[Federal Register: December 10, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 236)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 69585-69587]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10de07-7]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0301; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-069-AD;
Amendment 39-15300; AD 2007-25-18]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series airplanes. For certain
airplanes, this AD requires modifying the stowage bin ladder of zone E,
installing new intercostals, removing existing tie rods, and installing
new tie rods. For certain other airplanes, this AD requires modifying
the lateral shear beam. This AD results from a report indicating that
the overhead lateral shear beam aft of main entry door number 5 reacts
to certain loads from the weight of the center stowage bins of zone E
and additional loads. We are issuing this AD to prevent detachment of
the center stowage bins of zone E at forward load levels less than 9g
during an emergency landing, which could cause injury to passengers
and/or crew and could impede subsequent rapid evacuation.
DATES: This AD is effective December 26, 2007.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 26,
2007.
We must receive comments on this AD by February 8, 2008.
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 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: Rene Buendia, Aerospace Engineer,
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6448; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We have received a report indicating that a review, at Boeing, of
the airplane interior loads on certain Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-
400D series airplanes without a door 5 crew rest, showed that the
overhead lateral shear beam aft of main entry door number 5 does not
meet the 9g forward loading requirement. As a result, the overhead
lateral shear beam at that door reacts to loads from the weight of the
center stowage bins of zone E and to additional loads due to galleys,
life raft boxes, closets, and partitions (depending on airplane
configuration). This condition, if not corrected, could result in
detachment of the center stowage bins of zone E at forward load levels
less than 9g during an emergency landing, which could cause injury to
passengers and/or crew and could impede subsequent rapid evacuation.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-
2498, dated December 19, 2006. For certain airplanes, the service
bulletin describes procedures for modifying the stowage bin ladder of
zone E by installing new tie rod fittings, installing new right and
left intercostals, and removing existing tie rods. For certain other
airplanes, the service bulletin describes procedures for modifying the
lateral shear beam by installing additional stiffeners. Accomplishing
the actions specified in the service information is intended to
adequately address the unsafe condition.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD
No airplanes affected by this AD are on the U.S. Register. We are
issuing this AD because the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop on other products of the(se) same type
design(s) that could be registered in the United States in the future.
This AD requires modifying the stowage bin ladder of zone E, installing
new intercostals, removing existing tie rods, and installing new tie
rods. For certain other airplanes, this AD requires modifying the
lateral shear beam.
Since no airplanes are affected by this AD, notice and opportunity
for public comment before issuing this AD are unnecessary.
Costs of Compliance
None of the airplanes affected by this action are on the U.S.
Register. All airplanes affected by this AD are currently operated by
non-U.S. operators under foreign registry; therefore, they are not
directly affected by this AD action. However, we consider this AD
necessary to ensure that the unsafe condition is addressed if any
affected airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the
future.
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators
to comply with this AD for any affected
[[Page 69586]]
airplane that might be imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the
future.
Estimated Costs
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Number of
Work Average Cost per U.S.-
Action hours labor rate Parts airplane registered
per hour airplanes
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Modification of the stowage bin ladder, installation 59 $80 $40,107 $44,827 0
of intercostals, and replacement of tie rods (for
Group 1 airplanes).................................
Modification of the lateral shear beam (for Group 2 5 80 5,091 5,491 0
airplanes).........................................
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FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
No airplane affected by this AD is currently on the U.S. Register.
Therefore, providing notice and opportunity for public comment is
unnecessary before this AD is issued, and this AD may be made effective
in less than 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include
``Docket No. FAA-2007-0301; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-069-AD'' at
the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend this 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 AD.
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 the 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 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):
2007-25-18 Boeing: Amendment 39-15300. Docket No. FAA-2007-0301;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-069-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective December 26, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2498, dated December 19,
2006.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report indicating that the overhead
lateral shear beam aft of main entry door number 5 reacts to certain
loads. We are issuing this AD to prevent detachment of the center
stowage bins of zone E at forward load levels less than 9g during an
emergency landing, which could cause injury to passengers and/or
crew and could impede subsequent rapid evacuation.
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.
Modification, Installation, and Replacement
(f) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, do the
applicable actions required by paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this
AD by doing all the actions in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-
2498, dated December 19, 2006.
(1) For Group 1 airplanes, as identified in the service
bulletin: Modify the stowage bin ladder of zone E, install new right
and left intercostals, and remove existing tie rods and install new
tie rods.
(2) For Group 2 airplanes, as identified in the service
bulletin: Modify the lateral shear beam.
[[Page 69587]]
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-
53-2498, dated December 19, 2006, 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 30, 2007.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23851 Filed 12-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P