[Federal Register: September 27, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 186)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 56349-56351]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27se05-4]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-20785; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-002-AD;
Amendment 39-14295; AD 2005-20-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 707 Airplanes, and Boeing
Model 720 and 720B Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and all Boeing Model 720 and 720B series
airplanes. This AD requires revising the Limitations section of the
airplane flight manual (AFM). The AFM revisions include instructions
for monitoring the low pressure lights for the center tank fuel pumps,
and a statement prohibiting the resetting of a tripped circuit breaker
for a fuel pump in any tank. This AD results from fuel system reviews
conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent dry
operation of the fuel pumps in the center fuel tank, which could result
in high temperatures or sparks inside the fuel tank, ignition of fuel
vapors, and consequent fire or explosion. We are also issuing this AD
to prohibit the resetting of a tripped circuit breaker for a fuel pump
in any tank, which could allow an electrical fault to override the
protective features of the circuit breaker, and result in sparks inside
the fuel tank, ignition of fuel vapors, and consequent fire or
explosion.
DATES: This AD becomes effective November 1, 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, PO Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207, for service information identified in this AD.
[[Page 56350]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sulmo Mariano, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone
(425) 917-6501; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Examining the Docket
You may examine the airworthiness directive (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 all Boeing Model 707
airplanes, and all Boeing Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. That
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 1, 2005 (70 FR
16767). That NPRM proposed to require revising the Limitations section
of the airplane flight manual (AFM). The AFM revisions include
instructions for monitoring the low pressure lights for the center tank
fuel pumps, and a statement prohibiting the resetting of a tripped
circuit breaker for a fuel pump in any tank.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.
Support for the AD
One commenter supports the AD.
Request to Change Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Wording to be Similar to
Other AFMs
The commenter, the airplane manufacturer, requests that we revise
the wording for the AFM revision that is specified in paragraph (f) of
the NPRM. The commenter states that the wording should be changed to
agree with the wording in an FAA-approved AFM, and to be similar to the
AFM wording for other Boeing airplane models.
We agree with the commenter. The wording in the AFM revision should
agree with the previously approved AFM and be similar to the AFM
wording for other Boeing airplane models. These changes will reduce
confusion and provide the greatest clarity for the AFM revision. We
have revised paragraph (f) of the final rule to include the commenter's
requested changes. However, operators that have previously incorporated
the information in Approval Reference Number 045151 of the Boeing Model
707 AFM, dated December 6, 2004, are not required to change the AFM.
That exclusion is noted in revised wording in paragraph (g) of the
final rule that emphasizes previous accomplishment of this revision.
Request to Include Sentences for Ground Operations and Flight
Operations in AFM Revision
The same commenter requests that we revise the first paragraph of
the AFM revision specified in paragraph (f) of the NPRM to include two
sentences regarding resetting the circuit breaker: one for the flight
case and one for the ground case. The commenter states that the
proposed change in wording would allow the circuit breaker to be reset
during ground operations after maintenance has determined it is safe to
do so. The commenter states that the proposed change is currently
provided in most flightcrew operations manuals (FCOMs).
We do not agree with the commenter. We met with the commenter on
June 30, 2005, to discuss this comment and our response to it. During
the meeting we discussed the fact that the AFM provides limitations for
flightcrews to follow during flight operations. The proposed change to
the AFM would put the flightcrew in the role of maintenance by allowing
the flightcrew to reset a tripped circuit breaker during ground
operations. It is more appropriate to incorporate ground limitations
(and warnings) in the airplane maintenance manual (AMM) rather than the
AFM, to ensure that these procedures are done by maintenance personnel.
We also discussed that the procedures in the FAA-approved AFM take
priority over the FCOM, which is not FAA-approved. During the meeting,
the commenter stated that, if the proposed changes are not made, it
would revise the FCOM to prohibit resetting the fuel pump circuit
breakers both in-flight and on the ground. We are considering
additional rulemaking to revise the Airworthiness Limitations section
of the AMM to ensure that maintenance does not reset the circuit
breaker until it is safe to do so. We have not changed the final rule
in this regard.
Explanation of Change in Applicability
We have revised the applicability of the AD to identify the model
designations as published in the most recent type certificate data
sheet for the affected models.
Clarification of Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) Paragraph
We have revised this action to clarify the appropriate procedure
for notifying the principal inspector before using any approved AMOC on
any airplane to which the AMOC applies.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments 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 225 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.
Estimated Costs
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplane airplanes
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Revising AFM......................... 1 $65 None........................ $65 90 $5,850
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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.
[[Page 56351]]
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, 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):
2005-20-02 Boeing: Amendment 39-14295. Docket No. FAA-2005-20785;
Directorate Identifier 2005-M-002-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective November 1, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all Boeing Model 707-100 long body, -200,
-100B long body, and -100B short body series airplanes; Model 707-
300, -300B, -300C, and -400 series airplanes; and Model 720 and 720B
series airplanes; certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent dry operation of the
fuel pumps in the center fuel tank, which could result in high
temperatures or sparks inside the fuel tank, ignition of fuel
vapors, and consequent fire or explosion. We are also issuing this
AD to prohibit the resetting of a tripped circuit breaker for a fuel
pump in any tank, which could allow an electrical fault to override
the protective features of the circuit breaker, and result in sparks
inside the fuel tank, ignition of fuel vapors, and consequent fire
or explosion.
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.
Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revisions
(f) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise
the Limitations section of the Boeing 707 AFM to include the
following information. This may be done by inserting a copy of this
AD into the AFM. Thereafter, operate the airplane in accordance with
the limitations specified in these AFM revisions.
``Fuel Pumps
For ground and flight operations, a fuel pump circuit breaker
which has tripped must not be reset.
Center Tank Fuel Pumps
Center tank fuel pumps must be `OFF' unless personnel are
available in the flight deck to monitor low pressure lights.
Each center tank fuel pump switch must be positioned to `OFF'
without delay when the respective center tank fuel pump low pressure
light illuminates.''
Note 1: When information identical to that in paragraph (f) of
this AD has been included in the general revision of the AFM, the
general revision may be inserted into the AFM, and the copy of this
AD may be removed from the AFM.
Actions Accomplished Previously
(g) Incorporation of the information in Approval Reference
Number 045151 of the Boeing Model 707 Airplane Flight Manual before
the effective date of this AD is considered acceptable for
compliance with the corresponding action specified in this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with 14 CFR
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.
(3) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) None.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 16, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-19140 Filed 9-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P