[Federal Register: February 9, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 26)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 5911-5913]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09fe04-4]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2002-NM-320-AD; Amendment 39-13449; AD 2004-03-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777-200 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD),
applicable to certain Model 777-200 series airplanes. This action
requires a surface high frequency eddy current inspection of the web of
the aft pressure bulkhead, repetitive inspections, and corrective
action, if necessary. This action is necessary to detect and correct
cracks or damage to the web of the aft pressure bulkhead, which could
enlarge if undetected, leading to rapid decompression of the airplane
and consequent possible loss of flight critical systems. This action is
intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Effective February 24, 2004.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of February 24, 2004.
Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or
before April 9, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-NM-320-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232.
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address:
9-anm-iarcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must
contain ``Docket No. 2002-NM-320-AD'' in the subject line and need not
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or
ASCII text.
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 FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the
Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite
700, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Oltman, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
917-6443; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA received a report that parts of the
radial lap splices at the station 2150 aft pressure bulkhead were
covered up by a web repair made to the aft pressure bulkhead during
production of two Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes. The radial lap
splices at the station 2150 aft pressure bulkhead require repetitive
inspections as an Airworthiness Limitation, which is defined as
Structural Significant Item (SSI) 53-80-I13 in Section 9 of Boeing
Document D622W001, 777 Maintenance Planning Data. However, the web
repairs made to the two Model 777-200 series airplanes could interfere
with the detection of cracks or damage to the web during the required
repetitive inspections. Undetected cracks or damage to the web, if not
found and repaired, could result in the cracks enlarging, leading to
rapid decompression of the airplane and consequent possible loss of
flight critical systems.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
The FAA has reviewed and approved Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
777-53A0039, dated November 14, 2002, which describes procedures for a
surface high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection of the web of the
aft pressure bulkhead, repetitive inspections, and corrective action,
if necessary. The corrective action involves repairing any crack or
damage found during any surface HFEC inspection. The surface HFEC
inspections required by this AD would replace repetitive inspections of
the radial lap splices in the local area of the web repair, required as
an Airworthiness Limitation, which is defined as SSI 53-80-I13 in
Section 9 of Boeing Document D622W001, 777 Maintenance Planning Data.
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin is
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition.
Explanation of Requirements of the Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design that may be
registered in the United States at some time in the future, this AD is
being issued to detect and correct cracks or damage to the web of the
aft pressure bulkhead, which could enlarge if undetected, leading to
rapid decompression of the airplane and consequent possible loss of
flight critical systems. This AD requires a surface HFEC inspection of
the web of the aft pressure bulkhead, repetitive inspections, and
corrective action, if necessary. The actions are required to be
accomplished in accordance with the service bulletin described
previously, except as discussed below.
Difference Between Proposed Rule and Service Bulletin
Operators should note that, although the service bulletin specifies
that operators may contact the manufacturer for repair data if cracks
or damage is found, this proposed AD would require operators to repair
any crack or damage per a method approved by the FAA, or per data
meeting the type certification basis of the airplane approved by a
Boeing Company Designated Engineering Representative who has been
authorized by the FAA to make such findings.
[[Page 5912]]
Cost Impact
None of the airplanes affected by this action are on the U.S.
Register. All airplanes included in the applicability of this rule
currently are operated by non-U.S. operators under foreign registry;
therefore, they are not directly affected by this AD action. However,
the FAA considers that this rule is necessary to ensure that the unsafe
condition is addressed in the event that any of these subject airplanes
are imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the future.
Should an affected airplane be imported and placed on the U.S.
Register in the future, it would require approximately between 2 and 4
work hours (depending on airplane configuration) to accomplish the
required actions, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based
on these figures, the cost impact of this AD would be between $130 and
$260 per airplane (depending on airplane configuration). Manufacturer
warranty remedies may be available for labor costs associated with this
AD. As a result, the costs attributable to the AD may be less than
stated above.
Determination of Rule's Effective Date
Since this AD action does not affect any airplane that is currently
on the U.S. register, it has no adverse economic impact and imposes no
additional burden on any person. Therefore, prior notice and public
procedures hereon are unnecessary and the amendment may be made
effective in less than 30 days after publication in the Federal
Register.
Comments Invited
Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not
preceded by notice and opportunity for public comment, comments are
invited on this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this
rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may
desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number and be
submitted in triplicate to the address specified under the caption
ADDRESSES. All communications received on or before the closing date
for comments will be considered, and this rule may be amended in light
of the comments received. Factual information that supports the
commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating
the effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether additional
rulemaking action would be needed.
Submit comments using the following format:
Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example,
discuss a request to change the compliance time and a request to change
the service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
For each issue, state what specific change to
the AD is being requested.
Include justification (e.g., reasons or data)
for each request.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 2002-NM-320-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped
and returned to the commenter.
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:
2004-03-05 Boeing: Amendment 39-13449. Docket 2002-NM-320-AD.
Applicability: Model 777-200 series airplanes, variable numbers
WA207 and WB325; certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To detect and correct cracks or damage to the web of the aft
pressure bulkhead, which could enlarge if undetected, leading to
rapid decompression of the airplane and consequent possible loss of
flight critical systems, accomplish the following:
Initial and Repetitive Inspections
(a) Prior to the accumulation of 30,000 total flight cycles, do
a surface high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection to find
cracks or damage to the web of the station 2150 aft pressure
bulkhead from the forward side, per the Accomplishment Instructions
of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0039, dated November 14,
2002. Repeat the surface HFEC inspection thereafter at intervals not
to exceed 16,000 flight cycles.
Corrective Action
(b) If any crack or damage is found during any surface HFEC
inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD, and the service
bulletin specifies to ask Boeing for repair data: Before further
flight, repair per a method approved by the Manager, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA; or per data meeting the
type certification basis of the airplane approved by a Boeing
Company Designated Engineering Representative who has been
authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make such findings. 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
(c) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, Seattle ACO,
FAA, is authorized to approve alternative methods of compliance
(AMOCs) for this AD.
Incorporation by Reference
(d) Unless otherwise specified by this AD, the actions shall be
done in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0039,
dated November 14, 2002. 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
Office of the Federal
[[Page 5913]]
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
Effective Date
(e) This amendment becomes effective on February 24, 2004.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 29, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-2464 Filed 2-6-04; 8:45 am]
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