Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 182 / Wednesday, September 21, 2005 / Proposed Rules 55321 

Related Information 

(m) Canadian airworthiness directive CF–

1998–14R4, dated June 1, 2004, also 

addresses the subject of this AD. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 8, 2005. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–18794 Filed 9–20–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2005–22471; Directorate 

Identifier 2005–NM–142–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing 

Model 757 Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Boeing Model 757 airplanes. This 

proposed AD would require repetitive 

measurements of the freeplay of each of 

the three power control units (PCUs) 

that move the rudder; repetitive 

lubrication of rudder components; and 

corrective actions if necessary. This 

proposed AD results from a report of 

freeplay-induced vibration of the 

rudder. We are proposing this AD to 

prevent excessive vibration of the 

airframe during flight, which could 

result in divergent flutter and loss of 

control of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 7, 2005. 

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. 

Contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 

Washington 98124–2207, for the service 

information identified in this proposed 

AD. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dennis Stremick, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98055–4056; telephone 

(425) 917–6450; fax (425) 917–6590. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any relevant 

written data, views, or arguments 

regarding this proposed AD. Include the 

docket number ‘‘FAA–2005–22471; 

Directorate Identifier 2005–NM–142–

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 that 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 may 

review DOT’s complete Privacy Act 

Statement in the Federal Register 

published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 

19477–78), or you may visit http:// 

dms.dot.gov. 

Examining the Docket 

You may 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 Docket 

Management System receives them. 

Discussion 

We have received a report of freeplayinduced flutter of the rudder during 

flight on a Boeing Model 757–200 series 

airplane. Excessive corrosion and wear 

of components and/or interfaces allows 

excessive freeplay movement of the 

control surfaces and can cause excessive 

vibration of the airframe during flight. 

The point of transition from vibration to 

divergent flutter is unknown. When 

divergent flutter occurs, the amplitude 

of each cycle or oscillation is larger than 

the last one and the surface can quickly 

reach its structural limits. This 

condition, if not corrected, could result 

in loss of control of the airplane. 

Relevant Service Information 

We have reviewed Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 757–27–

0148, dated June 16, 2005 (for Model 

757–200, –200CB, and –200PF series 

airplanes); and Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 757–27–0149, dated 

June 16, 2005 (for Model 757–300 series 

airplanes). The service bulletins 

describe procedures for measuring the 

freeplay for each of the three power 

control units (PCUs) that move the 

rudder. If the freeplay exceeds certain 

specified limits, the service bulletins 

describe procedures for doing 

applicable related investigative and 

corrective actions. These related 

investigative and corrective actions 

include doing a general visual 

inspection for wear of the affected 

components such as the rudder hinges, 

reaction link, reaction link bearings, 

hanger link, rod end bearings, and 

rudder hinge bolts, bearings, and 

bushings; and repairing or replacing the 

affected part if necessary. The corrective 

actions also include repeating the 

freeplay measurement and any related 

investigative and corrective actions 

until the maximum rudder freeplay is 

within acceptable limits. The service 

bulletins also describe procedures for 

repetitive lubrication of the rudder 

hinge, rudder PCU bearings, PCU 

reaction links, hanger links, and rod end 

bearings. The service bulletins note that 

if the freeplay measurement and a 

lubrication cycle are due at the same 

time, the freeplay measurement must be 

satisfactory before the lubrication is 

done. Accomplishing the actions 

specified in the service information is 

intended to adequately address the 

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 airplanes of this same 

type design. For this reason, we are 

proposing this AD, which would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

55322 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 182 / Wednesday, September 21, 2005 / Proposed Rules 

the service information described 

previously. 

Costs of Compliance 

There are about 1,040 airplanes of the 

affected design in the worldwide fleet. 

The following table provides the 

estimated costs for U.S. operators to 

comply with this proposed AD. No parts 

are necessary to accomplish either 

action. 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Work hours 

Average 

labor rate 

per hour ($) 

Cost per airplane ($) 

Number of 

U.S.- registered airplanes 

Fleet cost ($) 

Freeplay measurement ............. 4 65 260, per measurement cycle .... 679 176,540, per measurement 

cycle. 

Lubrication ................................. 8 65 520, per lubrication cycle ......... 679 353,080, per lubrication cycle. 

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 

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 and placed it in the 

AD docket. 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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13 

by adding the following new 

airworthiness directive (AD): 

Boeing: Docket No. FAA–2005–22471; 

Directorate Identifier 2005–NM–142–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) The FAA must receive comments on 

this AD action by November 7, 2005. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to all Boeing Model 

757–200, –200PF, –200CB, and –300 series 

airplanes, certificated in any category. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD results from a report of 

freeplay-induced vibration of the rudder. We 

are issuing this AD to prevent excessive 

vibration of the airframe during flight, which 

could result in divergent flutter and loss of 

control of the airplane. 

Compliance 

(e) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Service Bulletin References 

(f) The term ‘‘service bulletin,’’ as used in 

this AD, means the Accomplishment 

Instructions of the following service 

bulletins, as applicable: 

(1) For Model 757–200, –200PF, –200CB 

series airplanes: Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 757–27–0148, dated June 16, 

2005; and 

(2) For Model 757–300 series airplanes: 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 

757–27–0149, dated June 16, 2005. 

Repetitive Measurements 

(g) Within 18 months after the effective 

date of this AD: Measure the freeplay for each 

of the three power control units that move 

the rudder. Repeat the measurement 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12,000 

flight hours or 36 months, whichever occurs 

first. Do all actions required by this 

paragraph in accordance with the applicable 

service bulletin. 

Related Investigative and Corrective Actions 

(h) If any measurement found in paragraph 

(g) of this AD is outside certain limits 

specified in the service bulletin, before 

further flight: Do the applicable related 

investigative and corrective actions in 

accordance with the service bulletin. 

Repetitive Lubrication 

(i) Within 9 months after the effective date 

of this AD: Lubricate the rudder components 

specified in the applicable service bulletin. 

Repeat the lubrication thereafter at the 

applicable interval in paragraph (i)(1) or (i)(2) 

of this AD. Do all actions required by this 

paragraph in accordance with the applicable 

service bulletin. 

(1) For airplanes on which BMS 3–33 

grease is not used: 3,000 flight hours or 9 

months, whichever occurs first. 

(2) For airplanes on which BMS 3–33 

grease is used: 6,000 flight hours or 18 

months, whichever occurs first. 

Concurrent Repetitive Cycles 

(j) If a freeplay measurement required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD and a lubrication 

cycle required by paragraph (i) of this AD are 

due at the same time or will be accomplished 

during the same maintenance visit, the 

freeplay measurement and applicable related 

investigative and corrective actions must be 

done before the lubrication is accomplished. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(k)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 182 / Wednesday, September 21, 2005 / Proposed Rules 55323 

authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 

requested in accordance with the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

(2) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair 

required by this AD, if it is approved by an 

Authorized Representative for the Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes Delegation Option 

Authorization Organization who 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. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 7, 2005. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–18795 Filed 9–20–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2005–22488; Directorate 

Identifier 2005–NM–151–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing 

Model 767–200 and –300 Series 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to revise 

an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 

that applies to certain Boeing Model 

767–200 and –300 series airplanes. The 

existing AD currently requires repetitive 

inspections to detect wear or damage of 

the door latches and disconnect 

housings in the off-wing escape slide 

compartments, and replacement of any 

discrepant component with a new 

component. This proposed AD would 

revise the applicability of the existing 

AD to refer to a later revision of the 

referenced service bulletin, which 

removes airplanes that are not subject to 

the identified unsafe condition. This 

proposed AD results from reports of 

worn and damaged door latches and 

disconnect housings in the off-wing 

escape slide compartments. We are 

proposing this AD to ensure deployment 

of an escape slide during an emergency 

evacuation. Non-deployment of an 

escape slide during an emergency could 

slow down the evacuation of the 

airplane and result in injury to 

passengers or flightcrew. We are also 

proposing this AD to detect damaged 

disconnect housings in the off-wing 

escape slide compartments, which 

could result in unexpected deployment 

of an escape slide during maintenance, 

and consequent injury to maintenance 

personnel. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 7, 2005. 

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. 

Contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, PO Box 3707, Seattle, 

Washington 98124–2207, for service 

information identified in this proposed 

AD. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Susan Rosanske, Aerospace Engineer, 

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM–

130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 

Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98055–4056; telephone 

(425) 917–6448; fax (425) 917–6590. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any relevant 

written data, views, or arguments 

regarding this proposed AD. Send your 

comments to an address listed in the 

ADDRESSES section. Include docket 

number ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2005–22488; 

Directorate Identifier 2005–NM–151–

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 that Web 

site, anyone can find and read the 

comments in a docket, including the 

name of the individual who sent the 

comment (or signed the comment on 

behalf of an association, business, labor 

union, etc.). You may review the DOT’s 

complete Privacy Act Statement in the 

Federal Register published on April 11, 

2000 (65 FR 19477–78), or you may visit 

http://dms.dot.gov. 

Examining the Docket 

You may 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 Docket 

Management System receives them. 

Discussion 

On June 1, 2000, we issued AD 2000–

11–19, amendment 39–11767 (65 FR 

37015, June 13, 2000), for certain Boeing 

Model 767–200 and –300 series 

airplanes. That AD requires repetitive 

inspections to detect wear or damage of 

the door latches and disconnect 

housings in the off-wing escape slide 

compartments, and replacement of any 

discrepant component with a new 

component. That AD resulted from 

reports of worn and damaged door 

latches and disconnect housings in the 

off-wing escape slide compartments. We 

issued that AD to ensure deployment of 

an escape slide during an emergency 

evacuation. Non-deployment of an 

escape slide during an emergency could 

slow down the evacuation of the 

airplane and result in injury to 

passengers or flightcrew. We also issued 

that AD to detect damaged disconnect 

housings in the off-wing escape slide 

compartments, which could result in 

unexpected deployment of an escape 

slide during maintenance, and 

consequent injury to maintenance 

personnel. 

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued 

Since we issued AD 2000–11–19, we 

have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 

767–25A0260, Revision 1, dated January 

25, 2001; Revision 2, dated August 26, 

2004; and Revision 3, dated July 7, 2005 

(AD 2000–11–19 refers to the original 

issue of the service bulletin as the 

appropriate source of service 

information for accomplishing the 

required actions). The inspections and 

corrective actions specified in Revisions 

1 through 3 are identical to those in the 

original issue of the service bulletin.