[Federal Register: March 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 54)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 14428-14430]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22mr05-10]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-20661; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-261-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-300, 747-
400, and 747-400D 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 747-200B, 747-300, 747-400, and 747-400D
series airplanes. This proposed AD would require modifying the lateral
shear beam for the Door 5 crew rest and, for certain airplanes,
replacing Zone E tie rods and modifying the Zone E stowbin ladder. This
proposed AD is prompted by a report indicating that the lateral shear
beam for the Door 5 crew rest does not meet the 9G forward loading
requirement. We are proposing this AD to prevent the structural support
for the Door 5 crew rest and Zone E stowbins from failing during an
emergency, which could result in the crew rest or stowbins falling and
consequent injury to crew and passengers.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 6, 2005.
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 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
By 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.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
You can examine the contents of this 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., room PL-401,
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This docket
number is FAA-2005-20661; the directorate identifier for this docket is
2004-NM-261-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Wren, 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) 917-6451; 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 under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-20661;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-261-AD'' in the subject line 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 submitted by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
[[Page 14429]]
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 can review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
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 DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.
Discussion
We have received a report indicating that the lateral shear beam
for the Door 5 crew rest does not meet the 9G forward loading
requirement on certain Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. This
condition, if not corrected, could result in the failure of the
structural support for the Door 5 crew rest and Zone E stowbins, and
could result in the crew rest or stowbins falling during an emergency
and consequent injury to crew and passengers.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-
2497, dated November 4, 2004 (for Boeing Model 747-200B and -300 series
airplanes), which describes procedures for modifying the lateral shear
beam for the Door 5 crew rest. The modification includes replacing the
web with a new thicker web and installing additional stiffeners.
We have also reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin
747-53-2481, dated October 24, 2002 (for Boeing Model 747-400 and -400D
series airplanes), which describes procedures for modifying the lateral
shear beam for the Door 5 crew rest and replacing Zone E tie rods with
new tie rods and modifying the Zone E stowbin ladder by installing new
intercostals.
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. Therefore, 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 the Service Bulletins.''
Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletins
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2497 recommends
accomplishing the modification ``at the earliest opportunity when
manpower, materials and facilities are available,'' and Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2481 recommends accomplishing the
modification ``within 3 years of the release date on the service
bulletin.'' However, this proposed AD specifies accomplishing the
modification within 60 months after the effective date of the AD. In
developing an appropriate compliance time for this AD, we considered
the degree of urgency associated with addressing the subject unsafe
condition, the average utilization of the affected fleet, and the time
necessary to perform the modification. In light of all of these
factors, we find a compliance time of 60 months for completing the
proposed modification to be warranted, in that it represents an
appropriate interval of time for affected airplanes to continue to
operate without compromising safety. We have coordinated this
compliance time with the manufacturer.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 424 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 65 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.
Estimated Costs
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Number of
Average U.S.-
Action Work hours labor rate Parts Cost per airplane registered Fleet cost
per hour airplanes
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Modification................................... 86-207 $65 $7,095-$37,770 $12,685-$51,225 65 $824,525-$3,329,625
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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.
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 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.
[[Page 14430]]
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed 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, 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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new
airworthiness directive (AD):
Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2005-20661; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
261-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive
comments on this AD action by May 6, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to the Boeing airplanes, certificated in any
category, specified in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this
AD.
(1) Model 747-200B and 747-300 series airplanes identified in
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2497, dated
November 4, 2004.
(2) Model 747-200B and 747-300 series airplanes on which Boeing
Service Bulletins 747-25-2716, 747-25-2724, and 747-25-2784 have
been done.
(3) Model 747-400 and 747-400D series airplanes identified in
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2481, dated October
24, 2002.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report that the lateral shear beam
for the Door 5 crew rest does not meet the 9G forward loading
requirement. We are issuing this AD to prevent the structural
support for the Door 5 crew rest and Zone E stowbins from failing,
which could result in the crew rest or stowbins falling during an
emergency and consequent injury to crew and passengers.
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.
Model 747-200B and 747-300: Modification
(f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, modify
the lateral shear beam for the Door 5 crew rest by accomplishing all
of the actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2497, dated
November 4, 2004.
Model 747-400 and 747-400D: Modification and Replacement
(g) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, modify
the lateral shear beam for the Door 5 crew rest, replace the Zone E
tie rods, and modify the Zone E stowbin ladder, by accomplishing all
of the actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2481, dated October
24, 2002.
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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5571 Filed 3-21-05; 8:45 am]
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