[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 2, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 46221-46223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23173]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-NM-95-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777-200 Series Airplanes
Equipped With Air Cruisers Evacuation Slide/Rafts
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 777-200
series airplanes. This proposal would require modifying the sliding
surface of the door 1 left and door 1 right evacuation slide/rafts.
This proposal is prompted by a report of injuries to evacuees using the
slide/raft to exit the airplane; the evacuees were unable to achieve
adequate initial sliding speed and adequate momentum to carry them
expeditiously down the slide/raft. The actions specified by the
proposed AD are intended to prevent evacuee overload of the slide/
rafts, and consequent impeded evacuation and injury to the evacuees.
DATES: Comments must be received by October 14, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-NM-95-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 Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Cashdollar, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
[[Page 46222]]
1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton, Washington; telephone (425) 227-2785; fax
(425) 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 97-NM-95-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. 97-NM-95-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue SW, Renton, Washington 98055-
4056.
Discussion
The FAA has received a report indicating that, during a full-scale
evacuation demonstration on a Boeing Model 777 series airplane equipped
with Air Cruisers evacuation slide/rafts, evacuees were injured because
they were unable to achieve adequate initial sliding speed and adequate
momentum to carry them expeditiously to the toe end of the door 1
evacuation slide/raft. Investigation revealed a shallow sliding angle
of the slide/raft, which resulted in delayed descent of the evacuees
down the slide/raft; this, in turn, resulted in evacuee overload of the
slide/raft. This condition, if not corrected, could result in impeded
evacuation and injury to the evacuees.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
The FAA has reviewed and approved Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
777-25A0035, dated December 2, 1996, which describes procedures for
modifying the sliding surface of the door 1 left and door 1 right
evacuation slide/rafts. (The alert service bulletin references Air
Cruisers Company Service Bulletin S.B. 777-107-25-02, dated October 29,
1996, as an additional source of service information for accomplishment
of the modification.) The modification involves the application of dry
lubricant McLube 1720L to a specified area of the sliding area of the
sliding lane of each evacuation slide/raft, and the subsequent
reidentification of the slide/rafts. Accomplishment of the modification
will improve the initial evacuee sliding speed to provide adequate
momentum to carry evacuees through to the toe ends of the slides.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
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 modifying the sliding surface of the door 1
left and door 1 right evacuation slide/rafts. The actions would be
required to be accomplished in accordance with the alert service
bulletin described previously.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 43 Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes of
the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 16
airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that
it would take approximately 4 work hours per airplane to accomplish the
proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour.
Required parts would be provided by the manufacturer at no cost to the
operators. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD
on U.S. operators is estimated to be $3,840, or $240 per airplane.
The 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.
Regulatory Impact
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 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 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Boeing: Docket 97-NM-95-AD.
Applicability: Model 777-200 series airplanes, line positions 2
through 48, excluding line positions 10, 41, 43, and 47; equipped
with Air Cruisers evacuation slide/rafts, as identified in Air
Cruisers Service Bulletin S.B. 777-107-25-02; 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 request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or
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repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the
unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include
specific proposed actions to address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent evacuee overload of the slide/raft, and consequent
impeded evacuation and injury to the evacuees, accomplish the
following:
(a) Within 180 days after the effective date of this AD, modify
the sliding surfaces of the door 1 left and door 1 right evacuation
slide/rafts, in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
25A0035, dated December 2, 1996.
Note 2: The Boeing alert service bulletin references Air
Cruisers Company Service Bulletin S.B. 777-107-25-02, dated October
29, 1996, as an additional source of service information.
(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 3: 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 26, 1997.
John J. Hickey,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-23173 Filed 8-29-97; 8:45 am]
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