[Federal Register: March 21, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 53)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13347-13349]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21mr05-4]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2004-19945; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-22-AD;
Amendment 39-14017; AD 2005-06-09]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-
200F, 747-300, and 747SR Series Airplanes Equipped With General
Electric (GE) CF6-45 or -50 Series Engines
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 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, and 747SR
series airplanes, equipped with GE CF6-45 or -50 series engines. This
AD requires modifying the side cowl assemblies on the engines by
replacing existing wear plates with new extended wear plates and
installing new stop fittings. This AD is prompted by reports of a gap
at the interface of the lower portion of the side cowl and the aft
flange of the thrust reverser. We are issuing this AD to prevent an
excessive quantity of air from entering the fire zone that surrounds
the engine, which, in the event of an engine fire, could result in an
inability to control or extinguish the fire.
DATES: This AD becomes effective April 25, 2005.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April
25, 2005.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing
[[Page 13348]]
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 FAA-2004-19945; the directorate
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-22-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Kinney, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone
(425) 917-6499; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39
with an AD for certain Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-
300, and 747SR series airplanes, equipped with General Electric CF6-45
or -50 series engines. That action, published in the Federal Register
on January 3, 2005 (70 FR 51), proposed to require modifying the side
cowl assemblies on the engines by replacing existing wear plates with
new extended wear plates and installing new stop fittings.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the single comment that has
been submitted on the proposed AD. The commenter supports the proposed
AD.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comment that has been submitted, and determined that air safety and the
public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 140 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 38 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to
comply with this AD.
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Action Work hours labor rate Parts Cost per Fleet cost
per hour airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification per Boeing Service Bulletin 747- 72 $65 $25,736 $30,416 $1,155,808
71-2300, Revision 1..........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2005-06-09 Boeing: Amendment 39-14017. Docket No. FAA-2004-19945;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-22-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective April 25, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-
200F, 747-300, and 747SR series airplanes; certificated in any
category; equipped with General Electric CF6-45 or -50 series
engines.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by reports of a gap at the interface of
the lower portion of the side cowl and the aft flange of the thrust
reverser. We are issuing this AD to prevent an excessive quantity of
air from entering the fire zone that surrounds the engine, which, in
the event of an engine fire, could result in an inability to control
or extinguish the fire.
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.
Modification
(f) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD: Modify
the side cowl assemblies on the engines by replacing existing wear
plates with new extended wear plates and installing new stop
fittings, by doing all actions according to the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing
[[Page 13349]]
Service Bulletin 747-71-2300, Revision 1, dated October 30, 2003.
Any applicable corrective actions must be done before further
flight.
On Condition: Removal of Bulb Seals and Other Specified Actions
(g) If bulb seals were installed on the trailing edge of the fan
thrust reverser in accordance with Boeing Service Letter 747-SL-71-
045: Concurrently with or before further flight after accomplishing
paragraph (f) of this AD, remove the bulb seals, plug the open holes
in the trailing edge of the fan thrust reverser, and adjust the cowl
latches as applicable, in accordance with Boeing Service Letter 747-
SL-71-045-C, dated April 10, 2003.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h) 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71-2300, Revision
1, dated October 30, 2003; and Boeing Service Letter 747-SL-71-045-
C, including Attachment, dated April 10, 2003; as applicable, 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 those documents 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 March 8, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5298 Filed 3-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P