[Federal Register: December 9, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 236)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 73171-73173]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09de05-20]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-23250; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-150-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-400 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Boeing Model 747-400 series airplanes. This proposed AD
would require inspecting the support bracket of the crew oxygen
cylinder installation to determine the manufacturing date marked on the
support, and performing corrective action if necessary. This proposed
AD results from a report indicating that certain oxygen cylinder
supports may not have been properly heat-treated. We are proposing this
AD to prevent failure of the oxygen cylinder support under the most
critical flight load conditions, which could cause the oxygen cylinder
to come loose and leak oxygen. Leakage of oxygen could result in oxygen
being unavailable for the flightcrew or could result in a fire hazard
in the vicinity of the leakage.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 23,
2006.
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
[[Page 73172]]
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: Susan Letcher, Aerospace Engineer,
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6474; 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 the docket number ``FAA-2005-
23250; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-150-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 indicating that certain supports for the
crew oxygen cylinder on Boeing Model 747-400 series airplanes may not
have been properly heat-treated during production. These improperly
heat-treated supports could fail under the most critical flight load
conditions, which could cause the oxygen cylinder to come loose and
leak oxygen. Leakage of oxygen could result in oxygen being unavailable
for the flightcrew or could result in a fire hazard in the vicinity of
the leakage.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-35-
2114, dated December 19, 2002. The service bulletin describes
procedures for inspecting the support bracket of the crew oxygen
cylinder installation to determine the manufacturing date marked on the
support, and performing corrective action if necessary. The corrective
action is replacing, with a new support, any support with a
manufacturing date that is within a certain range. 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 the service
information described previously, except as discussed under
``Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin.''
Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin
The service bulletin specifies a compliance time of 90 days (for
airplanes with two crew oxygen cylinders) or 18 months (for airplanes
with one crew oxygen cylinder). However, this proposed AD would require
all airplanes to be in compliance within 18 months after the effective
date of the AD. In developing an appropriate compliance time for this
AD, we considered the manufacturer's recommendation, and the degree of
urgency associated with the subject unsafe condition. In light of these
factors, we find that an 18-month compliance time represents an
appropriate interval of time for affected airplanes to continue to
operate without compromising safety. This difference has been
coordinated with Boeing.
Also, paragraph 1.E., Compliance, of the service bulletin specifies
that if the configuration of the crew oxygen cylinder installation is
changed from a one-cylinder configuration to a two-cylinder
configuration, the actions specified in the service bulletin must be
done ``immediately.'' If the configuration of the crew oxygen cylinder
support installation is changed in this way, this proposed AD would
require you to do the actions in the service bulletin before further
flight after the configuration change, or within 18 months after the
effective date of the AD, whichever is later.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 70 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 15 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The proposed inspection would take about 1 work hour per
airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these
figures, the estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is
$975, or $65 per airplane.
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
[[Page 73173]]
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2005-23250; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-
150-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by January
23, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-400 series airplanes,
certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 747-35-2114, dated December 19, 2002.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report indicating that certain oxygen
cylinder supports may not have been properly heat-treated. We are
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the oxygen cylinder support
under the most critical flight load conditions, which could cause
the oxygen cylinder to come loose and leak oxygen. Leakage of oxygen
could result in oxygen being unavailable for the flightcrew or could
result in a fire hazard in the vicinity of the leakage.
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 and Corrective Action
(f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, except
as provided by paragraph (g) of this AD: Inspect the support bracket
of the crew oxygen cylinder installation to determine the
manufacturing date marked on the support, and do the corrective
action as applicable, by doing all of the actions in accordance with
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 747-35-2114, dated December 19, 2002. Corrective action, if
applicable, must be done before further flight after the inspection.
(g) If the configuration of the crew oxygen cylinder
installation is changed from a one-cylinder to a two-cylinder
configuration: Do the actions required by paragraph (f) of this AD
before further flight after the change in configuration, or within
18 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever is later.
Parts Installation
(h) On or after the effective date of this AD, no person may
install an oxygen cylinder support bracket having part number
65B68258-2 and having a manufacturing date between 10/01/98 and 03/
09/01 inclusive (meaning, a manufacturing date of 10/01/98 or later
and 03/09/01 or earlier).
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (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) 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 2, 2005.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-23833 Filed 12-8-05; 8:45 am]
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