[Federal Register: August 9, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 152)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 46072-46074]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09au05-7]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-21088; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-267-AD;
Amendment 39-14215; AD 2005-16-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series airplanes. This AD
requires an inspection for corrosion and cracks of the station 980
upper deck floor beam, and repair and related investigative actions if
necessary. This AD results from reports of corrosion under the cart
lift threshold at the station 980 upper deck floor beam. We are issuing
this AD to detect and correct such corrosion, which could result in a
cracked or broken floor beam, extensive damage to adjacent structure,
and possible rapid decompression of the airplane.
DATES: Effective September 13, 2005.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of September 13,
2005.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207, for service information identified in this AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ivan Li, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe
Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6437;
fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 street address stated in the
ADDRESSES section.
Discussion
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Boeing Model
747-400 and 747-400D series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on May 3, 2005 (70 FR 22826). That NPRM proposed to
require an inspection for corrosion and cracks of the station 980 upper
deck floor beam, and repair and related investigative actions if
necessary.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comment that has been
received on the NPRM.
Support for the Proposed AD
The commenter supports the NPRM.
Explanation of Change to Paragraph (f)(2)
We have revised paragraph (f)(2) of this AD to correct a
typographical error that resulted in an incorrect paragraph reference.
Clarification of Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
We have revised paragraph (h)(2) of this AD to clarify the AMOC
requirements.
Clarification of Compliance Time
We have made a minor editorial change to clarify the compliance
time in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 363 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.
[[Page 46073]]
Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Average Cost per U.S.-
Action Work hours labor rate Parts airplane registered Fleet cost
per hour airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection..................................... 3 $65 None required.......................... $195 46 $8,970
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this 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, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
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]
0
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
2005-16-10 Boeing: Amendment 39-14215. Docket No. FAA-2005-21088;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-267-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective September 13, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series
airplanes, certificated in any category, as listed in Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 747-53A2503, dated November 11, 2004.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by reports of corrosion under the cart
lift threshold at the station 980 upper deck floor beam. We are issuing
this AD to detect and correct such corrosion, which could result in a
cracked or broken floor beam, extensive damage to adjacent structure,
and possible rapid decompression 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.
Inspection
(f) At the later of the times specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and
(f)(2) of this AD: Do a detailed inspection for corrosion and cracks of
the station 980 upper deck floor beam, in accordance with Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 747-53A2503, dated November 11, 2004.
(1) Inspect within 120 months since the date of issuance of the
original standard Airworthiness Certificate or the date of issuance of
the original Export Certificate of Airworthiness; or
(2) Inspect at the time specified in paragraph (f)(2)(i),
(f)(2)(ii), or (f)(2)(iii) of this AD for the applicable airplane group
as identified in the service bulletin.
(i) For Group 1 airplanes: Within 18 months after the effective
date of this AD.
(ii) For Group 2 airplanes: Within 36 months after the effective
date of this AD.
(iii) For Group 3 airplanes: Within 120 months after the airplane
has been modified in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-
3107, or within 36 months after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs later.
Repair
(g) If any cracking or corrosion is found during any inspection
required by this AD, do all related investigative and corrective
actions before further flight, in accordance with Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-53A2503, dated November 11, 2004. If the service bulletin
specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate action, repair before
further flight according to a method approved by the Manager, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA; or according to data meeting
the certification basis of the airplane approved by an Authorized
Representative for the Boeing Delegation Option Authorization (DOA)
Organization who has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to
make those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the approval
must specifically reference this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO, FAA, has the 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
[[Page 46074]]
is approved by an Authorized Representative for the Boeing DOA
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.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2503, dated
November 11, 2004, to perform the actions that are required by this AD,
unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register
approved the incorporation by reference of this document in accordance
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Boeing Commercial
Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207, for a copy of
this service information. You may review copies at the Docket
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh
Street SW., Room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at the 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 July 29, 2005.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-15586 Filed 8-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P