DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-0223; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-161-AD] RIN
2120-AA64
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; Goodrich Evacuation Systems Approved Under Tech-
nical Standard Order (TSO) TSO-C69b and Installed on Airbus Model A330-200
and -300 Series Airplanes, Model A340-200 and -300 Series Airplanes, and
Model A340-541 and -642 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD)
that applies to Goodrich evacuation systems approved under TSO-C69b and
installed on certain Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes, Model A340
-200 and -300 series airplanes, and Model A340-541 and -642 airplanes. The
existing AD currently requires inspecting to determine the part number of
the pressure relief valves on the affected Goodrich evacuation systems,
and corrective action if necessary. Since we issued that AD, we have
received reports that during workshop testing, certain pressure relief
valves, which were required by the existing AD, did not seal and allowed
the pressure in slides/rafts to fall below the minimum raft mode pressure
for the unit. This proposed AD would require inspecting to determine the
part number of the pressure relief valves on the affected Goodrich
evacuation systems and replacing certain pressure relief valves. This
proposed AD would also add airplanes to the applicability. We are
proposing this AD to prevent loss of pressure in the escape slides/rafts
after an emergency evacuation, which could result in inadequate buoyancy
to support the raft's passenger capacity during ditching and increase the
chance for injury to raft passengers.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 5, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Goodrich
Corporation, Aircraft Interior Products, ATTN: Technical Publications,
3414 South Fifth Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85040; phone: 602-243-2270; e-
mail: george.yribarren@goodrich.com; Internet: http://www.goodrich.com/
TechPubs; for service information identified in this proposed AD. You may
review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227
-1221.
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 proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any
comments received, and other information. The street address for the
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracy Ton, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Saf-
ety/Mechanical and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150L, FAA, Los Angel-
es Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood,
California 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5352; fax: 562-627-5210; e-mail:
Tracy.Ton@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
COMMENTS INVITED
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about
this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADD-
RESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2011-0223; Directorate Identifier
2010-NM-161-AD" at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite
comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy
aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
DISCUSSION
On October 27, 2007, we issued AD 2007-23-01, Amendment 39-15247 (72 FR
62568 November 6, 2007), for Goodrich evacuation systems approved under
TSO-C69b and installed on certain Model A330-200 and -300 series
airplanes, Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes, and Model A340-541
and -642 airplanes. That AD requires inspecting to determine the part
number of the pressure relief valves on the affected Goodrich evacuation
systems, and corrective action if necessary. That AD resulted from a
report indicating that, during maintenance testing, the pressure relief
valves on the affected Goodrich evacuation systems did not seal when
activated, which caused the pressure in the escape slide/raft to drop
below the minimum allowable raft mode pressure. We issued that AD to
prevent loss of pressure in the escape slides/rafts after an emergency
evacuation, which could result in inadequate buoyancy to support the
raft's passenger capacity during ditching and increase the chance for
injury to raft passengers.
ACTIONS SINCE EXISTING AD WAS ISSUED
Since we issued AD 2007-23-01, we have received reports that during
workshop testing the pressure relief valves required by AD 2007-23-01 did
not seal and allowed the pressure in some Model A330 and A340 series
airplane slides/rafts to fall below the minimum raft mode pressure for the
unit.
RELEVANT SERVICE INFORMATION
We reviewed Goodrich Service Bulletin 7A1508/09/10/39-25-373, Revision 2,
dated May 8, 2009; and Goodrich Service Bulletin 4A3928/4A3934-25-374,
Revision 1, dated May 8, 2009. The service information describes, among
other things, procedures for replacing certain pressure relief valves with
new improved valves for applicable airplanes and doors as shown in the
following table, and for marking the system identification placard on the
girt.
SERVICE BULLETIN AIRPLANE MODEL VALVE LOCATIONS
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SERVICE BULLETIN AFFECTED AIRPLANES DOORS
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Goodrich Service Bulletin Airbus Model A330-200 Doors 1, 2, 3,
7A1508/09/10/39-25-373. and -300 series and 4.
airplanes, Model
A340-200 and
-300 series airplanes.
Goodrich Service Bulletin Airbus Model Doors 1, 2, and 4.
7A1508/09/10/39-25-373. A340-541 and
-642 airplanes.
Goodrich Service Bulletin Airbus Model Door 3.
4A3928/4A3934-25-374. A340-541 and
-642 airplanes.
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FAA'S DETERMINATION
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant information
and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to
exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
PROPOSED AD REQUIREMENTS
This proposed AD would retain none of the requirements of AD 2007- 23-01.
This proposed AD would require inspecting to determine the part number of
the pressure relief valves on the affected Goodrich evacuation systems,
replacing certain pressure relief valves with new improved valves, and
marking the system identification placard on the girt of the replaced
part. This proposed AD would also add Airbus Model A330-223F and -243F
airplanes to the applicability.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PROPOSED AD AND THE SERVICE INFORMATION
Goodrich Service Bulletin 4A3928/4A3934-25-374, Revision 1, dated May 8,
2009, specifies replacing certain firing pin cables with an improved
firing pin cable, which is not included in this proposed AD.
COSTS OF COMPLIANCE
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 41 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
ESTIMATED COSTS
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PARTS COST PER COST ON U.S.
ACTION LABOR COST COST PRODUCT OPERATORS
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Inspection to det- 1 work-hour x $85 $0 $85 Up to $3,485.
ermine part numbers. per hour = $85.
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We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements that
would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. We have
no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these
replacements.
ON-CONDITION COSTS
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ACTION LABOR COST PARTS COST COST PER PRODUCT
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Valve replacement. 1 work-hour x $85
per hour = $85. $775 $860 per slide.
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According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed AD may
be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected individuals.
As a result, we have included all costs in our cost estimate.
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 devel-
op 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 Pro-
cedures (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 Reg-
ulatory Flexibility Act.
LIST OF SUBJECTS IN 14 CFR PART 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference,
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.
SEC. 39.13 [AMENDED]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing airworthiness directive (AD)
2007-23-01, Amendment 39-15247 (72 FR 62568, November 6, 2007), and
adding the following new AD: