FR Doc E7-20223

[Federal Register: October 16, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 199)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 58492-58495]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16oc07-5]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21701; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-086-AD;
Amendment 39-15231; AD 2007-21-13]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747 and 767 Airplanes

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 and 767 airplanes. This AD requires reworking
the electrical bonding between the airplane structure and the pump
housing of the outboard boost pumps in the main fuel tank of certain
Boeing Model 747

[[Page 58493]]

airplanes, and between the airplane structure and the pump housing of
the override/jettison pumps in the left and right wing center auxiliary
fuel tanks of certain Boeing Model 767 airplanes. This AD also requires
related investigative actions and corrective actions if necessary. This
AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We
are issuing this AD to prevent insufficient electrical bonding, which
could result in a potential of ignition sources inside the fuel tanks,
and which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in
fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 20, 2007.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of November 20,
2007.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
; or in person at the Docket Management Facility

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The address for the
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip Sheridan, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 917-6441; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain
Boeing Model 747 and 767 airplanes. That supplemental NPRM was
published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2007 (72 FR 15069). That
supplemental NPRM proposed to require reworking the electrical bonding
between the airplane structure and the pump housing of the outboard
boost pumps in the main fuel tank of certain Boeing Model 747
airplanes, and between the airplane structure and the pump housing of
the override/jettison pumps in the left and right wing center auxiliary
fuel tanks of certain Boeing Model 767 airplanes. That supplemental
NPRM also proposed to require related investigative actions and
corrective actions if necessary. That supplemental NPRM proposed to
revise the original NPRM to add an inspection requirement for certain
Model 747 airplanes, and to specify cold-working the fastener holes for
certain other Model 747 airplanes.

Comments

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received to the
supplemental NPRM.

Requests To Refer to New Revisions of Service Information

Boeing, All Nippon Airways, and Air Transport Association on behalf
of its member United Airlines, all request that we refer to various new
revisions of relevant service information as follows: Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletins 747-28-2259, Revision 2, dated July 5,
2007; 767-57-0092, Revision 1, dated February 15, 2007; and 767-57-
0093, Revision 1, dated February 15, 2007. (We referred to earlier
revisions of these service bulletins as the appropriate sources of
service information for accomplishing the actions proposed in the
supplemental NPRM.)
We agree with the commenters' requests. We have reviewed the new
service information and revised Table 1 and paragraph (f) of the AD to
refer to the new revisions of the service information. We have also
revised paragraph (g) of the AD to give credit for prior accomplishment
of earlier revisions by adding a new Table 2. The new revisions specify
that no more work is necessary for airplanes on which the actions were
accomplished in accordance with the earlier revisions. The new
revisions of the service information, among other things, correct
certain typographical errors, change references to certain documents,
add information about certain edge margins, and revise the grouping of
airplanes in the effectivity.
Operators should note that on September 25, 2007, Boeing issued
Information Notice 747-28-2259 IN 01. The information notice alerts
operators of a typographical error in step 9 of figures 1 through 6 of
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2259, Revision 2,
dated July 5, 2007. The information notice states that the note given
in step 9 should read ``if the maximum resistance value of 0.0005 ohm
can not be met, repeat steps 1 through 7'' and not ``steps 1 through
8.''

Explanation of Additional Change Made to This AD

We have simplified paragraph (f)(1) of this AD by referring to the
``Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)'' paragraph of this AD for
repair methods.

Conclusion

We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

There are about 3,401 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.

Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of U.S.-
Action Work Average labor Cost per registered Fleet cost
hours rate per hour airplane airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rework electrical bonding for Boeing 10 $80 $800 1,115 $892,000
Model 747 airplanes....................
Rework electrical bonding for Boeing 9 80 720 921 663,120
Model 767 airplanes....................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 58494]]

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):

2007-21-13 Boeing: Amendment 39-15231. Docket No. FAA-2005-21701;
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-086-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This AD becomes effective November 20, 2007.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

Table 1.--Airplanes Affected by This AD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
As identified in Boeing special
Model-- attention service bulletin--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747- 747-28-2259, Revision 2, dated
200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747- July 5, 2007.
400, 747-400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and
747SP series airplanes.
767-200, -300, and -300F series 767-57-0092, Revision 1, dated
airplanes. February 15, 2007.
767-400ER series airplanes............. 767-57-0093, Revision 1, dated
February 15, 2007.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent insufficient
electrical bonding, which could result in a potential of ignition
sources inside the fuel tanks, and which, in combination with
flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and
consequent loss 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.

Rework Electrical Bonding

(f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD: Do the
actions specified in paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, as
applicable, by accomplishing all the actions specified in the
Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service bulletin
specified in Table 1 of this AD. Do any related investigative and
corrective actions before further flight.
(1) For Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B,
747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and
747SP series airplanes: Rework the electrical bonding between the
airplane structure and the pump housing of the outboard boost pumps
in the main fuel tank, and do related investigative and applicable
corrective actions. If any crack, corrosion, or damage is found
during the open-hole high-frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection
specified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2259,
Revision 2, dated July 5, 2007, and the special attention service
bulletin specifies contacting Boeing for repair instructions: Before
further flight, repair using a method approved in accordance with
the procedures specified in paragraph (h) of this AD.
(2) For Boeing Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and -400ER series
airplanes: Rework the electrical bonding between the airplane
structure and the pump housing of the override/jettison pumps in the
left and right wing center auxiliary fuel tanks, and do the related
investigative and applicable corrective actions.

Credit for Actions Accomplished Previously

(g) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with the applicable special attention service bulletins
listed in Table 2 of this AD are acceptable for compliance with the
corresponding requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.

Table 2.--Service Bulletins Acceptable for Actions Accomplished Previously
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boeing special attention service
bulletin Revision level Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
747-28-2259........................... Original........................... November 4, 2004.
747-28-2259........................... 1.................................. October 5, 2006.

[[Page 58495]]

767-57-0092........................... Original........................... November 4, 2004.
767-57-0093........................... Original........................... November 4, 2004.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(h)(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) 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

(i) You must use the applicable special attention service
bulletin listed in Table 3 of this AD 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 98057-3356;
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
.

Table 3.--Material Incorporated by Reference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boeing special attention service
bulletin Revision level Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
747-28-2259........................... 2.................................. July 5, 2007.
767-57-0092........................... 1.................................. February 15, 2007.
767-57-0093........................... 1.................................. February 15, 2007.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 5, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-20223 Filed 10-15-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P