[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 729-731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-167]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19988; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-30-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727-200 Series Airplanes 
Equipped With a No. 3 Cargo Door

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Boeing Model 727-200 series airplanes equipped with a No. 3 
cargo door. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed and high 
frequency eddy current inspections for cracking of the forward, lower 
corner frame and forward end of the lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door, 
and corrective actions if necessary. The proposed AD provides an 
optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This 
proposed AD is prompted by reports of cracking at the forward, lower 
corner frame and lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door. We are proposing 
this AD to detect and correct cracking of the forward, lower corner 
frame and forward end of the lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door, which 
could result in failure of the affected door stops, loss of the cargo 
door, and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 22, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You can get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 
98124-2207.
    You may examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, 
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Technical information: Daniel F. Kutz, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe 
Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6456; 
fax (425) 917-6590.
    Plain language information: Marcia Walters, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Docket Management System (DMS)

    The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets 
electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS 
and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a 
corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in 
the form ``Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.'' The Transport Airplane 
Directorate identifier is in the form ``Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
999-AD.'' Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier 
(``Old Docket Number'') as a cross-reference for searching purposes.

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-19988; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-30-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of 
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You can get more information about 
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket in person at the Docket Management 
Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office 
(telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif 
Building at the DOT

[[Page 730]]

street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    We have received reports of cracking on the forward, lower corner 
frame and lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door, on certain Boeing Model 
727-200 series airplanes. The affected airplanes had approximately 
32,773 to 70,187 flight hours and 33,383 to 54,541 pressurization 
cycles. Investigation revealed that the cracking was caused by fatigue 
as a result of the cabin pressurization cycles. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in failure of the affected door stops, loss of 
the cargo door, and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-52-
0149, dated October 16, 2003. The service bulletin describes procedures 
for repetitive detailed and high frequency eddy current (HFEC) 
inspections for cracking of the forward, lower corner frame and forward 
end of the lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door. Generally, the initial 
inspection is done before accumulating 30,000 total flight cycles or 
within 2,000 flight cycles after the release date of the service 
bulletin, whichever is later. The service bulletin also states the 
inspections should be repeated at intervals not to exceed 4,500 flight 
cycles. The service bulletin also includes procedures for corrective 
actions. For airplanes on which cracking is found, the corrective 
actions include repairing areas with cracking. The repair procedures 
include fabricating/installing repair parts and a preventative 
modification, which eliminates the need for the repetitive inspections. 
The preventative modification includes installing beam modification 
parts and a frame reinforcement angle on the No. 3 cargo door. The 
preventative modification can also be done on airplanes on which no 
cracking is found. We have determined that accomplishing the actions 
specified in the service bulletin will adequately address the unsafe 
condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes 
of this same type design. Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which 
would require repetitive detailed and HFEC inspections for cracking of 
the forward, lower corner frame and lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door, 
and corrective actions if necessary. The proposed AD would require you 
to use the service information described previously to perform these 
actions. The proposed AD provides an optional terminating action for 
the repetitive inspections.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 390 Model 727-200 series 
airplanes worldwide. The following table provides the estimated costs 
for U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Average                          Number of
                                                  Work      labor                Cost per     U.S.-      Fleet
                    Action                       hours     rate per    Parts     airplane  registered     cost
                                                             hour                           airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Detailed and HFEC Inspections, per inspection          2        $65       None       $130         274    $35,620
 cycle.......................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authority for this Rulemaking

    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is 
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106 
describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, 
Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's 
authority.
    This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this AD.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2004-19988; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
30-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this AD action by February 22, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 727-200 series airplanes, 
equipped with a No. 3

[[Page 731]]

cargo door, as listed in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 
727-52-0149, dated October 16, 2003; certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by reports of cracking at the forward, 
lower corner frame and lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door. We are 
proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the forward, 
lower corner frame and forward end of the lower beam of the No. 3 
cargo door, which could result in failure of the affected door 
stops, loss of the cargo door, and consequent rapid decompression of 
the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Repetitive Detailed and High Frequency Eddy Current (HFEC) Inspections

    (f) Do detailed and HFEC inspections for cracking of the 
forward, lower corner frame and forward end of the lower beam of the 
No. 3 cargo door by accomplishing all of the applicable actions 
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 727-52-0149, dated October 16, 2003. Do 
the inspections at the times specified in the applicable table in 
paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of the service bulletin, except as 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD. Repeat the inspections 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 4,500 flight cycles. Doing the 
applicable actions in paragraph (h) or (j) of this AD terminates the 
repetitive inspections.
    (g) Where the service bulletin specified in paragraph (f) of 
this AD provides a threshold relative to the release date of the 
service bulletin, this AD requires compliance within the applicable 
threshold following the effective date of this AD, if the ``total 
airplane flight cycles'' or ``total replaced door flight cycles'' 
threshold has been exceeded.

Corrective Actions

    (h) For airplanes on which cracking is found during any 
inspection required by paragraph (f) of this AD: Before further 
flight, do all of the applicable corrective actions specified in the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 727-52-0149, dated October 16, 2003. Repairing any affected 
area terminates the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (f) 
of this AD.

Parts Installation

    (i) Any replacement No. 3 cargo door installed on any airplane 
after the effective date of this AD must be inspected or modified in 
accordance with either paragraph (i)(1) or (i)(2) of this AD, as 
applicable.
    (1) If the number of total flight cycles on the door can be 
positively determined: Do the actions required by paragraphs (f) and 
(h) of this AD, as applicable, or paragraph (j) of this AD. Do the 
actions at the times specified in Table 2 of paragraph 1.E., 
``Compliance,'' of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-52-
0149, dated October 16, 2003.
    (2) If the number of total flight cycles on the door cannot be 
positively determined: Do the actions required by paragraphs (f) and 
(h) of this AD, as applicable, or paragraph (j) of this AD, before 
installing the door.

Optional Terminating Action

    (j) Concurrently with doing the inspection required by paragraph 
(f) of this AD, if no cracking is found, doing the preventative 
modification specified in paragraph 3.B.2. of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-52-
0149, dated October 16, 2003, terminates the repetitive inspections 
required by paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any repair for cracking required by this AD, if it is 
approved by a Boeing Company Designated Engineering Representative 
who has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make such 
findings. For a repair method to be approved, the approval must 
specifically reference this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 27, 2004.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-167 Filed 1-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P