[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 93 (Thursday, May 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26641-26644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10816]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Transport Airplane and 
Engine Issues--New Task

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

[[Page 26642]]


ACTION: Notice of new task assignment for the Aviation Rulemaking 
Advisory Committee (ARAC).

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SUMMARY: The FAA assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee a 
new task to develop guidance that will support industry compliance with 
the Aging Airplane Safety Rule requirements that relate to supplemental 
structural inspections. This new tasking will also address certain 
aspects of recommendations made during a previous ARAC tasking related 
to widespread fatigue damage. This notice is to inform the public of 
this ARAC activity.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kaszycki, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Transport Standards Staff, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA established the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee to 
provide advice and recommendations to the FAA Administrator on the 
FAA's rulemaking activities with respect to aviation-related issues. 
This includes obtaining advice and recommendations on the FAA's 
commitments to harmonize Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(14 CFR) with its partners in Europe and Canada.

Airplane Applicability of Tasking

    This new tasking shall apply to transport category airplanes with a 
type-certificated passenger seating capacity of 30 or greater, or a 
maximum payload capacity of 7,500 pounds or greater, operated under 
part 121 or under part 129 (U.S. registered airplanes).

Statement of Tasking

    There are four major tasks to be completed under this tasking:

Task 1.--Repairs to Baseline Primary Structure and Repairs to 
Alterations and Modifications

    Draft an Advisory Circular (AC) that contains guidance to support 
the following two paths of compliance with Sec. Sec.  121.370a and 
129.16 of the Aging Airplane Safety Interim Final Rule (AASIFR):
    1. Damage-tolerance-based inspection program developed by part 121 
and 129 certificate holders: Develop guidelines and procedures that 
will enable part 121 and 129 certificate holders to develop a damage-
tolerance-based inspection program that addresses repairs made to 
aircraft structure that is susceptible to fatigue cracking that could 
contribute to a catastrophic failure.
    2. Model specific damage-tolerance-based inspection program: 
Develop Guidance that can be used by Type Certificate (TC) holders, 
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) holders, and Structural Task Groups 
to support the development of a model specific damage-tolerance-based 
inspection program. The model specific damage-tolerance-based 
inspection program will address repairs made to aircraft structure that 
is susceptible to fatigue cracking that could contribute to a 
catastrophic failure. The developed model specific inspection program 
will support part 121 and 129 certificate holders' compliance with the 
AASIFR.
    A written report will also be submitted that includes an action 
plan for the implementation of the recommendations of task 1 that will 
be addressed in task 4 below. The report is to be submitted to the 
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC), Transport Airplane and 
Engine Issues Group, for approval. The ARAC, Transport Airplane and 
Engine Issues Group, will determine as appropriate the means by which 
the action plan will be implemented. The proposed actions and 
implementation process approved by the ARAC, Transport Airplane and 
Engine Issues Group, will be subject to FAA concurrence.
    In the process of drafting the AC, the ARAC should assess the 
effectiveness of AC 91-56B to provide guidance to TC and STC holders 
for developing damage-tolerance-based inspections and procedures for 
repairs made to aircraft structure that is susceptible to fatigue 
cracking that could contribute to a catastrophic failure. The ARAC 
should do the following:
     Assess the effectiveness of AC 91-56B to support Industry 
compliance with the AASIFR with respect to repairs.
     Document any improvements to the AC that would provide 
better direction with respect to the guidance for TC and STC holders in 
their development of damage-tolerance-based inspections and procedures 
for repairs.
    The ARAC is requested to validate that the guidance material in the 
new AC will result in programs that provide a high degree of autonomy 
for part 121 and 129 certificate holders while supporting compliance 
with the AASIFR. In order to determine a rational approach for 
addressing repairs to aircraft structure that is susceptible to fatigue 
cracking that could contribute to a catastrophic failure, and are not 
currently covered by a mandated program, the AC should provide guidance 
to the part 121 and 129 certificate holders and to the type certificate 
holder to address the seven issues listed below.
    1. The significance of the airplane certification amendment level 
in providing direction for the development of damage tolerance 
inspections and methods for repairs.
    2. The degree to which Supplemental Structural Inspection 
Documents/Programs (SSID/P) or equivalent documents/programs provide 
direction to repair the structure using damage-tolerance-rated repairs. 
The assessment should apply to SSID/Ps or equivalent documents/programs 
developed for 14 CFR part 25 pre-amendment 25-45 transport airplane 
models having a maximum gross takeoff weight of 75,000 lbs or greater. 
The following should be identified:
     Areas of aircraft structure that is susceptible to fatigue 
cracking that could contribute to a catastrophic failure, which are not 
covered by SSID/Ps or equivalent documents/programs
     Significant assumptions applied in developing SSID/Ps or 
equivalent documents/programs
     Any significant issues in the implementation of the 
requirements of SSID/Ps or equivalent documents/programs
     Data from SSID/Ps or equivalent documents/programs that 
would be useful in supporting this new tasking
    3. The degree to which an applicable airplane model's Airworthiness 
Limitations Section (ALS) provides direction to repair the structure 
using damage-tolerance-rated repairs. This assessment should apply to 
damage-tolerance-based inspection programs/data developed for 14 CFR 
part 25 amendment 25-45 or later transport airplane models having a 
maximum gross takeoff weight of 75,000 lbs or greater. The following 
should be identified:
     Areas of aircraft structure that is susceptible to fatigue 
cracking that could contribute to a catastrophic failure, which are not 
covered by a damage-tolerance-based inspection program/data
     Any significant issues in the implementation of the 
requirements of the damage-tolerance-based inspection programs/data
     Data from the damage-tolerance-based inspection programs 
that would be useful in supporting this new tasking
    4. The degree to which existing Repair Assessment Guideline 
documents developed for Sec. Sec.  121.370 and 129.32 provide damage-
tolerance-based inspections for repairs made to aircraft structure that 
is susceptible to fatigue

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cracking that could contribute to a catastrophic failure. The 
assessment should identify the following:
     Areas of the aircraft structure that is susceptible to 
fatigue cracking that could contribute to a catastrophic failure, which 
are not covered by these documents
     Data from these documents that would be useful in 
supporting this new tasking
    5. Identify the issues/difficulties industry has encountered with 
establishing damage-tolerance-based inspections and procedures for 
repairs as required by various FAA approaches in issuing SSIP 
airworthiness directives (e.g., 727/737 AD 98-11-03 R1, AD 98-11-04 R1 
verses other SSIP AD approaches like the 747). The assessment should 
identify the following:
     Comparison of approaches with pros and cons for each 
approach
     Data from these documents that would be useful in 
supporting this new tasking
    6. Assess the extent to which Structural Repair Manuals (SRM) 
provide damage-tolerance-based inspections for repairs made to aircraft 
structure that is susceptible to fatigue cracking that could contribute 
to a catastrophic failure.
    7. Assess the need to include damage-tolerance-based inspections 
and procedures in TC and STC Holder issued Service Bulletins (SB) that 
provide repair instructions for aircraft structure that is susceptible 
to fatigue cracking that could contribute to a catastrophic failure.

Task 2.--Alterations and Modifications to Baseline Primary Structure, 
Including STCs and Amended Type Certificates (ATCs)

    Prepare a written report assessing how an operator would include 
damage-tolerance-based inspections and procedures for alterations and 
modifications made to aircraft structure that is susceptible to fatigue 
cracking that could contribute to a catastrophic failure. This 
assessment would include, but is not limited to, alterations and 
modifications performed under an STC, ATC, FAA field approval (e.g., 
FAA form 337) and/or FAA approved TC holder design data. The report 
should include a recommendation on the best means to develop damage-
tolerance-based inspections and procedures for these alterations and 
modifications and the applicability of AC 91-56B. The ARAC should 
assess the effectiveness of AC 91-56B to provide guidance to STC 
holders for developing damage-tolerance-based inspections and 
procedures for alterations and modifications. The ARAC should do the 
following:
     Assess the effectiveness of AC 91-56B to support Industry 
compliance with the AASIFR with respect to alterations and 
modifications.
     Document any improvements to the AC that would provide 
better direction with respect to the guidance for STC holders in their 
development of damage-tolerance-based inspections and procedures for 
alterations and modifications.
    The written report will include a proposed action plan to address 
and/or accomplish these recommendations, including actions that should 
be addressed in task 4 below. The report should also provide a 
recommendation on the means of compliance provided by the AC developed 
in Task 1 in regards to repairs installed on STC or ATC approved 
alterations and modifications. The report is to be submitted to the 
ARAC, Transport Airplane and Engine Issues Group, for approval. The 
ARAC, Transport Airplane and Engine Issues group, will determine as 
appropriate the means by which the action plan will be implemented. The 
proposed actions and implementation process approved by the ARAC, 
Transport Airplane and Engine Issues Group, will be subject to FAA 
concurrence (FAA concurrence is necessary to ensure actions will 
support industry compliance with the AASIFR).

Task 3.--Widespread Fatigue Damage (WFD) of Repairs, Alterations, and 
Modifications

    Provide a written report providing recommendations on how best to 
enable part 121 and 129 certificate holders of airplanes with a maximum 
gross take-off weight of greater than 75,000 pounds to assess the WFD 
characteristics of structural repairs, alterations, and modifications 
as recommended in a previous ARAC tasking. The written report will 
include a proposed action plan to address and/or accomplish these 
recommendations including actions that should be addressed in task 4 
below. The report is to be submitted to the ARAC, Transport Airplane 
and Engine Issues Group, for approval. The ARAC, Transport Airplane and 
Engine Issues Group, will determine as appropriate the means by which 
the action plan will be implemented. The proposed actions and 
implementation process approved by the ARAC, Transport Airplane and 
Engine Issues Group, will be subject to FAA concurrence.

Task 4.--Model Specific Programs

    Oversee the Structural Task Group (STG) activities that will be 
coordinated for each applicable airplane model by the respective type 
certificate holders' and part 121 and 129 certificate holders. These 
STG activities will involve the development of model specific 
approaches for compliance with Sec. Sec.  121.370a and 129.16 under the 
guidance material supplied in Task 1.
    As part of this tasking, the AAWG will identify those airplane 
models that do not have an STG, and will assess the need to form one 
(based on industry benefit). For those airplane models that will need 
to form an STG, the AAWG will initiate the coordination required to 
form the STG with the respective type certificate holder and/or part 
121 and 129 certificate holders.
    In addition, the AAWG will support the implementation of the action 
plan to address recommendations made in tasks 2 and 3 as determined 
necessary by the ARAC, Transport Airplane and Engine Issues Group, and 
concurred with by the FAA.

Schedule

    The tasking will be performed in two phases. In Phase 1, the ARAC 
will provide to the FAA the results of Tasks 1 through 3. Phase 1 
should be accomplished by December 16, 2005.
    In Phase 2, the Structures Task Groups, under the direction of the 
ARAC, should produce the model specific guidance material, Task 4, 
using the guidelines and procedures of the AC produced in Phase 1. The 
ARAC will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing the STG's 
application of the AC. Phase 2 documents should be completed by 
December 18, 2009.

ARAC Acceptance of Task

    ARAC accepted the task and assigned the task to the Airworthiness 
Assurance Working Group, Transport Airplane and Engine Issues. The 
Structural Task Groups (STG) composed of type certificate and part 121 
and 129 certificate holders familiar with the specific model aircraft 
will support the working group. The working group will serve as staff 
to ARAC and assist in the analysis of the assigned task. ARAC must 
review and approve the working group's recommendations. If ARAC accepts 
the working group's recommendations, it will forward them to the FAA.

Working Group Activity

    The Airworthiness Assurance Working Group must comply with the 
procedures adopted by ARAC. As part

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of the procedures, the working group must:
    1. Recommend a work plan for completion of the task, including the 
rationale supporting such a plan for consideration at the next meeting 
of the ARAC on transport airplane and engine issues held following 
publication of this notice.
    2. Give a detailed conceptual presentation of the proposed 
recommendations prior to proceeding with the work stated in item 3 
below.
    3. Draft the appropriate documents and required analyses and/or any 
other related materials or documents.
    4. Provide a status report at each meeting of the ARAC held to 
consider transport airplane and engine issues.

Participation in the Working Group

    The Airworthiness Assurance Working Group will be composed of 
technical experts having an interest in the assigned task. A working 
group member need not be a representative or a member of the full 
committee.
    If you have expertise in the subject matter and wish to become a 
member of the working group you should write to the person listed under 
the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT expressing that desire, 
describing your interest in the task, and stating the expertise you 
would bring to the working group. We must receive your request to 
participate no later than May 28, 2004. The assistant chair, the 
assistant executive director, and the working group chair will review 
your request and will advise you whether your request is approved.
    If you are chosen for membership on the working group, you must 
represent your aviation community segment and actively participate in 
the working group (e.g., attend all meetings, provide written comments 
when requested to do so, etc.). You must also devote the resources 
necessary to support the working group in meeting any assigned 
deadlines. You must keep your management chain and those you may 
represent advised of working group activities and decisions to ensure 
that the proposed technical solutions don't conflict with your 
sponsoring organization's position when the subject being negotiated is 
presented to ARAC for approval.
    Once the working group has begun deliberations, members will be 
added or substituted only with the approval of the assistant chair, the 
assistant executive director, and the working group chair.
    The Secretary of Transportation determined that the formation and 
use of the ARAC is necessary and in the public interest in connection 
with the performance of duties imposed on the FAA by law.
    Meetings of the ARAC will be open to the public. Meetings of the 
Airworthiness Assurance Working Group will not be open to the public, 
except to the extent that individuals with an interest and expertise 
are selected to participate. The FAA will make no public announcement 
of working group meetings.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2004.
Anthony F. Fazio,
Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 04-10816 Filed 5-12-04; 8:45 am]
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