03-4232. Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F Series Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment period.

SUMMARY:

This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 767 series airplanes, that would have required replacement of the aileron control override quadrant with a modified unit. This new action revises the applicability of the proposed rule. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent corrosion of the input override mechanism bearings of the lateral central control actuator, which, in the event of a subsequent jam in the pilot's aileron control system, could result in failure of the aileron override system and consequent reduced lateral controllability of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES:

Comments must be received by March 21, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-NM-34-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 [phone]. Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: [e-mail]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must contain “Docket No. 2002-NM-34-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 for Windows or ASCII text.

The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Douglas Tsuji, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the proposed 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 above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments, specified above, will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in light of the comments received.

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 proposed 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 proposed 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 summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: “Comments to Docket Number 2002-NM-34-AD.” The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-NM-34-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056.

Discussion

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to add an airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 767 series airplanes, was published as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on August 23, 2002 (67 FR 54591). That NPRM would have required replacement of the aileron control override quadrant with a modified unit. That NPRM was prompted by a report of the seizing of the input override mechanism bearings of the lateral central control actuator on affected airplanes. The seizing was discovered during an inspection and has been attributed to corrosion on the steel bearings in the override mechanism. A failed override system is a latent failure and does not affect normal operation. However, if the pilot's control system were to subsequently jam, the seizing of the override bearings could have prevented the aileron control override system from operating properly. That condition, if not corrected, could result in reduced lateral control of the airplane.

Comments

Certain comments received in response to the original NPRM have resulted in changes that expanded its scope and gave rise to this supplemental NPRM.

Request To Revise Applicability

The manufacturer advises that the applicability was incorrectly identified in the original NPRM as Boeing Model 767 series airplanes, line numbers 1 through 811. The manufacturer reports that line numbers 812 through 836 are also subject to the identified unsafe condition; therefore, the affected inclusive line numbers should be 1 through 836. In addition, the manufacturer requests exclusion of Model 767-400ER series airplanes from the applicability because the installation of corrosion-resistant steel bearings during production on those airplanes adequately addresses the identified unsafe condition.

The FAA agrees and has revised the applicability accordingly in this supplemental NPRM. In addition, the Cost Impact section has been revised in this supplemental NPRM to reflect the increased number of affected airplanes.

Request To Revise Cost Estimate

One commenter, an operator, requests that the Cost Impact section of the original NPRM be revised to reflect additional work hours necessary to accomplish the proposed requirements. According to the commenter, it would also be necessary to replace the bearings and perform corrective rigging of certain control cables. The commenter notes the service bulletin's failure to consider these tasks in the total work hour estimate.

The FAA partially concurs with the request. Although the proposed AD would require that operators “replace the aileron control override quadrant with a modified unit,” the FAA recognizes that, to accomplish that task, operators must also incur the direct cost of replacing the bearings in the aileron override quadrant. Therefore, the Cost Impact section has been further revised in this supplemental NPRM to reflect an estimated 6 work hours necessary to replace the bearings and 4 work hours to replace the quadrant, for a total of approximately 10 work hours to accomplish the proposed requirements.

However, as stated in the original NPRM, the cost impact information is intended to provide only the “direct” costs of the proposed requirements; the total work hour figure represents the time necessary to perform only the AD's required actions. The cost analysis in AD rulemaking actions typically does not include incidental costs such as the time required for cable rigging and testing of the system, which would be necessary to ensure the functionality of the system after the required actions have been accomplished.

Additional Change to Original NPRM

The heading for paragraph (b) (“Spare Parts” in the original NPRM) has been changed to “Part Installation” in this supplemental NPRM.

Conclusion

Since these changes expand the scope of the original NPRM, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to reopen the comment period to provide additional opportunity for public comment.

Cost Impact

There are approximately 836 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 443 airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 10 work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost approximately $146 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $330,478, or $746 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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); and (3) if promulgated, 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 copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Safety

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Boeing: Docket 2002-NM-34-AD.

Applicability: Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes; certificated in any category; line numbers 1 through 836 inclusive.

Note 1:

This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.

To prevent corrosion of the input override mechanism bearings of the lateral central control actuator, which, in the event of a subsequent jam in the pilot's aileron control system, could result in failure of the aileron override system and consequent reduced lateral controllability of the airplane, accomplish the following:

Replacement

(a) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, replace the aileron control override quadrant with a modified unit, in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-27A0175, dated October 25, 2001.

Note 2:

This AD does not require accomplishment of the actions specified by Boeing Service Bulletin 767-27-0142.

Part Installation

(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, on any airplane, an aileron control override quadrant that has not been modified in accordance with the requirements of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Seattle ACO.

Note 3:

Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Seattle ACO.

Special Flight Permits

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 14, 2003.

Ali Bahrami,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.