[Federal Register: November 15, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 220)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 64132-64135]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15no07-6]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-28376; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-108-AD;
Amendment 39-15255; AD 2007-23-09]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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[[Page 64133]]
SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. This AD
requires a one-time inspection of each fuel quantity indication system
(FQIS) wire harness connector for corrosion of the shield-to-backshell
connection, corrosion on the ground jumper, and damage to the ground
jumper; a loop resistance test of each FQIS wire harness; and related
investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from
reports of corrosion of the out-tank wire harness of the spar connector
backshell for the FQIS. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct
corrosion of the out-tank wire harness, which could prevent correct
grounding of the lightning shield and result in total loss of the
electrical grounding between the lightning shield and the airplane
structure. This condition, in combination with flammable fuel vapors,
could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the
airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective December 20, 2007.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of December 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 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Boeing Model
767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. That NPRM was published in
the Federal Register on June 20, 2007 (72 FR 33926). That NPRM proposed
to require a one-time inspection of each fuel quantity indication
system (FQIS) wire harness connector for corrosion of the shield-to-
backshell connection, corrosion on the ground jumper, and damage to the
ground jumper; a loop resistance test of each FQIS wire harness; and
related investigative and corrective actions if necessary.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.
Requests To Revise Compliance Threshold
Florida West International Airways requests that we revise the
compliance threshold from 48 months to 60 months in order to ``stay
standard with'' the compliance time for Boeing special attention
service bulletins.
An anonymous private citizen notes that corrosion gets worse over
time, so it is appropriate to give a longer compliance threshold to
newer aircraft. The commenter suggests maintaining the 48-month
threshold for airplanes that have 12 or more years' time-in-service,
and revising the compliance threshold to 16 years from airplane
delivery for airplanes that have less than 12 years' time-in-service.
We do not agree with the requests to revise the compliance
threshold. In Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-28-0087,
dated February 5, 2007, the manufacturer recommended that the
inspections begin within 48 months after the release of the service
bulletin. Although Boeing might have a standard compliance threshold
for special attention service bulletins, that threshold can change
based upon the nature of a given unsafe condition.
In addition, the goal of the inspection at the 48-month threshold
is to detect and correct any corrosion in the affected area, and to do
all applicable actions to prevent it from happening in the future.
While it is true that corrosion worsens over time, we consider it
inappropriate to allow airplanes to fly for up to 16 years with the
potential for corrosion to continue to progress in this area.
In developing an appropriate compliance time for this AD, we
considered the serious nature of the unsafe condition as well as the
recommendations of the manufacturer, the availability of any necessary
repair parts, and the practical aspect of accomplishing the required
inspection within an interval of time that corresponds to the normal
maintenance schedules of most affected operators. In light of these
factors, we have determined that the 48-month initial compliance
threshold, as proposed, is appropriate. We do not find it necessary to
change the AD in this regard. However, under the provisions of
paragraph (g) of the final rule, we will consider requests for
adjustments to the compliance time if data are submitted to
substantiate that such an adjustment would provide an acceptable level
of safety.
Request To Revise Note 1 of the NPRM Regarding Cinch Service Bulletin
Boeing requests that we revise Note 1 of the NPRM and the Relevant
Service Information section of the NPRM to remove the words ``* * * and
replacing the wire harness,'' in reference to the procedures in Cinch
Service Bulletin CN1156-28-02, Revision C, dated July 31, 2006. Boeing
explains that the Cinch service bulletin does not contain information
about replacing the wire harness; that information is in Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 767-28-0087.
Boeing also requests that we remove the date and revision level
from the reference to the Cinch service bulletin. Boeing states that a
date is not appropriate because Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 767-28-0087 does not specify a date when it refers to the
Cinch service bulletin. In addition, Boeing points out that the Cinch
service bulletin could be revised by the time the AD is issued, and the
information would then be out of date.
We agree with the request to remove the words ``* * * and replacing
the wire harness,'' from Note 1 of the NPRM for the reasons provided.
We also agree with the request to remove the date and revision
level from the Cinch service bulletin identified in Note 1 of the NPRM.
It is our general practice, as specified by the Office of the Federal
Register, to put a date and revision level (if applicable) on all
documents incorporated by reference into an AD. However, in this case,
the Cinch service bulletin is described only in a note, and therefore
it is not incorporated by reference into the AD. Therefore, it is not
necessary for us to put a date on documents that we refer to only in a
note, though in most cases a date is appropriate or important.
We have revised Note 1 of the final rule to make the requested
changes. However, since the Relevant Service Information section of the
NPRM does
[[Page 64134]]
not reappear in the final rule, no other change to the final rule is
necessary.
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 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
There are about 482 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 hours Average labor Cost per airplane registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Detailed inspection.................. 1............... $80 $80...................... 202 $16,160
Loop resistance test................. 2 to 3.......... $80 $160 to $240............. 202 $32,320 to $48,480
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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 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):
2007-23-09 Boeing: Amendment 39-15255. Docket No. FAA-2007-28376;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-108-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective December 20, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F
series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-28-0087, dated
February 5, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of corrosion of the out-tank
wire harness of the spar connector backshell for the fuel quantity
indication system (FQIS). We are issuing this AD to detect and
correct corrosion of the out-tank wire harness, which could prevent
correct grounding of the lightning shield and result in total loss
of the electrical grounding between the lightning shield and the
airplane structure. This condition, 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.
Inspection, Test, and Related Investigative and Corrective Actions
(f) Within 48 months after the effective date of this AD, do the
actions in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD, and do all
applicable related investigative and corrective actions, by
accomplishing all the actions specified in the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-28-
0087, dated February 5, 2007. Do all applicable related
investigative and corrective actions before further flight.
(1) A detailed inspection of each FQIS wire harness connector
for corrosion of the shield-to-backshell connection, corrosion on
the ground jumper, and damage to the ground jumper.
(2) A loop resistance test of each FQIS wire harness.
Note 1: Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-28-0087,
dated February 5, 2007, refers to Cinch Service Bulletin CN1156-28-
02 as an additional source of service information for installing a
backshell and assembly upgrade kit.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 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 767-
28-0087, dated
[[Page 64135]]
February 5, 2007, 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 this document 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 November 2, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-21993 Filed 11-14-07; 8:45 am]
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