72320 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 230 / Friday, November 28, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 16, 2008. 

Stephen P. Boyd, 

Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–28103 Filed 11–26–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2008–0176; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–NM–228–AD; Amendment 

39–15748; AD 2008–24–08] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing 

Model 737–600, –700, –700C, –800 and 

–900 Series Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Boeing Model 737–600, –700, –700C, 

–800 and –900 series airplanes. This AD 

requires an inspection of the escape 

slides for the forward and aft entry and 

service doors to determine the part 

number and service bulletin number 

stenciled on the escape slide girt, and 

modification of the escape slide 

assemblies. This AD also requires 

concurrent modification of the escape 

slide latch assemblies; concurrent 

inspection of the escape slides to 

determine the part number and service 

bulletin number stenciled on the escape 

slide girts, and replacement of the 

trigger housing on the regulator valve 

with an improved trigger housing if 

necessary; and concurrent replacement 

of the rod in the pilot valve regulator 

with a new, improved rod; as 

applicable. This AD results from reports 

that certain escape slides did not 

automatically inflate when deployed or 

after the manual inflation cable was 

pulled. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent failure of an escape slide to 

inflate when deployed, which could 

result in the slide being unusable during 

an emergency evacuation and 

consequent injury to passengers or 

crewmembers. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 2, 

2009. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of January 2, 2009. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

previously approved the incorporation 

by reference of Boeing Service Bulletin 

737–25–1404, dated May 25, 2000 on 

August 28, 2001 (66 FR 38361, July 24, 

2001). 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, 

Seattle, Washington 98124–2207; 

telephone (206) 544–9990; fax (206) 

766–5682; e-mail DDCS@boeing.com; 

Internet https:// 

www.myboeingfleet.com. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; 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 AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for the 

Docket Office (telephone 800–647–5527) 

is the Document Management Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Docket Operations, M–30, West 

Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Robert K. Hettman, Aerospace Engineer, 

Cabin Safety and Environmental 

Systems Branch, ANM–150S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 917–6457, fax (425) 917–6590. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an airworthiness 

directive (AD) that would apply to 

certain Boeing Model 737–600, –700, 

–700C, –800 and –900 series airplanes. 

That NPRM was published in the 

Federal Register on February 15, 2008 

(73 FR 8833). That NPRM proposed to 

require an inspection of the escape 

slides for the forward and aft entry and 

service doors to determine the part 

number and service bulletin number 

stenciled on the escape slide girt, and 

modification of the escape slide 

assemblies. That NPRM also proposed 

to require concurrent modification of 

the escape slide latch assemblies; 

concurrent inspection of the escape 

slides to determine the part number and 

service bulletin number stenciled on the 

escape slide girts, and replacement of 

the trigger housing on the regulator 

valve with an improved trigger housing 

if necessary; and concurrent 

replacement of the rod in the pilot valve 

regulator with a new, improved rod; as 

applicable. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. We 

considered the comments received from 

the three commenters. 

Support for the NPRM 

Boeing concurs with the contents of 

the proposed rule. 

Requests To Refer to Additional 

Goodrich Service Bulletin 

Goodrich, and Air Transport 

Association (ATA) on behalf of one of 

its members, American Airlines (AA), 

request that Boeing revise Boeing 

Service Bulletin 737–25–1491, dated 

April 23, 2007 (cited in the NPRM as the 

appropriate source of service 

information for accomplishing certain 

actions specified in the NPRM), to 

include a reference to Goodrich Service 

Bulletin 5A3307–25–339, Revision 2, 

dated March 31, 2004, as an alternative 

method of compliance (AMOC) to 

BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 25–308, 

dated January 21, 2000 (cited in the 

NPRM as a source of service information 

for accomplishing certain other actions 

specified in the NPRM). ATA and AA 

note that this service bulletin modifies 

the applicable slide to the latest 

standard offered by Goodrich. AA and 

Goodrich suggest that if Boeing Service 

Bulletin 737–25–1491, dated April 23, 

2007, is not revised, the AD should state 

that it does not apply to Goodrich part 

number (P/N) 5A3307–5 slides and that 

Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3307–25– 

339, Revision 2, dated March 31, 2004, 

be identified as an AMOC for the slide 

portion of the AD. 

We disagree with the request to revise 

the AD to refer to Goodrich Service 

Bulletin 5A3307–25–339, Revision 2, 

dated March 31, 2004. There are 

significant differences in the actions 

between BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 

25–308, dated January 21, 2000 and 

Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3307–25– 

339, Revision 2, dated March 31, 2004. 

Therefore, any request to use the 

procedures in Goodrich Service Bulletin 

5A3307–25–339 is best handled through 

the AMOC process. Under the 

provisions of paragraph (k) of the AD, 

we will consider requests for approval 

of an AMOC if sufficient data are 

submitted to substantiate that the 

change would provide an acceptable 

level of safety. We have not changed the 

AD in this regard. 

Request To Revise Unsafe Condition 

Goodrich notes that paragraph (g)(1) 

of the NPRM addresses an unsafe 


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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 230 / Friday, November 28, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 72321 

condition (escape slide latch assembly) 

that is not mentioned in paragraph (d), 

‘‘Unsafe Condition,’’ of the NPRM. 

Goodrich requests that we revise 

paragraph (d) to include a reference to 

the escape slide latch assembly. 

We disagree with the request to revise 

the unsafe condition to refer to the 

escape slide latch assembly. The unsafe 

condition addressed by this AD (failure 

of an escape slide to inflate when 

deployed) is addressed by the 

inspection and modification required by 

paragraph (f) of this AD. However, the 

inspection and modification cannot be 

done unless the applicable concurrent 

requirements addressed by both 

paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of the AD 

are done before or concurrently with the 

actions required by paragraph (f) of this 

AD. Those concurrent requirements, in 

paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, are part of 

addressing the unsafe condition only in 

that they enable accomplishment of 

paragraph (f) of this AD. We have not 

changed the AD in this regard. 

Request To Include Alternative Rod 

Replacement 

Goodrich notes that paragraph (g)(3) 

of the NPRM specifies rod replacement 

in the regulator valve in accordance 

with BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 25– 

308, dated January 21, 2000, for slides 

with P/Ns 5A3307–1 and –3. Goodrich 

states that the combination rod/bushing/ 

trigger housing replacement in Goodrich 

Service Bulletin 5A3307–25–339, 

Revision 2, dated March 31, 2004, 

provides an acceptable alternative rod 

replacement. Goodrich recommends 

that we include this alternative in the 

AD. 

We disagree with the request to revise 

the AD to refer to Goodrich Service 

Bulletin 5A3307–25–339, Revision 2, 

dated March 31, 2004. As stated 

previously, there are significant 

differences in the actions between BF 

Goodrich Service Bulletin 25–308, dated 

January 21, 2000 and Goodrich Service 

Bulletin 5A3307–25–339, Revision 2, 

dated March 31, 2004. Therefore, any 

request to use the procedures in 

Goodrich Service Bulletin 5A3307–25– 

339 is best handled through the AMOC 

process. Under the provisions of 

paragraph (k) of the AD, we will 

consider requests for approval of an 

AMOC if sufficient data are submitted to 

substantiate that the change would 

provide an acceptable level of safety. 

We have not changed the AD in this 

regard. 

Request To Revise Costs of Compliance 

ATA on behalf of AA states that the 

Costs of Compliance provided by the 

NPRM do not accurately reflect the true 

costs associated with the proposed 

modification. The commenters state that 

accomplishment of the minimum 

required service bulletins would accrue 

approximately $800 per airplane in 

material for modification of the slide in 

accordance with BFGoodrich Service 

Bulletin 25–308, dated January 21, 2000, 

and $200 in labor for verification of 

incorporation of the new latch 

assembly. 

We infer that the commenters would 

like us to revise the Costs of Compliance 

section of the NPRM. We disagree. We 

based our cost estimate of $516 per 

airplane for parts for the modification of 

the slide in accordance with 

BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 25–308, 

dated January 21, 2000, on information 

from the manufacturer. The commenters 

did not supply additional information to 

use as a basis for changing the Costs of 

Compliance section. Therefore, we do 

not find it necessary to change the AD 

in this regard. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting the AD 

as proposed. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 480 

airplanes of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it takes about 1 work-hour 

per product to comply with the 

inspection. The average labor rate is $80 

per work-hour. Based on these figures, 

we estimate the cost of this AD to U.S. 

operators to be $38,400 or $80 per 

product. 

The following table provides the 

estimated costs, at an average labor rate 

of $80 per work-hour, for U.S. operators 

to comply with the concurrent actions, 

if applicable. 

ESTIMATED CONCURRENT COSTS

Action Work hours Parts Cost per 

airplane Fleet cost 

Concurrent actions specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 737–25–1404 ............... 2 $1,424 $1,584 Up to $760,320. 

Concurrent actions specified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737– 

25–1475.

3 1,740 1,980 Up to $950,400. 

Concurrent actions specified in BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 25–308 ................. 3 516 756 Up to $362,880. 

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 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD 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. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify that this AD: 

(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. 

You can find our regulatory 

evaluation and the estimated costs of 

compliance in the AD Docket. 


dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with RULES
72322 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 230 / Friday, November 28, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

■ Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new AD: 

2008–24–08 Boeing: Amendment 39–15748. 

Docket No. FAA–2008–0176; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–NM–228–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective January 2, 2009. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 737– 

600, –700, –700C, –800 and –900 series 

airplanes, certificated in any category, as 

identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1491, dated April 23, 2007. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD results from reports that 

certain escape slides did not inflate when 

deployed or after the manual inflation cable 

was pulled. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent failure of an escape slide to inflate 

when deployed, which could result in the 

slide being unusable during an emergency 

evacuation and consequent injury to 

passengers or crewmembers. 

Compliance 

(e) Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

Inspection and Modification 

(f) Within 36 months after the effective 

date of this AD, inspect the escape slides for 

the forward and aft entry and service doors 

to determine the Goodrich part number (P/N) 

and service bulletin number stenciled on the 

escape slide girts, and modify the escape 

slide assemblies, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Service Bulletin 737–25–1491, dated April 

23, 2007. 

Note 1: Boeing Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1491, dated April 23, 2007, refers to 

Goodrich Service Bulletin 25–338, Revision 

1, dated March 31, 2004, as an additional 

source of service information for modifying 

the escape slide assemblies. 

Concurrent Requirements 

(g) Prior to or concurrently with 

accomplishing the actions required by 

paragraph (f) of this AD, do the applicable 

actions specified in paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), 

and (g)(3) of this AD. 

(1) For Model 737–600, –700, and –800 

series airplanes identified in Boeing Service 

Bulletin 737–25–1404, dated May 25, 2000, 

equipped with any escape slide having P/N 

5A3307–1, P/N 5A3307–3, P/N 5A3086–3, or 

P/N 5A3088–3: Modify the escape slide latch 

assembly in accordance with Boeing Service 

Bulletin 737–25–1404, dated May 25, 2000, 

as required by paragraph (a) of AD 2001–15– 

01; or Boeing Service Bulletin 737–25–1404, 

Revision 1, dated April 18, 2002. 

(2) For Model 737–600, –700, –700C, –800 

and –900 series airplanes equipped with any 

escape slide having P/N 5A3086–3 or P/N 

5A3088–3: Inspect the four escape slides to 

determine the part number and service 

bulletin number stenciled on the escape slide 

girts, and replace the trigger housing on the 

regulator valve with an improved trigger 

housing if BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 

5A3086/5A3088–25–302 is not stenciled on 

the girt, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1475, dated November 26, 2002. For 

airplanes identified as Group 2 in Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1475, dated November 26, 2002, a records 

review may be done in lieu of the inspection 

to determine the part number. 

Note 2: Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 737–25–1475, dated November 26, 

2002, refers to Goodrich Service Bulletin 

5A3086/5A3088–25–336, dated June 17, 

2002, as an additional source of service 

information for replacing the trigger housing 

on the regulator valve with a new, improved 

trigger housing. 

(3) For Model 737–600, –700, –700C, –800 

and –900 series airplanes equipped with any 

escape slide having P/N 5A3307–1, P/N 

5A3086–3, or P/N 5A3088–3; or P/N 

5A3307–3 and BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 

5A3307–25–309 stenciled on the girt: 

Replace the rod in the pilot valve regulator 

with a new, improved rod in accordance with 

BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 25–308, dated 

January 21, 2000. 

Terminating Action for AD 2001–15–01 

(h) For Model 737–600, –700, and –800 

series airplanes identified in Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 737–25–1403, 

dated May 4, 2000: Accomplishing the 

replacement of the regulator piston plug in 

the vespel piston with a new piston plug, 

installation of a new insolate pad on the 

valise, and removal of the trigger housing 

cover, in accordance with Goodrich Service 

Bulletin 25–338, Revision 1, dated March 31, 

2004, terminates the modification specified 

in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 

737–25–1403, dated May 4, 2000, as required 

by paragraph (a) of AD 2001–15–01. All other 

applicable actions required by paragraph (a) 

of AD 2001–15–01 must be fully complied 

with. 

(i) For Model 737–600, –700, and –800 

series airplanes: Installation of a cover 

assembly on the trigger housing of the 

inflation cylinder on the escape slides in 

accordance with Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 737–25–1403, Revision 1, 

dated November 29, 2001, terminates the 

corresponding action required by paragraph 

(a) of AD 2001–15–01. All other applicable 

actions required by paragraph (a) of AD 

2001–15–01 must be fully complied with. 

(j) For Model 737–600, –700, and –800 

series airplanes: Modification of the escape 

slide latch assembly in accordance with 

Boeing Service Bulletin 737–25–1404, 

Revision 1, dated April 18, 2002, terminates 

the corresponding action required by 

paragraph (a) of AD 2001–15–01. All other 

applicable actions required by paragraph (a) 

of AD 2001–15–01 must be fully complied 

with. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(k)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office, FAA, ATTN: Robert K. 

Hettman, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety 

and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM– 

150S, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone (425) 

917–6457, fax (425) 917–6590; has the 

authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 

requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. 

(2) To request a different method of 

compliance or a different compliance time 

for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 

39.19. Before using any approved AMOC on 

any airplane to which the AMOC applies, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector 

(PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District 

Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 

FSDO. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(l) You must use the applicable service 

information contained in Table 1 of this AD 

to do the actions required by this AD, unless 

the AD specifies otherwise. If you 

accomplish the terminating actions for AD 

2001–15–01 specified in this AD, you must 

use the applicable service information 

contained in Table 2 of this AD, unless the 

AD specifies otherwise. 

TABLE 1—MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE FOR ACTIONS REQUIRED IN THIS AD 

Service Bulletin Revision Date 

Boeing Service Bulletin 737–25–1404 ................................................................. Original .................................................. May 25, 2000. 

Boeing Service Bulletin 737–25–1404 ................................................................. 1 ............................................................ April 18, 2002. 

Boeing Service Bulletin 737–25–1491 ................................................................. Original .................................................. April 23, 2007. 


dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 230 / Friday, November 28, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 72323 

TABLE 1—MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE FOR ACTIONS REQUIRED IN THIS AD—Continued 

Service Bulletin Revision Date 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–25–1475 ..................................... Original .................................................. November 26, 2002. 

BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 25–308 ................................................................... Original .................................................. January 21, 2000. 

TABLE 2—MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE FOR THE OPTIONAL TERMINATING ACTION IN THIS AD 

Service Bulletin Revision Date 

Boeing Service Bulletin 737–25–1404 ................................................................. 1 ............................................................ April 18, 2002. 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–25–1403 ..................................... 1 ............................................................ November 29, 2001. 

Goodrich Service Bulletin 25–338 ........................................................................ 1 ............................................................ March 31, 2004. 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

the service information listed in Table 3 of 

this AD under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 

51. 

TABLE 3—NEW MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Service Bulletin Revision Date 

Boeing Service Bulletin 737–25–1404 ................................................................. 1 ............................................................ April 18, 2002. 

Boeing Service Bulletin 737–25–1491 ................................................................. Original .................................................. April 23, 2007. 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–25–1475 ..................................... Original .................................................. November 26, 2002. 

Goodrich Service Bulletin 25–308 ........................................................................ Original .................................................. January 21, 2000. 

(2) The Director of the Federal Register 

previously approved the incorporation by 

reference of Boeing Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1404, dated May 25, 2000, on August 28, 

2001 (66 FR 38361, July 24, 2001). 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 

Washington 98124–2207; telephone (206) 

544–9990; fax (206) 766–5682; e-mail 

DDCS@boeing.com; Internet https:// 

www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(4) You may review copies of the service 

information that is incorporated by reference 

at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington; or at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go 

to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/ 

code_of_federal_regulations/ 

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 16, 2008. 

Stephen P. Boyd, 

Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–27926 Filed 11–26–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2008–0910; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–NM–033–AD; Amendment 

39–15749; AD 2008–24–09] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 

A330–200, A330–300, A340–300, A340– 

500, and A340–600 Series Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are superseding an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) for 

the products listed above. This AD 

results from mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) 

originated by an aviation authority of 

another country to identify and correct 

an unsafe condition on an aviation 

product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 

condition as: 

An A330 operator reported a shroud box 

bottom panel missing during a routine 

inspection. The same panel detached from an 

A330 aircraft during take-off, causing damage 

to the surrounding structure and to the 

Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer (THS) tip 

fairing. 

The inspection indicated the blind rivets 

used to attach the panel worked loose 

causing fatigue damage with crack 

propagation through the fastener line 

resulting in panel detachment * * *. 

* * * Three additional events of panel loss 

have been experienced on in service aircraft 

already inspected in accordance with the AD 

requirements * * *. 

We are issuing this AD to require 

actions to correct the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

January 2, 2009. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of January 2, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov or in person at the 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Docket Operations, M–30, West 

Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–1138; fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

NPRM was published in the Federal 

Register on August 26, 2008 (73 FR 


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