[Federal Register: December 8, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 235)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 68306-68308]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08de03-11]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2003-NM-82-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-100, 747-200B, 747-
200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and 747 SR Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 747-100, 747-
200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and 747
SR series airplanes. This proposal would require inspection of fire
extinguisher bottles in the engine and the auxiliary power unit (APU)
to determine the part number; and replacement of the fire extinguisher
bottles with new fire extinguisher bottles, if necessary. This action
is necessary to prevent fractured discharge heads, which could cause
the fire extinguishing agent to leak, which could result in an
uncontrolled engine fire that could spread to the strut and wing, or an
uncontrolled APU fire that could spread to the airplane structure. This
action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Comments must be received by January 22, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-NM-82-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232.
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 9-anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must
contain ``Docket No. 2003-NM-82-AD'' in the subject line and need not
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or
ASCII text.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sulmo Mariano, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4086; telephone
(425) 917-6501; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Submit comments using the following format:
[sbull] Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
[sbull] For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed
AD is being requested.
[sbull] Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each
request.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 2003-NM-82-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 2003-NM-82-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The FAA has received reports of fractures of the discharge heads on
certain fire extinguisher bottles in the engine and auxiliary power
unit (APU) of Model 747-400 series airplanes. In one case, the
discharge head fractured during installation of the fire extinguisher.
In another case, two fire extinguisher bottles discharged during a
tailpipe fire were found to have fractured discharge heads. Four other
discharge heads were removed from service after an operator performed
an x-ray inspection and found hairline cracks. The cause of the
cracking and fractures was traced to discharge heads that were
manufactured from a cast material, which had sharp edges or burrs on
the retaining rings. These sharp edges or burrs caused the discharge
head to seat incorrectly. When the discharge head nuts were tightened,
the discharge heads fractured at the retaining ring groove. Fractured
discharge heads could cause the fire extinguishing agent to leak from
the discharge head. As a consequence, there would not be enough fire
extinguishing
[[Page 68307]]
agent to extinguish a fire in the engine or APU fire zone. This
condition, if not corrected, could result in fractured heads which
could cause the fire extinguishing agent to leak, which could result in
an uncontrolled engine fire that could spread to the strut and wing, or
an uncontrolled APU fire that could spread to the airplane structure.
The subject area on certain Model 747-100, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-
200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and 747 SR series airplanes
is almost identical to that on the affected Model 747-400 series
airplanes. Therefore, those Model 747-400 series airplanes may be
subject to the same unsafe condition revealed on the Model 747-100,
747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and
747 SR series airplanes.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
The FAA has reviewed and approved Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
747-26A2272, dated January 16, 2003, which describes procedures for
inspecting the fire extinguisher bottles in the engine and APU to
determine the part number; and, if necessary, replacement of the fire
extinguisher bottles with new fire extinguisher bottles that have
discharge heads machined from forged rather than cast material.
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin is
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition.
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-26A2272 refers to Kidde Aerospace
Service Bulletin A820400-26-432, dated October 19, 2002; and Kidde
Aerospace Service Bulletin A830800-26-433, dated October 19, 2002; as
additional sources of service information for accomplishment of the
inspection and replacement, if necessary, for Model 747-100, 747-200B,
747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and 747 SR
series airplanes.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the
proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in
the Boeing service bulletin described previously.
Cost Impact
There are approximately 346 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 47 airplanes of U.S. registry
would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately
1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection, and
that the average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these
figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $3,055, or $65 per airplane.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in
the future if this proposed 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 proposed herein 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this 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) if promulgated, 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 copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Boeing: Docket 2003-NM-82-AD.
Applicability: Boeing Model 747-100, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-
200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and 747 SR series
airplanes, as listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-26A2272,
dated January 16, 2003; certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent fractured discharge heads, which could cause the fire
extinguishing agent to leak, which could result in an uncontrolled
engine fire that could spread to the strut and wing, or an
uncontrolled auxiliary power unit (APU) fire that could spread to
the airplane structure, accomplish the following:
Inspection and Replacement
(a) Within two years after the effective date of this AD:
Perform an inspection to determine the part number (P/N) of the fire
extinguisher bottles in the engine and the APU per the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
26A2272, dated January 16, 2003.
Note 1: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-26A2272 refers to
Kidde Aerospace Service Bulletin A820400-26-432, dated October 19,
2002; and Kidde Aerospace Service Bulletin A830800-26-433, dated
October 19, 2002; as additional sources of service information for
accomplishment of the inspection and replacement, if necessary, for
Model 747-100, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-
400D, 747-400F, and 747 SR series airplanes.
(1) If no ``Pre SB A820400-26-432'' P/N listed in Table 2 of
Kidde Aerospace Service Bulletin A820400-26-432, dated October 19,
2002, is found installed; and if no ``Pre SB A830800-26-433'' P/N
listed in Table 2 of Kidde Aerospace Service Bulletin A830800-26-
433, dated October 19, 2002 is found installed; no further action is
required by this paragraph.
(2) If any ``Pre SB A820400-26-432'' P/N listed in Table 2 of
Kidde Aerospace Service Bulletin A820400-26-432, dated October 19,
2002 is found installed; or if any ``Pre SB A830800-26-433'' P/N
listed in Table 2 of Kidde Aerospace Service Bulletin A830800-26-
433, dated October 19, 2002 is found installed, prior to further
flight, replace the fire extinguisher bottle with a new fire
extinguisher bottle having the ``Post SB'' P/N listed in Table 2 of
the applicable Kidde Aerospace service bulletin. Do the actions per
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
747-26A2272, dated January 16, 2003.
[[Page 68308]]
Parts Installation
(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install
on any airplane a Kidde Aerospace fire extinguisher bottle with any
``Pre SB A820400-26-432'' P/N listed in Table 2 of Kidde Aerospace
Service Bulletin A820400-26-432, dated October 19, 2002; or any
``Pre SB A830800-26-433'' P/N listed in Table 2 of Kidde Aerospace
Service Bulletin A830800-26-433, dated October 19, 2002.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(c) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, is authorized to approve
alternative methods of compliance (AMOCs) for this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 1, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30336 Filed 12-5-03; 8:45 am]
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