[Federal Register: November 9, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 217)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 63512-63513]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09no07-22]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0175; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-184-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 757 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 757 airplanes. This proposed AD would require
changing the wiring of the fuel boost pump and doing other specified
actions. This proposed AD results from reports of short circuits in an
electrical connector at the wing-to-body electrical disconnect panel.
We are proposing this AD to prevent a short circuit of the electrical
connector for the fuel boost pump, which could cause the instruments
for fuel, flap, slat, and aileron systems to malfunction and create a
potential ignition source inside the fuel tanks. A potential ignition
source inside the fuel tank in combination with flammable fuel vapors
could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the
airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 24,
2007.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
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 proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
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:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0175;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-184-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
We have received reports indicating that short circuits occurred in
an electrical connector at the wing-to-body electrical disconnect
panel, on three Boeing Model 757 airplanes. The airplanes had
accumulated between 27,040 and 50,735 total flight hours. On two of the
airplanes, the short circuit damaged the fuel quantity indicating
system (FQIS) wiring. Wires for some of the fuel boost pumps for the
main tank use the same electrical connectors as wires for the FQIS and
densitometer circuits. Contamination in these electrical circuits could
cause a short circuit from the fuel boost pump wiring to the FQIS and
densitometer wiring. A short circuit can put a high-energy electrical
transient into the fuel tanks that can act as a potential ignition
source. The high-energy electrical transients could also cause the
instruments for the fuel, flap, slat, and aileron systems to
malfunction. A potential ignition source inside the fuel tank in
combination with flammable fuel vapors, if not corrected, could result
in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-28-
0095, dated June 18, 2007, for Model 757-200, -200PF, and -200CB series
airplanes; and Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-28-0096,
dated June 18, 2007, for Model 757-300 series airplanes. The service
bulletins describe procedures for changing the wiring of the fuel boost
pump and doing other specified actions. The other specified actions
include doing functional tests of the affected airplane systems.
Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.
[[Page 63513]]
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. For this reason, we are proposing this AD,
which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information described previously.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 1,697 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 673 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The proposed actions would take up to 12 work hours per
airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these
figures, the estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is
$646,080, or $960 per airplane.
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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed 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, 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2007-0175; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
184-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by December
24, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to the airplanes identified in paragraphs
(c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD, certificated in any category.
(1) Boeing Model 757-200, -200PF, and -200CB series airplanes,
as identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-28-
0095, dated June 18, 2007.
(2) Boeing Model 757-300 series airplanes, as identified in
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-28-0096, dated June
18, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of short circuits in an
electrical connector at the wing-to-body electrical disconnect
panel. We are issuing this AD to prevent a short circuit of the
electrical connector for the fuel boost pump, which could cause the
instruments for the fuel, flap, slat, and aileron systems to
malfunction and create a potential ignition source inside the fuel
tank. A potential ignition source inside the fuel tank in
combination with flammable fuel vapors could result in a fuel tank
explosion 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.
Fuel Boost Pump Wiring Change
(f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, change
the wiring of the fuel boost pump and do all other specified actions
as applicable, by accomplishing all of the applicable actions
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 757-28-0095, dated June 18, 2007 (for
Model 757-200, -200PF, and -200CB series airplanes); or Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-28-0096, dated June 18, 2007
(for Model 757-300 series airplanes); as applicable. The other
specified actions must be done before further flight after changing
the fuel boost pump wiring.
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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 2, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-22009 Filed 11-8-07; 8:45 am]
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