[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 106 (Monday, June 3, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38212-38214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13766]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NE-57-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Titeflex Corporation

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes to adopt a 
new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Titeflex 
Corporation high-pressure and medium-pressure hoses. This proposal 
would require inspecting certain Titeflex hoses for a date of 
manufacture, and if necessary, replacing the hose with a serviceable 
part. This proposal is prompted by reports of hoses that failed to meet 
the fire test requirements during laboratory testing. The actions 
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of a hose 
when exposed to fire.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 2, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NE-57-AD, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299. Comments may be inspected, 
by appointment, at this location between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Comments may also

[[Page 38213]]

be sent via the Internet using the following address: ``[email protected]''. Comments sent via the Internet must contain the 
docket number in the subject line.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Titeflex Corporation, 603 Hendee Street, P.O. Box 90054, 
Springfield, MA 01139, Tel. (413) 271-8244. This information may be 
examined, by appointment, at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Fahr, Aerospace Engineer, Boston 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 
12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone 
(781) 238-7155; fax (781) 238-7199.

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 should 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 action 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 action must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2000-NE-57-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRM's

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NE-57-AD, 12 New England Executive 
Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299.

Discussion

    Titeflex Corporation has notified the FAA of high- and medium-
pressure hoses failing to meet the fire test requirements of AS1072 for 
their Teflon (PTFE) hoses. The failures were first encountered during a 
new hose qualification test. All of the failures occurred during 
laboratory testing. The causes of those failures have been determined 
to be the result of the firesleeves shrinking away from the end 
fittings during the flame test due to incorrect clamping force on the 
metal bands. No failures in the field have been reported. The group of 
suspect hoses consists of high- and medium-pressure hoses. The suspect 
high-pressure hoses were fabricated at the Springfield, MA facility 
from January 1996 through June 2000. The suspect medium-pressure hoses 
were fabricated at the Springfield, MA facility from February 2000 
through May 2000. This condition, if not corrected, could result in 
failure of a hose when exposed to fire.

Manufacturer's Service Information

    The FAA has reviewed and approved the technical contents of 
Titeflex Corporation Service Bulletin (SB) 73-2, dated November 27, 
2000, that provides part numbers (P/N's) of the suspect hoses, and 
dates of manufacture of the hoses.

FAA's Determination of Compliance Period

    The 48 month compliance period was established based on allowing 
sufficient time for operators to incorporate hose replacement within 
their maintenance schedules, ensuring availability of parts from 
Titeflex, and the risk analysis indicating this to be an acceptable 
compliance period.

FAA's Determination of an Unsafe Condition and Proposed Actions

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other hoses of the same type design, the proposed 
AD would require inspection of the applicable P/N hoses to determine 
where they were fabricated and the date on which they were fabricated. 
If the hose is part of the suspect hose population, this proposal would 
require replacing the hose within 48 months after the effective date of 
this AD. The actions would be required to be done in accordance with 
the service bulletin described previously. The technical requirements 
of this proposed AD were coordinated with Transport Airplane 
Directorate.

Economic Analysis

    The FAA estimates that 2,500 hoses installed on airplanes of U.S. 
registry would be affected by this proposed AD. The FAA also estimates 
that it would take approximately 5 work hours per product to do the 
proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. 
Required parts would cost approximately $1,000 per product. Based on 
these figures, the total cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $3,250,000.

Regulatory Analysis

    This proposed rule does not have federalism implications, as 
defined in Executive Order 13132, because it would 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. 
Accordingly, the FAA has not consulted with state authorities prior to 
publication of this proposed rule.
    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.


[sect] 39.13  [Amended]

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


[[Page 38214]]


Titeflex Corporation: Docket No. 2000-NE-57-AD.

    Applicability: This airworthiness directive (AD) is applicable 
to certain part number (P/N) Titeflex Corporation high- and medium-
pressure hoses that were fabricated at the Titeflex Springfield, MA, 
facility from January 1996 through June 2000. These hoses are 
installed on Airbus A300, A310, A340, Boeing, 737, 777, Cessna 650, 
Bombardier CL-600, BAE Avro 146 and Bae 146, McDonnell Douglas 
Corporation DC8 series airplanes, General Electric CF6-80C and CFM-
56 series, and Honeywell International Inc. ALF502 and LF507 series 
turbofan engines.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each engine and 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 engines or airplanes that have been 
modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the 
requirements of this AD is affected, the owner or operator must 
request approval for an alternative method of compliance in 
accordance with paragraph (d) of this AD. The request should include 
an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or 
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: Compliance with this AD is required within 48 months 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already done.
    To prevent failure of a hose when exposed to fire, do the 
following:
    (a) Inspect all high-pressure and medium-pressure hoses, with a 
P/N specified in paragraph 1.A. of Titeflex Corporation service 
bulletin (SB) 73-2.
    (b) If the hose has a brown, integral firesleeve, no further 
action is required. If the hose has an orange, slip-on firesleeve, 
then inspect the metal tag for the assembly location.
    (1) If the assembly location on the metal tag is TITEFLEX/API, 
TITEFLEX/API LGB, TITEFLEX E, TITEFLEX EUROPE, or SHAC 1S353, no 
further action is required.
    (2) If the assembly location on the metal tag is TITEFLEX, 
inspect for a date and disposition as specified in the following 
Table:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        If the hose is              And the date is           Then
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(i) High-pressure,............  (A) Before January      No further
                                 1996 or after June      action is
                                 2000,.                  required.
                                (B) January 1996        Replace hose
                                 through June 2000,.     with a
                                                         serviceable
                                                         part.
(ii) Medium-pressure,.........  (A) Before February     No further
                                 2000 or after May       action is
                                 2000,.                  required.
                                (B) February 2000       Replace hose
                                 through May 2000,.      with a
                                                         serviceable
                                                         part.
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Definition of a Serviceable Hose

    (c) For the purposes of this AD, a serviceable hose is defined 
as a hose that has an assembly location listed in paragraph (b)(1) 
of this AD, that has an integral brown firesleeve, as a high-
pressure hose that was fabricated before January 1996 or after June 
2000, and as a medium-pressure hose that was fabricated before 
February 2000 or after May 2000.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (d) 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, Boston Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO). Operators must submit their request through an 
appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add 
comments and then send it to the Manager, Boston ACO.

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

Special Flight Permits

    (e) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
[sect][sect] 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 done.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on May 24, 2002.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-13766 Filed 5-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U