[Federal Register: September 26, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 186)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54533-54535]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26se07-6]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-28349; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-025-AD;
Amendment 39-15211; AD 2007-20-01]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-100B SUD, 747-200B,
747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and 747SP
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
certain Boeing Model 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-
300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and 747SP series airplanes. This AD
requires reconfiguring the clamps of certain wire bundles and applying
insulating sealant to certain fasteners inside the fuel tanks. This AD
results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are
issuing this AD to prevent arcing inside the fuel tanks in the event of
a lightning strike or high-powered short circuit, which could result in
a fuel tank explosion or fire.
DATES: This AD becomes effective October 31, 2007.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of October 31,
2007.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC.
Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207, for service information identified in this AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sulmo Mariano, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office,
[[Page 54534]]
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
917-6501; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Examining the Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Operations
office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is located on the ground floor of the
West Building at the DOT 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 certain Boeing Model
747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D,
747-400F, and 747SP series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on June 5, 2007 (72 FR 30999). That NPRM proposed to
require reconfiguring the clamps of certain wire bundles and applying
insulating sealant to certain fasteners inside the fuel tanks.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the single comment received.
Request To Add Information About New Clamp Design
Boeing requests that we add information about the design of the
replacement clamps. Boeing asserts that the second paragraph of the
Relevant Service Information section of the NPRM does not describe how
the new clamps protect the wire bundle. Boeing explains that the new
clamps are of a different design and have additional protection on
their edges. Boeing therefore requests that we revise the described
paragraph to read ``* * * installing new, larger clamps, which contain
additional protection against metal to bundle contact, * * *.''
We partially agree with this request. We agree that this
information clarifies the nature of the modification developed to
address the unsafe condition; however, the Relevant Service Information
section of the NPRM is not retained in the final rule. Therefore, we
find that no change to the AD is necessary in this regard.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 707 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 107 airplanes of U.S. registry.
Depending on airplane configuration, the required actions take between
106 and 448 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $80
per work hour. Required parts cost between $430 and $2,074 per
airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD for U.S.
operators is between $8,910 and $37,914 per airplane, or up to
$4,056,798 for all airplanes.
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 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, 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
2007-20-01 Boeing: Amendment 39-15211. Docket No. FAA-2007-28349;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-025-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective October 31, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-
200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and 747SP
series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-2327, Revision 1,
dated July 10, 2006; and Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin
747-57-2326, dated January 4, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent arcing inside the
fuel tanks in the event of a lightning strike or high-powered short
circuit, which could result in a fuel tank explosion or 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.
Change and Seal
(f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, do the
actions required by paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD.
(1) Reconfigure the wire bundle clamps and seal the ends of
certain fasteners inside the auxiliary fuel tank, main fuel tanks,
and surge fuel tanks, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-
2327, Revision 1, dated July 10, 2006.
[[Page 54535]]
(2) Seal the ends of certain fasteners inside the main fuel
tanks, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-2326, dated January 4,
2007.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g)(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) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(h) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-
57-2327, Revision 1, dated July 10, 2006; and Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-2326, dated January 4, 2007; as
applicable, to perform the actions that are required by this AD,
unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal
Register approved the incorporation by reference of these documents
in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Boeing
Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207,
for a copy of this service information. You may review copies at the
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington; or at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html
.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 17, 2007.
John Piccola,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service. 7
[FR Doc. E7-18747 Filed 9-25-07; 8:45 am]
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