Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 174 / Thursday, September 8, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 61999 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–8135; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–NM–106–AD; Amendment 

39–18636; AD 2016–18–06] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 767–200, 

–300, and –400ER series airplanes. This 

AD was prompted by multiple reports of 

uncommanded escape slide inflation. 

This AD requires modifying the escape 

slide regulator valves of the forwardentry door, forward-service door, aftentry door, and aft-service door, and as 

applicable, modifying the escape slide 

regulator valves of the mid-entry door 

and mid-service door. We are issuing 

this AD to prevent out-of-tolerance 

trigger mechanism components (sector 

and sear) in the escape slide regulator 

valves, which can produce insufficient 

trigger engagement and reduced pull 

force values, possibly leading to 

uncommanded deployment of the slide 

during normal airplane maintenance or 

operation. This condition could result 

in injury to passengers and crew, 

damage to equipment, and the slide 

becoming unusable in an emergency 

evacuation. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 13, 

2016. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of October 13, 2016. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes, 

Attention: Data & Services Management, 

P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65, Seattle, WA 

98124–2207; telephone: 206–544–5000, 

extension 1; fax: 206–766–5680; Internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may view this referenced service 

information at the FAA, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, WA. For information on 

the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. It is also 

available on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

8135. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

8135; 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 (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

Docket 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: 

Caspar Wang, Aerospace Engineer, 

Cabin Safety and Environmental 

Systems Branch, ANM–150S, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6414; fax: 

425–917–6590; email: Caspar.Wang@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain The Boeing Company 

Model 767–200, –300, and –400ER 

series airplanes. The NPRM published 

in the Federal Register on January 4, 

2016 (81 FR 24) (‘‘the NPRM’’). The 

NPRM was prompted by multiple 

reports of uncommanded escape slide 

inflation. The NPRM proposed to 

require modifying the escape slide 

regulator valves of the forward-entry 

door, forward-service door, aft-entry 

door, and aft-service door, and as 

applicable, modifying the escape slide 

regulator valves of the mid-entry door 

and mid-service door. We are issuing 

this AD to prevent out-of-tolerance 

trigger mechanism components (sector 

and sear) in the escape slide regulator 

valves, which can produce insufficient 

trigger engagement and reduced pull 

force values, possibly leading to 

uncommanded deployment of the slide 

during normal airplane maintenance or 

operation. This condition could result 

in injury to passengers and crew, 

damage to equipment, and the slide 

becoming unusable in an emergency 

evacuation. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the NPRM and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. Air Astana, 

Air Line Pilots Association International 

(ALPA), and United Airlines supported 

the NPRM. 

Request To Clarify Reference to the 

Escape Slide Regulator Valve 

American Airlines (AAL) and Boeing 

requested that we clarify that the NPRM 

is applicable to the regulator valve 

associated with the escape slide 

assembly and not the slide door. The 

commenters pointed out that without 

clarification, the regulator valve could 

be misconstrued to be associated with 

the door system pressure cylinder 

assembly or the emergency power assist 

system (EPAS). 

We agree to clarify the references to 

the escape slide regulator valve. We 

have revised the preamble in this final 

rule and paragraphs (e) and (g) of this 

AD to refer to the escape slide regulator 

valve. 

Request To Revise Paragraph (g) of the 

Proposed AD 

Air New Zealand (ANZ) requested 

that we revise paragraph (g) of the 

proposed AD or add an additional 

paragraph to clarify that operators are 

required only to modify escape slide 

regulator valves that have not been 

previously modified as specified in UTC 

Aerospace Systems Service Bulletin 

130104–25–432 or 4A3939–25–434. 

ANZ stated that paragraph (g) of the 

proposed AD would require all escape 

slide regulator valves on affected 

airplanes to be removed and modified as 

specified in Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 767–25–0548, Revision 

1, dated April 23, 2015. ANZ also 

pointed out that if before or during the 

accomplishment of the actions specified 

in Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 767–25–0548, Revision 1, dated 

April 23, 2015, a determination could be 

made (by reviewing records or checking 

the part markings on the girt bar) that 

some of the escape slide regulator valves 

are already modified, as specified in 

UTC Aerospace Systems Service 

Bulletin 130104–25–432; or Service 

Bulletin 4A3939–25–434, then no 

additional work should be required on 

the modified escape slide regulator 

valves. 

We agree that escape slide regulator 

valves that have already been modified 

do not need to be removed and modified 

again. Boeing Service Bulletin 767–25– 

0548, dated November 5, 2014, included 

in paragraph (h) of this AD, references 

UTC Aerospace Systems Service 

Bulletin 130104–25–432; and Service 

Bulletin 4A3939–25–434 for the 

modification. As allowed by the phrase, 

‘‘unless already done,’’ in paragraph (f) 

of this AD, if the requirements of this 


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62000 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 174 / Thursday, September 8, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 

AD have already been accomplished, 

this AD does not require that those 

actions be repeated. Therefore, 

paragraph (g) this AD has not been 

changed in this regard. 

Request To Reduce the Proposed 

Compliance Time 

ALPA indicated its full support for 

the intent of the NPRM, but requested 

that we reduce the proposed 42-month 

compliance time for the modification of 

the escape slide regulator valves. ALPA 

pointed out that the risk of an 

uncommanded deployment is high and 

believes that the compliance time 

should be reduced in the interest of 

safety. ALPA provided no specific new 

compliance time. 

We disagree with the request to 

reduce the 42-month compliance time. 

In developing an appropriate 

compliance time, we considered the 

safety implications, parts availability, 

and normal maintenance schedules for 

timely accomplishment of modification 

of the escape slide regulator valves. 

Further, we arrived at the proposed 

compliance time with operator and 

manufacturer concurrence. 

Additionally, ALPA did not provide any 

additional data to support a shorter 

compliance time. In consideration of all 

of these factors, we determined that the 

compliance time, as proposed, 

represents an appropriate interval in 

which the escape slide regulator valves 

can be modified in a timely manner 

within the fleet, while still maintaining 

an adequate level of safety. Most ADs, 

including this one, permit operators to 

accomplish the requirements of an AD 

at a time earlier than the specified 

compliance time; therefore, an operator 

may choose to modify the escape slide 

regulator valves before the 42-month 

compliance time. If additional data are 

presented that would justify a shorter 

compliance time, we may consider 

further rulemaking on this issue. We 

have not changed this AD in this regard. 

Request To Revise References in 

Certain Service Information 

AAL requested that we revise 

references included in UTC Aerospace 

Systems Service Bulletin 130104–25– 

432, dated August 11, 2014. AAL stated 

that UTC Aerospace Systems Service 

Bulletin 130104–25–432, dated August 

11, 2014, contains internal references to 

the UTC Aerospace Systems Component 

Maintenance Manual (CMM) that are 

incorrect and reference an old revision 

of the UTC Aerospace Systems CMM 

with different paragraph references. 

We agree that the references included 

in UTC Aerospace Systems Service 

Bulletin 130104–25–432, dated August 

11, 2014, are incorrect. Since the 

specific references included in UTC 

Aerospace Systems Service Bulletin 

130104–25–432, dated August 11, 2014, 

are not required for compliance with 

this AD, we have not changed the AD 

in this regard; however, we have 

identified this discrepancy to Boeing 

and UTC Aerospace Systems. 

Effect of Winglets on Accomplishment 

of the Proposed Actions 

Aviation Partners Boeing stated that 

the installation of winglets per STC 

ST01920SE does not affect the 

accomplishment of the manufacturer’s 

service instructions. 

We agree with the commenter that 

STC ST01920SE does not affect the 

accomplishment of the manufacturer’s 

service instructions. Therefore, the 

installation of STC ST01920SE does not 

affect the ability to accomplish the 

actions required by this AD. We have 

not changed this 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 this AD 

with the changes described previously 

and minor editorial changes. We have 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM for 

correcting the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

We also determined that these 

changes will not increase the economic 

burden on any operator or increase the 

scope of this AD. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 767–25– 

0548, Revision 1, dated April 23, 2015. 

The service information describes 

procedures for modifying the escape 

slide regulator valves of the forwardentry door, forward-service door, aftentry door, aft-service door, mid-entry 

door, and mid-service door. The 

modification includes replacing the 

existing trigger mechanism sector and 

sear of the escape slide regulator valve 

with new trigger mechanism sector and 

sear. This service information is 

reasonably available because the 

interested parties have access to it 

through their normal course of business 

or by the means identified in the 

ADDRESSES section. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 302 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost 

per product 

Cost on 

U.S. operators 

Replacement of trigger mechanism components—forward and aft-entry/service 

doors.

15 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,275 ..... $2,236 $3,511 $1,060,322 

Replacement of trigger mechanism components—mid-entry/mid-service doors.8 work-hours × $85 per hour = $680 .......... 1,118 1,798 542,996 

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. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 174 / Thursday, September 8, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 62001 

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), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(4) 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. 

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 airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

2016–18–06 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–18636; Docket No. 

FAA–2015–8135; Directorate Identifier 

2015–NM–106–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective October 13, 2016. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to The Boeing Company 

Model 767–200, –300, and –400ER series 

airplanes, certificated in any category, as 

identified in Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 767–25–0548, Revision 1, 

dated April 23, 2015. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 25, Equipment/furnishings. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by multiple reports 

of uncommanded escape slide inflation. We 

are issuing this AD to prevent out-oftolerance trigger mechanism components 

(sector and sear) in the escape slide regulator 

valves, which can produce insufficient 

trigger engagement and reduced pull force 

values, possibly leading to uncommanded 

deployment of the slide during normal 

airplane maintenance or operation. This 

condition could result in injury to passengers 

and crew, damage to equipment, and the 

slide becoming unusable in an emergency 

evacuation. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Replacement of the Trigger Mechanism 

Sector and Sear 

Within 42 months after the effective date 

of this AD, modify the escape slide regulator 

valves of the forward-entry door, forwardservice door, aft-entry door, and aft-service 

door, and as applicable, modify the escape 

slide regulator valves of the mid-entry door 

and mid-service door, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 767–25– 

0548, Revision 1, dated April 23, 2015. 

(h) Credit for Previous Actions 

This paragraph provides credit for the 

modification required by paragraph (g) of this 

AD, if the modification was performed before 

the effective date of this AD using Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 767–25– 

0548, dated November 5, 2014. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the 

authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 

requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 

send your request to your principal inspector 

or local Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. Information may 

be emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOCRequests@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair 

required by this AD if it is approved by the 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that has 

been authorized by the Manager, Seattle 

ACO, to make those findings. For a repair 

method to be approved, the repair must meet 

the certification basis of the airplane, and the 

approval must specifically refer to this AD. 

(4) For service information that contains 

steps that are labeled as Required for 

Compliance (RC), the provisions of 

paragraphs (i)(4)(i) and (i)(4)(ii) apply. 

(i) The steps labeled as RC, including 

substeps under an RC step and any figures 

identified in an RC step, must be done to 

comply with the AD. An AMOC is required 

for any deviations to RC steps, including 

substeps and identified figures. 

(ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be 

deviated from using accepted methods in 

accordance with the operator’s maintenance 

or inspection program without obtaining 

approval of an AMOC, provided the RC steps, 

including substeps and identified figures, can 

still be done as specified, and the airplane 

can be put back in an airworthy condition. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Caspar Wang, Aerospace Engineer, 

Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems 

Branch, ANM–150S, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; phone: 425– 

917–6414; fax: 425–917–6590; email: 

Caspar.Wang@faa.gov. 

(2) Service information identified in this 

AD that is not incorporated by reference is 

available at the addresses specified in 

paragraphs (k)(3) and (k)(4) of this AD. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 767–25–0548, Revision 1, dated 

April 23, 2015. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(3) For Boeing service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & 

Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 

2H–65, Seattle, WA 98124–2207; telephone: 

206–544–5000, extension 1; fax: 206–766– 

5680; Internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057– 

3356. For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

(5) You may view this service information 

that is incorporated by reference 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/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 

24, 2016. 

John P. Piccola, Jr., 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2016–21152 Filed 9–7–16; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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