[Federal Register: December 17, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 241)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 71218-71220]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17de07-9]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-28924; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-051-AD;
Amendment 39-15305; AD 2007-26-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-200C and -200F Series
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 747-200C and -200F series airplanes. This AD
requires, among other actions, installing mounting brackets, support
angles, and moisture curtains in the main equipment center. This AD
results from reports of water contamination in the electrical/
electronic units in the main equipment center. We are issuing this AD
to prevent water contamination of the electrical/electronic units,
which could cause the electrical/electronic units to malfunction, and
as a consequence, could adversely affect the airplane's continued safe
flight.
DATES: This AD becomes effective January 22, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of January 22,
2008.
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: Marcia Smith, 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) 917-6484; 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
[[Page 71219]]
apply to certain Boeing Model 747-200C and -200F series airplanes. That
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on August 16, 2007 (72 FR
45954). That NPRM proposed to require, among other actions, installing
mounting brackets, support angles, and moisture curtains in the main
equipment center.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comment received.
Request To Refer to Earlier Revision of a Referenced Service Bulletin
Boeing requests that paragraph (g) of the NPRM be revised to
include Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-38A2073, Revision 1, dated
June 21, 1990; and Revision 2, dated April 26, 2001; as additional
sources of service information for accomplishing the prior or
concurrent requirements. Boeing states that this will align the NPRM
with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-38A2073, Revision 3, dated May
22, 2003 (referred to in the NPRM as an appropriate source of service
information for accomplishing the prior or concurrent requirements).
We partially agree. We agree with Boeing that accomplishing the
actions specified in Revisions 1 and 2 of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
747-38A2073 is acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions
required by paragraph (g) of this AD. However, we do not agree that a
change to the final rule is necessary. As mentioned in the Relevant
Service Information section of the NPRM, AD 2001-24-30, amendment 39-
12547 (66 FR 64104, December 12, 2001), requires installing drip
shields in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-38A-2073,
Revision 2; or in accordance with Revision 1 or Original Release, dated
November 30, 1989, if done before the effective date of that AD. In
addition, paragraph (h) of this AD states, ``Installation of drip
shields before the effective date of this AD in accordance with
paragraph (a) and Note 2 of AD 2001-24-30, amendment 39-12547, is
acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions in paragraph
(g) of this AD.'' We have made no change to the final rule 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.
Interim Action
This is considered to be interim action. The manufacturer has
advised that it currently is developing another modification that will
address the unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once this
modification is developed, approved, and available, the FAA might
consider additional rulemaking.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 79 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 Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplane airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation............................................ 3 $80 $8,960 $9,200 25 $230,000
Prior or concurrent requirements of AD 2001-24-30....... 32 80 4,497 7,057 25 176,425
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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):
2007-26-03 Boeing: Amendment 39-15305. Docket No. FAA-2007-28924;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-051-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective January 22, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
[[Page 71220]]
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-200C and -200F series
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3430, dated February 15, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of water contamination in the
electrical/electronic units in the main equipment center. We are
issuing this AD to prevent water contamination of the electrical/
electronic units, which could cause the electrical/electronic units
to malfunction, and as a consequence, could adversely affect the
airplane's continued safe flight.
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.
Installations
(f) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD,
install mounting brackets, support angles, and moisture curtains in
the main equipment center, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3430, dated
February 15, 2007.
Prior or Concurrent Requirements
(g) For airplanes identified as Group 1 and Group 3 airplanes in
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3430, dated February 15, 2007:
Prior to or concurrently with the requirements of paragraph (f) of
this AD, install drip shields (including a drip pan assembly, drain
tubing, and attaching hardware) over the forward, outboard halves of
the E1-1 and E3-1 shelves in the main equipment bay, in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-38A2073, Revision 3, dated May 22, 2003.
(h) Installation of drip shields before the effective date of
this AD in accordance with paragraph (a) and Note 2 of AD 2001-24-
30, amendment 39-12547, is acceptable for compliance with the
corresponding actions specified in paragraph (g) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(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
(j) You must use the service bulletins identified in Table 1 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; 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 1.--Material Incorporated by Reference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Service Bulletin Revision level Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747- Original........................... February 15, 2007.
25A3430.
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747- 3.................................. May 22, 2003.
38A2073.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 10, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-24340 Filed 12-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P