[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32061-32063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13358]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-1423; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-173-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 757-200 Series 
Airplanes Modified by Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01529SE or 
STC ST02278SE

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 757-200 series airplanes modified by 
particular STCs. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of a main 
cargo door being blown past its full open position while on the ground 
during gusty wind conditions, which resulted in uncontrolled fall down 
to its closed position. This proposed AD would require installing a new 
placard and bracket, replacement of an existing placard, and 
replacement of the main cargo door control panel. We are proposing this 
AD to prevent damage to the main cargo door, which could result in 
rapid decompression, leading to in-flight breakup.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 20, 2015.

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 
Precision

[[Page 32062]]

Conversions LLC, 4900 SW Griffith Drive, Suite 133, Beaverton, OR 
97005; ATTN: Steven A. Lopez; phone: 503-601-3001; email: 
[email protected]. 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.

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-2015-
1423; 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: Narinder Luthra, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-
6513; fax: 425-917-6590; 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-2015-1423; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-173-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 received reports of a main cargo door being blown past its full 
open position during gusty wind conditions, resulting in a subsequent 
uncontrolled fall down to its closed position. It was determined that 
the Precision Conversions freighter conversion installs a main cargo 
door that, in certain wind conditions, can rotate open past the full-
open position. This can result in damage to the door and surrounding 
structure, which can go unnoticed by the crew. If a damaged airplane 
takes off and is pressurized per normal procedures the cargo door could 
fail. This condition, if not corrected, could result in rapid 
decompression, leading to in-flight breakup.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Precision Conversions LLC Service Bulletin PC-757-11-
0023, dated August 1, 2014. The service information describes 
procedures for installing a new placard and bracket, replacement of an 
existing placard, and replacement of the main cargo door control panel. 
This service information is reasonably available because the interested 
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by 
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.

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 described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 9 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
              Action                        Labor cost            Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation......................  6 work-hours x $85 per                 $0             $510           $4,590
                                     hour = $510.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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 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.

[[Page 32063]]

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-2015-1423; Directorate Identifier 
2014-NM-173-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 20, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 757-200 series 
airplanes modified by the applicable supplemental type certificate 
identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD.
    (1) ST01529SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgstc.nsf/0/0AF09C3701A237EE86257A5D0064B3AA?OpenDocument&Highlight=st01529se).
    (2) ST02278SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgstc.nsf/0/E54B5289A2E9F6EF86257B7F0056EDAF?OpenDocument&Highlight=st02278se).

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 11, Placards and 
Markings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of a main cargo door being blown 
past its full open position while on the ground during gusty wind 
conditions, which resulted in uncontrolled fall down to its closed 
position. We are issuing this AD to prevent damage to the main cargo 
door, which could result in rapid decompression, leading to in-
flight breakup.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Installation

    Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, install a 
new placard and bracket, replace the existing placard, and replace 
the main cargo door control panel, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Precision Conversions LLC Service 
Bulletin PC-757-11-0023, dated August 1, 2014.

(h) 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)(1) 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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Narinder Luthra, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM 120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; phone: 425-917-6513; fax: 425-917-6590; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Precision Conversions LLC, 4900 SW Griffith Drive, Suite 133, 
Beaverton, OR 97005; ATTN: Steven A. Lopez; phone: 503-601-3001; 
email: [email protected]. 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 May 18, 2015.
John P. Piccola, Jr.,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-13358 Filed 6-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P