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

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 767 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive detailed and eddy current inspections of the aft pressure bulkhead for damage and cracking, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD would add one-time detailed and high frequency eddy current inspections of any “oil-can” located on the aft pressure bulkhead, and related corrective actions if necessary. An “oil-can” is an area on a pressure dome web that moves when pushed from the forward side. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of cracking at “oil-can” boundaries on the aft pressure bulkhead. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the aft pressure bulkhead, which could result in rapid depressurization of the airplane and possible damage or interference with the airplane control systems that penetrate the bulkhead, and consequent loss of controllability of the airplane.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 10, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on this proposed AD.

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590.
• Fax: (202) 493-2251.
• Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 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, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207.

You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov , or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Technical Information: Suzanne Masterson, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6441; fax (425) 917-6590.

Plain Language Information: Marcia Walters, marcia.walters@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Docket Management System (DMS)

The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in the form “Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.” The Transport Airplane Directorate identifier is in the form “Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-999-AD.” Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier (“Old Docket Number”) as a cross-reference for searching purposes.

Comments Invited

We invite you to submit any written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “Docket No. FAA-2004-19446; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-130-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov , including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of our docket Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you can visit http://dms.dot.gov .

We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of our communications that affect you. You can get more information about plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov .

Examining the Docket

You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov , or in person at the Docket Management Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

On February 24, 2004, we issued AD 2004-05-10, amendment 39-13505 (69 FR 10321, March 5, 2004), for certain Model 767 series airplanes. AD 2004-05-10 requires repetitive detailed and eddy current inspections of the aft pressure bulkhead for damage and cracking, and repair if necessary. That AD was prompted by a report of multiple-site fatigue cracking in two lap splices on the aft pressure bulkhead of one airplane. We issued AD 2004-05-10 to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the aft pressure bulkhead, which could result in rapid depressurization of the airplane and possible damage or interference with the airplane control systems that penetrate the bulkhead, and consequent loss of controllability of the airplane.

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued

In the “Differences Between the ASB and the AD” section of AD 2004-05-10, we explained that we were considering further rulemaking to require inspections of “oil-cans”. We now have determined that further rulemaking is indeed necessary, and this proposed AD follows from that determination.

Relevant Service Information

As discussed in the preamble of AD 2004-05-10, we have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 767-53A0026, Revision 5, dated January 29, 2004. Revision 5 of the ASB describes procedures for repetitive detailed inspections for damage (e.g., nicks, tears, scratches, dents, and corrosion) of the aft pressure bulkhead, and repair if necessary. The ASB also describes procedures for repetitive high frequency and low frequency eddy current inspections for cracking of the body station (BS) 1582 bulkhead, web lap splices, and tearstrap splices, and repair if necessary. Additionally, the ASB describes procedures for a one-time detailed inspection and a high frequency eddy current inspection of the web to determine if any “oil cans” are present, and repair if necessary. Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products of this same type design. Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would supersede AD 2004-05-10. This proposed AD would continue to require repetitive detailed and eddy current inspections of the aft pressure bulkhead for damage and cracking, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD would also require detailed and high frequency eddy current inspections of any “oil-can” located on the aft pressure bulkhead, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD would require you to use the service information described previously to perform these actions, except as discussed under “Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletin.”

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletin

The Boeing ASB provides the following information in Note 6 of the Accomplishment Instructions: “For the purposes of this service bulletin, do not count flight-cycles with a cabin pressure differential of 2.0 [pounds per square inch (psi)] or less. However, any flight-cycle with momentary spikes in cabin pressure differential above 2.0 psi must be included as a full-pressure flight-cycle. Cabin pressure records must be maintained for each airplane. Fleet averaging of cabin pressure is not allowed.” We have determined that an adjustment of flight cycles due to a lower cabin differential pressure is not substantiated and will not be allowed for use in determining the flight cycle threshold for this proposed AD.

Additionally, the Accomplishment Instructions of the ASB specify that operators may contact the manufacturer for disposition of certain repair instructions. This AD requires that, if repair requirements exceed allowable repair criteria, operators must repair 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.

Change to Existing AD

This proposed AD would retain certain requirements of AD 2004-05-10. Since AD 2004-05-10 was issued, the AD format has been revised, and certain paragraphs have been rearranged. As a result, the corresponding paragraph identifiers have changed in this proposed AD, as listed in the following table:

Costs of Compliance

There are about 162 airplanes worldwide of the affected design. This proposed AD would affect about 99 airplanes of U.S. registry.

The actions that are required by AD 2004-05-10 and retained in this proposed AD take about 22 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the currently required actions is $1,430 per airplane, per inspection cycle.

The new proposed actions would take about 2 work hours per “oil-can,” at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the new actions specified in this proposed AD for U.S. operators is $130 per “oil-can.” The number of “oil cans” varies per airplane, so an estimate per airplane or for the U.S. registered fleet is not available.

Regulatory Findings

We have 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 that the 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. 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 proposed AD. 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
• 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

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

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