[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 24 (Thursday, February 5, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5459-5461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2051]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 24 / Thursday, February 5, 2004 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 5459]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NE-31-AD; Amendment 39-13445; AD 2004-03-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Air Cruisers Company Emergency 
Evacuation Slide/Raft System

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) for a certain Air Cruisers Company Emergency Evacuation Slide/Raft 
System. That AD currently requires a one-time unpacking and subsequent 
repacking of the slide/raft systems, identified by basic part number 
(P/N) with dash numbers, and serial numbers (SNs) listed in the AD, and 
mandates repacking of all other slide/raft systems of the same design 
at the next required normal maintenance schedule of the slide/raft 
system. This AD contains the same requirements but replaces the 
specific slide/raft system P/N dash numbers with the word ``-series'', 
reduces the number of affected slide/raft systems to the SNs identified 
in paragraph (g) of the AD, and eliminates mandating the utilization of 
the applicable Folding Procedures for subsequent repacking of all 
slide/raft systems of the same design during the normal scheduled 
maintenance. This AD is prompted by recent information received that 
Air Cruisers Company has made modifications which have added new dash 
numbers to the slide/raft system basic P/N. This has affected some of 
the SN slide/raft systems listed in the AD. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the slide/raft to properly inflate, which could 
impede the emergency evacuation of passengers in the event of an 
airplane emergency.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 11, 2004. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of March 11, 2004. The 
incorporation by reference of certain other publications, as listed in 
the regulations, was approved previously by the Director of the Federal 
Register as of March 7, 2003 (68 FR 4897; January 31, 2003).

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from Air Cruisers Company, Technical Publications Department, P.O. Box 
180, Belmar, NJ 07719-0180; telephone: (732) 681-3527; fax: (732) 280-
8212.
    You may examine the AD docket, by appointment, at the FAA, New 
England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA. You may examine the service 
information, by appointment, at the FAA, New England Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or 
at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 
suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leung Lee, Aerospace Engineer, New 
York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
telephone (516) 228-7309; fax (516) 794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to a certain Air Cruisers 
Company Emergency Evacuation Slide/Raft System. We published the 
proposed AD in the Federal Register on July 18, 2003 (68 FR 42647). 
That action proposed the same requirements as AD 2003-03-11 but 
replaces the specific slide/raft system P/N dash numbers with the word 
``-series'', reduces the number of affected slide/raft systems to the 
SNs identified in paragraph (g) of the proposed AD, and eliminates 
mandating the utilization of the applicable Folding Procedures for 
subsequent repacking of all slide/raft systems of the same design 
during the normal scheduled maintenance.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.

Requests To Update Air Cruisers Folding Procedures to Latest Revision

    Two commenters state that the incorporation by reference of Folding 
Procedures, P-12054 and P12064, both Revision F, dated March 12, 1999, 
are not the latest revision. One commenter states that they have been 
folding the slides to the latest revision G, dated February 1, 2002. 
Both commenters request that the final rule reference Revision G, dated 
February 1, 2002, or an approved later revision.
    The FAA partially agrees. We agree that the AD should reference 
Revision G of the Folding Procedures, dated February 1, 2002. We 
revised compliance paragraphs (f)(1), (f)(2), and (g) in the AD to 
reflect Folding Procedures, P-12054 and P12064, of Revisions G, dated 
February 1, 2002. We also agree that any slide/raft systems that have 
already been repacked to Air Cruisers Company Folding Procedures, P-
12054 and P12064, of Revision F, dated March 12, 1999, or Revision G, 
dated February 1, 2002, are considered to be in full compliance with 
the AD.
    We do not agree with changing the AD to reference Revision G, dated 
February 1, 2002 or an approved later revision. The Administrative 
Procedures Act requires that all service documents incorporated by 
reference in ADs be approved and a copy retained by the Office of the 
Federal Register. A reference to the ``later revision'' of a service 
document is a reference to a document that does not yet exist, and 
therefore, to a service document for which the FAA cannot yet obtain 
the approval for incorporation by reference. Operators may request an 
alternate method of compliance (AMOC) to utilize later revisions of the 
service document as specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.

Agreement With Proposal As Written

    One commenter states that the AD creates no greater impact than the 
original AD and agrees with the proposal as written.

[[Page 5460]]

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39--Effect on the AD

    On July 10, 2002, we issued a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 
47998, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's AD system. That 
regulation now includes material that relates to altered products, 
special flight permits, and alternative methods of compliance. The 
material previously was included in each individual AD. Since the 
material is included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in 
future AD actions.

Costs of Compliance

    There are approximately 388 slide/raft systems of the affected 
design in the worldwide fleet. We estimate that 74 slide/raft systems 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this AD. 
We also estimate that it would take approximately 5 work hours per 
slide/raft system to perform the repacking, and that the average labor 
rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the total cost of 
the AD to U.S. operators is estimated to be $22,200.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket No. 99-NE-31-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-13035 (68 FR 
4897, January 31, 2003) and by adding a new airworthiness directive, 
Amendment 39-13445, to read as follows:

2004-03-01 Air Cruisers Company: Amendment 39-13445. Docket No. 99-
NE-31-AD. Supersedes AD 2003-03-11, Amendment 39-13035.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective March 11, 2004.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2003-03-11, Amendment 39-13035.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all dash numbers of Air Cruisers Company 
Emergency Evacuation Slide/Raft System, part number (P/N) 62774. 
These Emergency Evacuation Slide/Raft Systems are installed on, but 
not limited to Boeing 777-200 and -300 series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD is prompted by recent information received that Air 
Cruisers Company has made modifications which have added new dash 
numbers to the slide/raft system basic P/N. This has affected some 
of the SN slide/raft systems listed in AD 2003-03-11. In addition, 
this AD is prompted by the requirement to reduce the number of 
affected slide/raft systems to only the SNs identified in paragraph 
(g) of this AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
slide/raft to properly inflate, which could impede the emergency 
evacuation of passengers in the event of an airplane emergency.

Compliance

    (e) If you have not already performed the actions required by 
this AD, you must perform the actions within the compliance times 
specified in this AD.

Repacking

    (f) For slide/raft systems that have a SN listed in Table 1 of 
this AD, do the following: Table 1 follows:

                                                                                Table 1.--Affected Slide/Raft SNs
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0203      0207......................................  0220.....................................  0234.....................................  0235     0239     0241     0245     0250     0255
0267      0277......................................  0280.....................................  0302.....................................  0305     0306     0310     0312     0316     0318
0320      0330......................................  0332.....................................  0333.....................................  0335     0339     0342     0343     0344     0345
0348      0349......................................  0350.....................................  0351.....................................  0354     0355     0356     0358     0364     0365
0366      0368......................................  0369.....................................  0372.....................................  0373     0374     0376     0378     0379     0380
0381      0384......................................  0385.....................................  0388.....................................  0389     0390     0391     0392     0394     0395
0396      0397......................................  0398.....................................  0399.....................................  0402     0403     0404     0406     0408     0409
0411      0413......................................  0415.....................................  0417.....................................  0418     0419     0420     0421     0422     0423
0425      0426......................................  0427.....................................  0428.....................................  0429     0430     0431     0433     0438     0443
0445      0455......................................  0456.....................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) For slide/raft systems currently installed on airplanes, repack 
the slide/raft system within 2 months after the effective date of this 
AD in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions described in Air 
Cruisers Company SB 777-107-25-06, dated February 19, 1999, and the 
applicable Air Cruisers Company Folding Procedure P-12054 (for left-
hand slide/rafts), Revision G, dated February 1, 2002, or Procedure P-
12064 (for right-hand slide/rafts), Revision G, dated February 1, 2002.
    (2) For uninstalled slide/raft systems, repack before installation, 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions described in Air 
Cruisers Company SB 777-107-25-06, dated February 19, 1999, and the 
applicable Air Cruisers Company Folding Procedure P-12054 (for left-
hand slide/rafts), G, dated February 1, 2002, or Procedure P-12064 (for 
right-hand slide/rafts), Revision G, dated February 1, 2002.
    (g) For slide/raft systems SN 0558 and lower that are not included 
in Table 1 of this AD, repack the slide/raft systems

[[Page 5461]]

in accordance with the applicable Air Cruisers Company Folding 
Procedure P-12054 (for left-hand slide/rafts), Revision G, dated 
February 1, 2002, or Procedure P-12064 (for right-hand slide/rafts), 
Revision G, dated February 1, 2002, at the next required normal 
maintenance schedule of the slide/raft system, but no later than 18 
months after the effective date of this AD.

Credit for Previous Repacking

    (h) Slide/raft systems with a SN listed in Table 1 or identified in 
paragraph (g) of this AD that have already been repacked in accordance 
with Air Cruisers Company Folding Procedures P-12054, Revision F, dated 
March 12, 1999, or P-12064, Revision F, dated March 12, 1999, as 
applicable, before the effective date of this AD, are considered in 
full compliance with the requirements of paragraph (f) or (g) of this 
AD.
    (i) Slide/raft systems with a SN listed in Table 1 or identified in 
paragraph (g) of this AD that were repacked under AD 2003-11-03 are 
considered in compliance with the requirements of paragraph (f) or (g) 
of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j) You must request AMOCs as specified in 14 CFR 39.19. All AMOCs 
must be approved by the Manager, New York Aircraft Certification 
Office, FAA.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use the service information listed in Table 2 of this 
AD to perform the actions required by this AD. The incorporation by 
reference of Air Cruisers Company SB 777-107-25-06, dated February 19, 
1999, was approved by the Director of the Federal Register on March 7, 
2003 (68 FR 4897; January 31, 2003). The Director of the Federal 
Register approved the incorporation by reference of the documents 
listed in Table 2 of this AD in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 
CFR part 51. You can get a copy from Air Cruisers Company, Technical 
Publications Department, PO Box 180, Belmar, NJ 07719-0180; telephone: 
(732) 681-3527; fax: (732) 280-8212. You can review copies at the FAA, 
New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. 
Table 2 follows:

                                      Table 2.--Incorporation by Reference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Page Nos. shown on the  Revision level shown on
             Document No.                        page                   the page          Date shown on the page
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SB 777-107-25-06.....................  All....................  Original...............  February 19, 1999.
    Total Pages: 3...................
Folding procedure P-12054............  All....................  G......................  February 1, 2002.
    Total Pages: 159.................
Folding procedure P-12064............  All....................  G......................  February 1, 2002.
    Total Pages: 159.................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Related Information

    (1) None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 26, 2004.
Francis A. Favara,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 04-2051 Filed 2-4-04; 8:45 am]
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