6536 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 28 / Wednesday, February 11, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. 2003–NM–84–AD; Amendment 

39–13461; AD 2004–03–17] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing 

Model 747–100, 747–100B, 747–100B 

SUD, 747–200B, 747–200C, 747–200F, 

747–300, 747SP, and 747SR Series 

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a 

new airworthiness directive (AD), 

applicable to certain Boeing Model 747–

100, 747–100B, 747–100B SUD, 747–

200B, 747–200C, 747–200F, 747–300, 

747SP, and 747SR series airplanes, that 

requires a one-time inspection of each 

emergency evacuation slide or slide/raft 

to determine if a certain discrepant hose 

assembly is installed, and replacement 

of the hose assembly with a new or 

serviceable assembly if necessary. This 

action is necessary to prevent the failure 

of an emergency evacuation slide or 

slide/raft to fully inflate during an 

emergency situation, which could 

impede an evacuation and result in 

injury to passengers or airplane 

crewmembers. This action is intended 

to address the identified unsafe 

condition.

DATES: Effective March 17, 2004. 

The incorporation by reference of 

certain publications listed in the 

regulations is approved by the Director 

of the Federal Register as of March 17, 

2004.

ADDRESSES: The service information 

referenced in this AD may be obtained 

from BFGoodrich Aircraft Evacuation 

Systems, 3414 S. Fifth Street, Phoenix, 

Arizona 85040. This information may be 

examined at the Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Transport 

Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 

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:

Patrick Gillespie, Aerospace Engineer, 

Cabin Safety and Environmental 

Systems Branch, ANM–150S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98055–4056; telephone 

(425) 917–6429; fax (425) 917–6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A 

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to 

include an airworthiness directive (AD) 

that is applicable to certain Boeing 

Model 747–100, 747–100B, 747–100B 

SUD, 747–200B, 747–200C, 747–200F, 

747–300, 747SP, and 747SR series 

airplanes, was published in the Federal 

Register on July 9, 2003 (68 FR 40821). 

That action proposed to require a onetime inspection of each emergency 

evacuation slide or slide/raft to 

determine if a certain discrepant hose 

assembly is installed, and replacement 

of the hose assembly with a new or 

serviceable assembly if necessary. 

Comments 

Interested persons have been afforded 

an opportunity to participate in the 

making of this amendment. Due 

consideration has been given to the 

comments received. One commenter 

concurs with the proposed rule. 

Request to Revise Applicability 

One commenter requests that the 

applicability in the proposed rule be 

revised to apply to ‘‘BFGoodrich slides 

or slide/rafts having part number 

7A1238–()(), 7A1239–()(), 7A1248–()(), 

7A1261–()(), 7A–1255–()(), 7A–1256–

()(), or 7A–1257–()(), where ‘‘()()’’

represents any dash number of those 

part numbers, that may be installed on 

certain Model 747 series airplanes.’’ The 

commenter states that the applicability 

of the proposed rule is misleading and 

could potentially cause compliance 

and/or record keeping errors because 

the slides are certified under a 

Technical Standard Order and may be 

removed, repaired, overhauled 

separately from the airplane, moved 

from airplane to airplane, or stored 

awaiting installation. Additionally, the 

commenter states that it is possible that 

the discrepant slides could be installed 

on airplane models not listed in the 

proposed applicability (i.e., Model 747–

400 series airplanes). Therefore, the 

commenter asserts that the proposed 

rule should be applicable to the 

component rather than the airplane 

model. 

The FAA does not agree. According to 

general FAA policy, if an unsafe 

condition results from the installation of 

a particular component in only one 

particular make and model of airplane, 

the AD would apply to the airplane 

model, not the component. The reason 

for this is: If the AD applies to the 

airplane model equipped with the item, 

operators of those airplanes will be 

notified directly of the unsafe condition 

and the action required to correct it. 

While we assume that operators can 

identify the airplane models they 

operate, they may not be aware of 

specific items installed on the airplanes. 

Therefore, specifying the airplane 

models in the applicability as the 

subject of the AD prevents an operator’s 

‘‘unknowing failure to comply’’ with the 

AD. We recognize that an unsafe 

condition may exist in an item that is 

installed in many different airplanes. In 

that case, we consider it impractical to 

issue an AD against each airplane; in 

fact, many times, the exact models and 

numbers of airplanes on which the item 

is installed may be unknown. Therefore, 

in those situations, the AD would apply 

to the item and usually indicates that 

the item is known to be ‘‘installed on, 

but not limited to,’’ various airplane 

models. In this case, the applicability 

extends only to those airplane models 

for which the discrepant escape slides 

are approved for installation on; the 

discrepant slides are not approved for 

installation on Model 747–400 series 

airplanes. No change to the final rule is 

necessary in this regard. 

Request To Extend Compliance Time 

Another commenter requests that the 

proposed compliance time be extended 

from 36 months to 54 months. The 

commenter states that its current 

overhaul interval for the affected slides 

is 54 months. The commenter points out 

that its maintenance program carries out 

the Goodrich slide component 

maintenance manual (CMM) inspections 

for hydrostatic testing of the hoses 

during slide overhaul and discards any 

hose not passing the test. During its 22 

years of operating the affected slides on 

its Model 747 series airplanes, the 

commenter states that it has had no 

failed deployments (scheduled, 

unscheduled, or during shop inflation) 

due to hose failure. Therefore, the 

commenter suggests that a 54-month 

compliance time would provide an 

adequate level of safety. 

We do not agree. In developing an 

appropriate compliance time for this 

action, we considered the safety 

implications, operators’ normal 

maintenance schedules, and the 

compliance time recommended by the 

airplane manufacturer for the timely 

accomplishment of the required actions. 

In consideration of these items, we have 

determined that a 36-month compliance 

time will ensure an acceptable level of 

safety and is an appropriate interval of 

time wherein the required actions can 

be accomplished during scheduled 

maintenance intervals for the majority 

of affected operators. We have also 

determined that the CMM slide 

inspections are not an adequate means 

to address the failure mode of the 

affected slides. However, according to 

the provisions of paragraph (d) of this 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 28 / Wednesday, February 11, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 6537

final rule, we may approve requests to 

adjust the compliance time if the 

request includes data that justify that a 

different compliance time would 

provide an acceptable level of safety. No 

change to the final rule is necessary in 

this regard. 

Conclusion 

After careful review of the available 

data, including the comments noted 

above, the FAA has determined that air 

safety and the public interest require the 

adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact 

There are approximately 333 

airplanes of the affected design in the 

worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 

88 airplanes of U.S. registry will be 

affected by this AD. 

It will take approximately 1 work 

hour per airplane to accomplish the 

required inspection, at an average labor 

rate of $65 per work hour. Based on 

these figures, the cost impact of the 

required inspection on U.S. operators is 

estimated to be $5,720, or $65 per 

airplane. 

Should an operator be required to 

accomplish the replacement of a hose 

assembly, it will take approximately 12 

work hours per hose assembly, at an 

average labor rate of $65 per work hour. 

Required parts will cost between $795 

and $1,169 per hose assembly. Based on 

these figures, the cost impact of the 

required replacement is estimated to be 

between $1,575 and $1,949 per hose 

assembly. 

The cost impact figures discussed 

above are based on assumptions that no 

operator has yet accomplished any of 

the 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 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

■ 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

■ 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:

2004–03–17 Boeing: Amendment 39–13461. 

Docket 2003–NM–84–AD

Applicability: All Model 747–100, 747–

100B, 747–100B SUD, 747–200B, 747–200C, 

747–200F, 747–300, 747SP, and 747SR series 

airplanes; certificated in any category; and 

equipped with BFGoodrich slides or slide/

rafts having part number 7A1238–()(), 

7A1239–()(), 7A1248–()(), 7A1261–()(), 7A–

1255–()(), 7A–1256–()(), or 7A–1257–()(), 

where ‘‘()()’’ represents any dash number of 

those part numbers. 

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless 

accomplished previously. 

To prevent the failure of an emergency 

slide or slide/raft to fully inflate during an 

emergency situation, which could impede an 

evacuation and result in injury to passengers 

or airplane crewmembers, accomplish the 

following: 

Inspection To Determine Manufacturing 

Date 

(a) Within 36 months after the effective 

date of this AD, perform a one-time 

inspection of the part number information 

label on each inflation hose assembly on each 

emergency evacuation slide or slide/raft to 

determine the manufacturing/test date of the 

inflation hose assembly. Do this inspection 

per BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 25–241, 

dated September 30, 1991. If the 

manufacturing/test date is May 30, 1983, or 

later, no further action is required for that 

inflation hose assembly. 

Replacement of Inflation Hose Assembly 

(b) For any inflation hose assembly having 

a manufacturing/test date before May 30, 

1983, or on which the manufacturing/test 

date cannot be determined: Before further 

flight, replace the subject inflation hose 

assembly with a new or serviceable hose 

assembly having a manufacturing/test date 

on or after May 30, 1983, per BFGoodrich 

Service Bulletin 25–241, dated September 30, 

1991. 

Parts Installation 

(c) As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person shall install an inflation hose 

assembly having a manufacturing/test date 

before May 30, 1983, or on which the 

manufacturing/test date cannot be 

determined, on an emergency evacuation 

slide or slide/raft on any airplane. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(d) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the 

Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 

(ACO), FAA, is authorized to approve 

alternative methods of compliance for this 

AD. 

Incorporation by Reference 

(e) The actions shall be done in accordance 

with BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 25–241, 

dated September 30, 1991. 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 

BFGoodrich Aircraft Evacuation Systems, 

3414 S. Fifth Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85040. 

Copies may be inspected 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. 

Effective Date 

(f) This amendment becomes effective on 

March 17, 2004.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 

29, 2004. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 04–2578 Filed 2–10–04; 8:45 am] 

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