[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12790-12791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5015]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19943; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-76-AD; 
Amendment 39-14010; AD 2005-06-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 757-200 Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Boeing Model 757-200 series airplanes. This AD requires 
modifying the wiring of the test ground signal for the master dim and 
test system circuit in the flight compartment. This AD is prompted by a 
report that the master dim and test system circuit does not have wiring 
separation of the test ground signal for redundant equipment in the 
flight compartment. We are issuing this AD to prevent a single fault 
failure during flight, which could result in test patterns instead of 
the selected radio frequencies showing on the communications panel. 
These conditions could adversely affect voice and transponder 
communication capability between the flightcrew and air traffic 
control, which could result in increased pilot workload.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 20, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April 
20, 2005.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
    Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any 
final disposition. You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or 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 U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, 
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-19943; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-76-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Binh Tran, Aerospace Engineer, Systems 
and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone 
(425) 917-6485; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with an AD for certain Boeing Model 757-200 series airplanes. That 
action, published in the Federal Register on December 28, 2004 (69 FR 
77675), proposed to require modifying the wiring of the test ground 
signal for the master dim and test system circuit in the flight 
compartment.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment that has been 
submitted on the proposed AD. The commenter supports the proposed AD.

Clarification of Applicability

    In paragraph (c) of the proposed AD we inadvertently specified 
``certain Boeing Model 757-200 series airplanes'' without identifying 
the affected group. These airplanes are identified in Boeing Service 
Bulletin 757-33-0050, Revision 2, dated December 4, 2003. We have 
revised the final rule to clarify that applicability.

Editorial Change

    The FAA noted that in paragraph (g) of the proposed AD, reference 
was made to Boeing Service Bulletin 757-33-0050. We have revised that 
reference to read Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-33-
0050.

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 55 airplanes of the affected design worldwide, and 
30 airplanes of U.S. registry. The required modification (including the 
operational test) will take between 2 and 3 work hours, depending on 
the airplane configuration, at an average labor rate of $65 per work 
hour. Required parts cost will be minimal. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the required modification for U.S. operators is 
between $130 and $195 per airplane.

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 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

[[Page 12791]]

    (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 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA 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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2005-06-02 Boeing: Amendment 39-14010. Docket No. FAA-2004-19943; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-76-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 20, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 757-200 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing Service 
Bulletin 757-33-0050, Revision 2, dated December 4, 2003.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report that the master dim and 
test system circuit does not have wiring separation of the test 
ground signal for redundant equipment in the flight compartment. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent a single fault failure during flight 
which could result in test patterns instead of the selected radio 
frequencies showing on the communications panel. These conditions 
could adversely affect voice and transponder communication 
capability between the flightcrew and air traffic control, which 
could result in increased pilot workload.

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.

Modification

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD: Modify 
the wiring of the test ground signal for the master dim and test 
system circuit in the flight compartment by doing all the applicable 
actions specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 757-33-0050, Revision 
2, dated December 4, 2003.

Modifications Done Using Previous Issues of the Service Bulletin

    (g) Modifications done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-33-
0050, dated August 15, 2002; or Revision 1, dated January 30, 2003; 
are considered acceptable for compliance with paragraph (f) of this 
AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has 
the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 757-33-0050, Revision 
2, dated December 4, 2003, to perform the actions that are required 
by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of this 
document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For 
copies of the service information, contact Boeing Commercial 
Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. For 
information on the availability of this material at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or 
go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    You may view the AD docket at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-
401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 7, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5015 Filed 3-15-05; 8:45 am]
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