[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 19 (Monday, January 31, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4756-4758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1517]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-NM-252-AD; Amendment 39-13955; AD 2005-02-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 757 Series Airplanes 
Equipped With Rolls Royce Model RB211 Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain Boeing Model 757 series airplanes, that requires 
repetitive detailed inspections of the support brackets and associated 
fasteners for the hydraulic lines located in the nacelle struts, and 
related investigative and corrective actions as necessary. This action 
also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive 
inspections. This action is necessary to prevent flammable fluids from 
leaking into the interior compartment of the nacelle struts where 
ignition sources exist, which could result in the ignition of flammable 
fluids and an uncontained fire. This action is intended to address the 
identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective March 7, 2005. The incorporation by reference of 
certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the 
Director of the Federal Register as of March 7, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules 
Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: 
http://www.archives.gov/federal--register/code--of--federal--
regulations/ibr--locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Thorson, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone 
(425) 917-6508; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 757 series 
airplanes was published in the Federal Register on May 17, 2004 (69 FR 
27866). That action proposed to require repetitive detailed inspections 
of the support brackets and associated fasteners for the hydraulic 
lines located in the nacelle struts, and related investigative and 
corrective actions as necessary. That action also proposed to provide 
an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the comment received.

Request To Revise Paragraph (b), Related Investigative and Corrective 
Actions

    The commenter, an operator, supports the repetitive inspections 
required by paragraph (a) of the proposed AD, but requests that the 
related investigative and corrective actions required by paragraph (b) 
of the proposed AD be applicable only to a pylon (nacelle strut) that 
has damaged or loose hydraulic line support brackets or associated 
fasteners.

[[Page 4757]]

(If either pylon has loose or damaged parts, the proposed AD requires 
that operators do all of the related investigative and corrective 
actions on both pylons concurrently.) The commenter states that, if the 
inspection results show that a pylon has no damaged or loose hydraulic 
line attachment hardware, operators should be given the opportunity to 
repetitively inspect that pylon until damaged or loose attachment 
hardware is found. The commenter notes that the service bulletins 
estimate 15 labor hours per pylon to modify the hydraulic line 
brackets. That modification is the terminating action for the 
repetitive inspections required by paragraph (a) of the proposed AD. We 
infer that the commenter is making this request to conserve resources 
and not expend labor hours to do the terminating action on a pylon that 
does not have damaged or loose hydraulic line attachment hardware.
    The FAA agrees that operators should be required to only perform 
the related investigative and corrective actions on a nacelle strut 
that has damaged or loose hydraulic line support brackets or associated 
fasteners. We have revised paragraph (b) of this AD accordingly. We 
have determined that this allowance will not affect continued 
operational safety. If the results of any inspection indicate that a 
nacelle strut has no damaged or loose hydraulic line attachment 
hardware, operators must continue to repetitively inspect that strut in 
accordance with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this AD until 
damaged or loose attachment hardware is found, at which time the 
requirements of paragraph (b) of this AD must be accomplished.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments that have been submitted, and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD with the change described 
previously. We have determined that this change will neither increase 
the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 603 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. We estimate that 325 airplanes of U.S. registry will 
be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 22 work hours 
per airplane to accomplish the required actions, and that the average 
labor rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost 
impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $464,750, or 
$1,430 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD 
action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the 
future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed 
in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform 
the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures 
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to 
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other 
administrative actions.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. 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.
    We are issuing this rulemaking 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 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2005-02-10 Boeing: Amendment 39-13955. Docket 2003-NM-252-AD.

    Applicability: Model 757 series airplanes; certificated in any 
category; line numbers 1 through 1018 inclusive; equipped with Rolls 
Royce Model RB211 engines.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent flammable fluids from leaking into the interior 
compartment of the nacelle struts where ignition sources exist, 
which could result in the ignition of flammable fluids and an 
uncontained fire, accomplish the following:

Inspection

    (a) Within 3,000 flight hours after the effective date of this 
AD: Do a detailed inspection of the support brackets and associated 
fasteners for the hydraulic lines located in the nacelle struts for 
loose or damaged parts, by accomplishing all of the actions 
specified in Part 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 757-54A0045 (for Model 757-200 series 
airplanes), dated May 22, 2003; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
757-54A0046 (for Model 757-300 series airplanes), dated May 29, 
2003; as applicable. Do the actions per the applicable service 
bulletin. Repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals not to 
exceed 3,000 flight hours.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is 
defined as: ``An intensive visual examination of a specific 
structural area, system, installation, or assembly to detect damage, 
failure, or irregularity. Available lighting is normally 
supplemented with a direct source of good lighting at intensity 
deemed appropriate by the inspector. Inspection aids such as mirror, 
magnifying lenses, etc., may be used. Surface cleaning and elaborate 
access procedures may be required.''


[[Page 4758]]



Related Investigative and Corrective Actions

    (b) Except as required by paragraph (d) of this AD: If any loose 
or damaged parts are found during any inspection required by 
paragraph (a) of this AD, before further flight, for the affected 
nacelle strut only, do all of the related investigative and 
corrective actions specified in Part 2 of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-54A0045 (for Model 
757-200 series airplanes), dated May 22, 2003; or Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 757-54A0046 (for Model 757-300 series airplanes), 
dated May 29, 2003; as applicable. Do the actions in accordance with 
the applicable service bulletin. Accomplishment of these actions 
constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections 
required by paragraph (a) of this AD for that nacelle strut only.

Optional Terminating Action

    (c) If performed on both nacelle struts concurrently: 
Accomplishment of all of the actions specified in Part 2 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-
54A0045 (for Model 757-200 series airplanes), dated May 22, 2003; or 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-54A0046 (for Model 757-300 series 
airplanes), dated May 29, 2003; as applicable; constitutes 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by 
paragraph (a) of this AD.

Repair Information

    (d) If any damage is found during any inspection required by 
this AD, and the service bulletin specifies contacting Boeing for 
appropriate action. Before further flight, repair per a method 
approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), FAA. For a repair method to be approved by the Manager, 
Seattle ACO, as required by this paragraph, the Manager's approval 
letter must specifically refer to this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (e) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, Seattle ACO, 
is authorized to approve alternative methods of compliance for this 
AD.

Incorporation by Reference

    (f) Unless otherwise specified in this AD, the actions shall be 
done in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-54A0045, 
dated May 22, 2003; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-54A0046, 
dated May 29, 2003; as applicable. This incorporation by reference 
was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 
98124-2207. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the 
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information 
on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, 
or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal --register/code-- of--
federal-- regulations/ibr--locations.html.

Effective Date

    (g) This amendment becomes effective on March 7, 2005.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 18, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-1517 Filed 1-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P