[Federal Register: January 7, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 4)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 1046-1048]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ja08-3]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-28989; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-070-AD;
Amendment 39-15319; AD 2007-26-17]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive
(AD), which applies to certain Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-
200F, 747-300, 747-400, and 747SP series airplanes. That AD currently
requires doing a detailed inspection of the left and right longeron
extension fittings, and corrective action if necessary. This new AD
adds airplanes to the applicability of the existing AD. This AD results
from reports that accidental drilling damage to the longeron extension
fittings was found on airplanes not subject to the existing AD. We are
issuing this AD to detect and correct accidental drilling damage of the
longeron extension fittings, which could lead to cracking of the
longeron extension fittings and result in rapid decompression of the
airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective February 11, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of February 11,
2008.
On June 16, 2006 (71 FR 27592, May 12, 2006), the Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2515, dated October 20, 2005.
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: Ivan Li, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe
Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6437;
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 supersedes AD 2006-10-04, amendment
39-14588 (71 FR 27592, May 12, 2006). The existing AD applies to
certain Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400,
and 747SP series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal
Register on August 16, 2007 (72 FR 45973). That NPRM proposed to
continue to require doing a detailed inspection of the left and right
longeron extension fittings, and corrective action if necessary. That
NPRM also proposed to add airplanes to the applicability of the
existing AD.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the single comment received. Boeing supports the
NPRM.
Clarification of Service Bulletins
Where paragraphs (h) and (i) of the NPRM referred to ``the alert
service bulletin'' and ``the service bulletin,'' we have specified the
number, revision level and date of those service bulletins for clarity.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
AD with the changes described previously. We also determined that these
changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or
increase the scope of the AD.
Interim Action
We consider this AD interim action. If final action is later
identified, we might consider further rulemaking then.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 876 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 156 airplanes of U.S. registry.
[[Page 1047]]
The actions specified by this AD were previously required by AD
2006-10-04, which was applicable to approximately 25 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The actions required by that AD take about 1 work hour per
airplane. We estimated the cost of the current requirements of that AD
on U.S. operators to be $2,000, or $80 per airplane. Some operators of
the 25 airplanes subject to AD 2006-10-04 may have already initiated
the required actions. This AD adds no new costs associated with those
airplanes.
This AD is applicable to approximately 131 additional airplanes of
U.S. registry. New actions required by this AD take about 1 work hour
per airplane. Based on the current labor rate of $80 per work hour, we
estimate the new costs imposed by this AD on U.S. operators to be
$10,480, or $80 per airplane. This figure is based on assumptions that
no operator of these additional airplanes has yet done any of the
requirements of this AD, and that no operator would do those actions in
the future if this AD were not adopted.
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
removing amendment 39-14588 (71 FR 27592, May 12, 2006) and by adding
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
2007-26-17 Boeing: Amendment 39-15319. Docket No. FAA-2007-28989;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-070-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective February 11, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2006-10-04.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to 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, certificated in any
category; as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
53A2515, Revision 1, dated March 1, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports that accidental drilling damage
to the longeron extension fittings was found on airplanes not
subject to the existing AD. We are issuing this AD to detect and
correct accidental drilling damage of the longeron extension
fittings, which could lead to cracking of the longeron extension
fittings and result in rapid decompression 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.
Restatement of Certain Requirements of AD 2006-10-04
Detailed Inspection
(f) For Group 1 airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-53A2515, Revision 1, dated March 1, 2007: At the
applicable compliance time specified in paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2)
of this AD, do a detailed inspection of the left and right longeron
extension fittings for damage, and, before further flight, do the
corrective action if applicable, by accomplishing all the applicable
actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 747-53A2515, dated October 20, 2005; or Revision 1,
dated March 1, 2007.
Note 1: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2515, dated October
20, 2005; and Revision 1, dated March 1, 2007; refer to Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 747-53A2390, Revision 1, dated July 6, 2000, as an
additional source of service information for replacing a damaged
longeron fitting with a new longeron extension fitting.
(1) For airplanes that have accomplished the inspection of the
splice area for cracking as specified in Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-53A2390, dated July 31, 1997; or Revision 1, dated July
6, 2000: Inspect in accordance with paragraph (f) of this AD before
the airplane has accumulated 10,000 total flight cycles, or within
1,000 flight cycles after June 16, 2006 (the effective date of AD
2006-10-04), whichever is later.
(2) For airplanes that have not accomplished the inspection of
the splice area for cracking as specified in Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-53A2390, dated July 31, 1997; or Revision 1, dated July
6, 2000: Inspect in accordance with paragraph (f) of this AD before
the airplane has accumulated 10,000 total flight cycles, or within
250 flight cycles after June 16, 2006, whichever is later.
New Requirements of This AD
Detailed Inspection of Additional Airplanes
(g) For Group 2 and Group 3 airplanes identified in Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 747-53A2515, Revision 1, dated March 1, 2007:
Except as provided by paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD, at the
applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E of Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-53A2515, Revision 1, dated March 1, 2007, do a detailed
inspection of the left and right longeron extension fittings for
damage and, before further flight, do the corrective action, as
applicable; by accomplishing all the applicable actions specified in
the Accomplishment Instructions of the alert service bulletin.
Compliance Times
(h) Where the Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2515, dated
October 20, 2005; or Revision 1, dated March 1, 2007; specify
compliance times relative to the release date of the alert service
bulletin, this AD requires compliance at compliance times relative
to the effective date of this AD.
[[Page 1048]]
Repair of Certain Conditions
(i) If any damage is found during any inspection required by
this AD and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2515, Revision 1,
dated March 1, 2007, specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate
action: Before further flight, repair the damage using a method
approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph
(k) of this AD.
Credit for Actions Done Using Previous Service Information
(j) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2515, dated
October 20, 2005, are considered acceptable for compliance with the
corresponding actions of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(k)(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) AMOCs approved previously in accordance with AD 2006-10-04,
are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of this AD.
(3) 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.
(4) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair required by this AD, if it is approved by an
Authorized Representative for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Delegation Option Authorization Organization who has been authorized
by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make those findings. For a repair
method to be approved, the repair must meet the certification basis
of the airplane, and the approval must specifically refer to this
AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(l) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2515,
dated October 20, 2005; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
53A2515, Revision 1, dated March 1, 2007; as applicable, to perform
the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies
otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
53A2515, Revision 1, dated March 1, 2007, in accordance with 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) On June 16, 2006 (71 FR 27592, May 12, 2006), the Director
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2515, dated October 20, 2005.
(3) 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 December 20, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-25500 Filed 1-4-08; 8:45 am]
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