[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 37 (Thursday, February 26, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8717-8719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3263]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0150; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-325-AD; 
Amendment 39-15818; AD 2009-04-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -400ER 
Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD),

[[Page 8718]]

which applies to certain Boeing Model 767 series airplanes. That AD 
currently requires a one-time inspection for missing, damaged, or 
incorrectly installed parts in the separation link assembly on the 
deployment bar of the emergency escape system on the entry or service 
door, and installation of new parts if necessary. This new AD requires 
replacing the separation link assembly on the applicable entry and 
service doors with an improved separation link assembly, and doing 
related investigative and corrective actions if necessary; and 
inspecting for discrepancies of the unloaded spring dimensions in the 
separation link assembly, and doing corrective actions if necessary. 
This AD also removes certain airplanes from the applicability. This AD 
results from reports that entry and service doors did not open fully 
during deployment of emergency escape slides, and additional reports of 
missing snap rings. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of an 
entry or service door to open fully in the event of an emergency 
evacuation, which could impede exit from the airplane. This condition 
could result in injury to passengers or crewmembers.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 2, 2009.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of April 2, 2009.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207; telephone 206-544-9990; fax 206-766-5682; e-mail [email protected]; 
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Ladderud, Aerospace Engineer, 
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6435; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that supersedes AD 2001-26-19, 
amendment 39-12585 (67 FR 265, January 3, 2002). The existing AD 
applies to certain Boeing Model 767 series airplanes. That supplemental 
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on September 23, 2008 (73 FR 
54747). That supplemental NPRM proposed to require replacing the 
separation link assembly on the applicable entry and service doors with 
an improved separation link assembly, and doing related investigative 
and corrective actions if necessary; and inspecting for discrepancies 
of the unloaded spring dimensions in the separation link assembly, and 
doing corrective actions if necessary. That supplemental NPRM also 
proposed to remove certain airplanes from the applicability.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. No comments have been received on the 
supplemental NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed 
in the supplemental NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 1,225 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 355 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The new actions take up to about 6 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Required parts cost up to 
about $10,671 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost 
of the new actions specified in this AD for U.S. operators is 
$3,958,605, or $11,151 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
    (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 and placed it in the AD docket. 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
removing amendment 39-12585 (67 FR 265, January 3, 2002) and by adding 
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):


[[Page 8719]]


2009-04-12 Boeing: Amendment 39-15818. Docket No. FAA-2008-0150; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-325-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 2, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2001-26-19.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -400ER 
series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0428, dated August 
23, 2007.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports that entry and service doors 
did not open fully during deployment of emergency escape slides, and 
additional reports of missing snap rings. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of an entry or service door to open fully in the 
event of an emergency evacuation, which could impede exit from the 
airplane. This condition could result in injury to passengers or 
crewmembers.

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.

Replacement

    (f) Within 48 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the separation link assembly on the deployment bar of the 
emergency escape system on all the applicable entry and service 
doors with an improved separation link assembly, and do all the 
applicable related investigative and corrective actions before 
further flight, by accomplishing all of the applicable actions 
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0428, dated August 23, 2007; or 
Revision 1, dated May 8, 2008. After the effective date of this AD 
only Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0428, Revision 
1, may be used.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, ATTN: Keith Ladderud, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and 
Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-
6435; fax (425) 917-6590; has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-
25-0428, dated August 23, 2007; or Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 767-25-0428, Revision 1, dated May 8, 2008; as applicable; 
to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies 
otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 
98124-2207; telephone 206-544-9990; fax 206-766-5682; e-mail 
[email protected]; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information that is 
incorporated by reference at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
425-227-1221 or 425-227-1152.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 22, 2009.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-3263 Filed 2-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P