[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7103-7105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02520]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0053; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-174-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD was 
prompted by reports of corroded, migrated, or broken spring pins of the 
girt bar floor fitting; in one case the broken pins prevented a door 
escape slide from deploying during a maintenance test. This proposed AD 
would require replacing the existing spring pins at each passenger 
entry door at both girt bar floor fittings with new spring pins. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent broken or migrated spring pins of the girt 
bar floor fittings, which could result in improper deployment of the 
escape slide/raft and consequent delay and injury during evacuation of 
passengers and crew from the cabin in the event of an emergency.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 24, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-
5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service information 
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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0053; 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 proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 
be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ana Martinez Hueto, Aerospace 
Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6592; fax: 425-917-6591; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-

[[Page 7104]]

2014-0053; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-174-AD'' at the beginning of 
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We have received reports of a total of 23 corroded, migrated, or 
broken spring pins of the girt bar floor fitting on nine different 
airplanes; in one case the broken pins prevented a door escape slide 
from deploying during a maintenance test. Analysis of the broken spring 
pins revealed that the spring pins failed due to stress corrosion 
cracking. This condition, if not corrected, could result in improper 
deployment of the escape slide/raft and consequent delay and injury 
during evacuation of passengers and crew from the cabin in the event of 
an emergency.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0050, dated June 
18, 2013. For information on the procedures and compliance times, see 
this service information at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
Docket No. FAA-2014-0053.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information identified previously, except as discussed 
under ``Difference Between the Proposed AD and the Service 
Information.''

Difference Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information

    Although Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0050, dated June 18, 
2013, recommends replacing the spring pins within 1,175 days (3 years, 
80 days), we and Boeing have determined a 36-month compliance time is 
appropriate. We have advised Boeing to correct the compliance time 
statement in the next revision of the service information to specify a 
36-month compliance time. In developing an appropriate compliance time 
for this AD, we considered the degree of urgency associated with the 
subject unsafe condition, and the average utilization of the affected 
fleet and time necessary to perform the replacement. In light of these 
factors, we find that a 36-month compliance time represents an 
appropriate interval of time for affected airplanes to continue to 
operate without compromising safety.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 189 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Cost on U.S.
            Action                  Labor cost        Parts cost       Cost per product          operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement...................  Up to 40 work-                 $0   Up to $3,400.........  Up to $642,600.
                                 hours x $85 per
                                 hour = Up to
                                 $3,400.
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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 proposed 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 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 this 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

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):

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2014-0053; Directorate Identifier 
2013-NM-174-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by March 24, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -
300, -300ER, and

[[Page 7105]]

777F series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified 
in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0050, dated June 18, 2013.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 52, Doors.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of corroded, migrated, or broken 
spring pins of the girt bar floor fitting; in one case the broken 
pins prevented a door escape slide from deploying during a 
maintenance test. We are issuing this AD to prevent broken or 
migrated spring pins of the girt bar floor fittings, which could 
result in improper deployment of the escape slide/raft and 
consequent delay and injury during evacuation of passengers and crew 
from the cabin in the event of an emergency.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Spring Pin Replacement

    Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD: Replace 
the spring pin at both girt bar floor fittings at each passenger 
entry door with a new spring pin, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
52A0050, dated June 18, 2013.

(h) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
spring pin having part number MS39086-261 or MS16562-252 on any 
airplane.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (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. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local 
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (i) of this AD. 
Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.
    (3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any repair required by this AD if it is approved by the 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization 
(ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make 
those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the repair must 
meet the certification basis of the airplane.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Ana Martinez 
Hueto, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems 
Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6592; 
fax: 425-917-6591; email: [email protected].
    (2) For Boeing service information identified in this AD, 
contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 
Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; 
telephone 206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet 
https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 18, 2014.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-02520 Filed 2-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P