-AD.

    Applicability: Model 727-100 and -200 series airplanes equipped 
with an engine nose cowl for engine numbers 1 and 3, installed in 
accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA4363NM, 
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 

[[Page 48631]]
owner/operator must use the authority provided in paragraph (c) 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 attach bolts on the nose cowl of the engine from 
becoming loose, and subsequent separation of the nose cowl from the 
engine, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the attaching nutplates of the No. 1 and No. 3 engine nose 
cowls with washers and self-locking nuts in accordance with VALSAN 
B727-RE Service Bulletin 71-006, Revision 1, dated March 3, 1995.
    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install 
a nose cowl having VALSAN part number 259-0002-501 or 259-0002-503 
on any airplane.
    (c) 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.

    (d) 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.
    (e) The replacement shall be done in accordance with VALSAN 
B727-RE Service Bulletin 71-006, Revision 1, dated March 3, 1995, 
which contains the following effective pages:

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 Page                                                                   
 No.     Revision level shown on page           Date shown on page      
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1-...  1-..............................  March 3, 1995.                 
2-9-.  Original........................  February 3, 1995.              
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    This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of 
the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 
part 51. Copies may be obtained from VALSAN Partnership Ltd., 
Aviation Products Management, Product Support Office, 39450 Third 
Street East, suite 121, Palmdale, California 93550. Copies may be 
inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (f) This amendment becomes effective on October 20, 1995.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 7, 1995.
D. L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-22716 Filed 9-19-95; 8:45 am]
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