[Federal Register: March 11, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 47)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 12115-12117]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11mr05-4]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2004-19812; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-197-AD;
Amendment 39-13996; AD 2005-05-07]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD,
-200B, -200C, -200F, and -300 Series Airplanes; and Model 747SP and
747SR Series Airplanes; Equipped With Pratt and Whitney Model JT9D-3 or
-7 (Except -70) Series Engines
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
certain Boeing transport category airplanes. This AD requires
repetitive detailed inspections to detect cracking of the aft and
forward surfaces of the bulkhead web at nacelle station 180, and repair
if necessary. This AD is prompted by reports of cracking of the web
bulkhead at nacelle station 180. We are issuing this AD to detect and
correct fatigue cracking of the web bulkhead, and consequent loss of
the load path of the bulkhead at nacelle station 180, which when
combined with the loss of the midspar load path, could result in the
in-flight separation of the engine and strut. Such separation may
result in secondary damage to the airplane and consequent reduced
controllability of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective April 15, 2005.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April
15, 2005.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any
final disposition. You can 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 U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401,
Washington, DC. This docket number is
[[Page 12116]]
FAA-2004-19812; the directorate identifier for this docket is 2003-NM-
197-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tamara Anderson, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
917-6421; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39
with an AD for certain Boeing Model 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -
200C, -200F, and -300 series airplanes; and Model 747SP and 747SR
series airplanes; equipped with Pratt and Whitney Model JT9D-3 or -7
(except -70) series engines. That action, published in the Federal
Register on December 8, 2004 (69 FR 70936), proposed to require
repetitive detailed inspections to detect cracking of the aft and
forward surfaces of the bulkhead web at nacelle station 180, and repair
if necessary.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. No comments have been submitted on the proposed
AD or on the determination of the cost to the public.
Explanation of Change to Proposed AD
Boeing has received a Delegation Option Authorization (DOA). We
have revised this final rule to delegate the authority to approve an
alternative method of compliance for any repair required by this AD to
the Authorized Representative for the Boeing DOA Organization rather
than the Designated Engineering Representative.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the
change described previously. We have determined that this change will
neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the
scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
This AD will affect about 223 airplanes worldwide and 73 airplanes
of U.S. registry. The required actions will 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 AD for U.S. operators is $4,745, or
$65 per airplane, per inspection cycle.
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. 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
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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2005-05-07 Boeing: Amendment 39-13996. Docket No. FAA-2004-19812;
Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-197-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective April 15, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -
200B, -200C, -200F, and -300 series airplanes; and Model 747SP and
747SR series airplanes; equipped with Pratt and Whitney Model JT9D-
3, or -7 (except for -70) series engines; as identified in Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 747-54A2220, dated July 31, 2003;
certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by reports of cracking of the web
bulkhead at nacelle station 180. We are issuing this AD to detect
and correct fatigue cracking of the web bulkhead, and consequent
loss of the load path of the bulkhead at nacelle station 180, which
when combined with the loss of the midspar load path, could result
in the in-flight separation of the engine and strut. Such separation
may result in secondary damage to the airplane and consequent
reduced controllability 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.
Repetitive Inspections and Repair
(f) Within 9 months after the effective date of this AD, do a
detailed inspection to detect cracking of the aft and forward
surfaces of the bulkhead web at nacelle station 180, in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-54A2220, dated July 31, 2003.
(1) If no cracking is detected, repeat the detailed inspection
at the applicable intervals specified in the ``Repeat Inspection
Interval'' column of Tables 1 and 2 in Figure 1 of the service
bulletin.
(2) If any cracking is detected, before further flight, repair
the cracking in accordance with the service bulletin, except as
provided by paragraph (f)(3) of this AD. Thereafter, repeat the
detailed inspection at the applicable intervals specified in the
``Repeat Inspection Interval'' column of Tables 1 and 2 in Figure 1
of the service bulletin.
(3) If any cracking exceeds the repair limits specified in the
applicable structural repair manual (referenced in the service
bulletin), before further flight, repair the cracking in accordance
with a method approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office
[[Page 12117]]
(ACO), FAA; or in accordance with data meeting the certification
basis of the airplane approved by an Authorized Representative (AR)
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 repair must meet
the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must
specifically refer to this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g)(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 is approved by an AR
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
(h) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-54A2220,
dated July 31, 2003, to perform the actions that are required by
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the
Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of this
document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For
copies of the service information, contact Boeing Commercial
Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. For
information on the availability of this material at the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or
go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
You may view the AD docket at the
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street SW, room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 28, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-4411 Filed 3-10-05; 8:45 am]
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