[Federal Register: May 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 90)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 26043-26044]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08my08-25]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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[[Page 26043]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0523; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-049-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 707 Airplanes, and Model
720 and 720B Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and Model 720 and 720B series
airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed
inspections to detect cracks and corrosion on any existing repairs and
at certain body stations of the visible surfaces of the wing to body
terminal fittings including the web, flanges, and ribs; and applicable
related investigative and corrective actions. This proposed AD results
from reports of cracks found in the wing to body terminal fittings
during routine inspections. We are proposing this AD to prevent cracks
and corrosion in the body terminal fittings, which could cause loss of
support for the wing and could adversely affect the structural
integrity of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 23, 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 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: Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
917-6577; 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-2008-0523;
Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-049-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 of cracks found in the wing to body
terminal fittings during routine inspections of certain Boeing Model
707 airplanes, and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. The cause of
the cracks has been attributed to stress corrosion. The body terminal
fittings are forgings made from 7079-T6 material. Cracks and corrosion
in the body terminal fittings, if not corrected, could cause loss of
support for the wing and could adversely affect the structural
integrity of the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing 707 Special Attention Service Bulletin
3524, dated July 18, 2007. The service bulletin describes procedures
for repetitive detailed inspections to detect cracks and corrosion on
any existing repairs and at certain body stations of the visible
surfaces of the wing to body terminal fittings including the web,
flanges, and ribs; and applicable related investigative and corrective
actions. The related investigative actions include removing the repair
and doing a detailed inspection to detect cracks and corrosion of the
fitting in the area covered by the repair. The corrective action
includes contacting Boeing for repair instructions.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of this Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the(se) same type
design(s). This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions
specified in the service information described previously, except as
discussed under ``Difference Between the Proposed AD and Referenced
Service Bulletin.''
Difference Between the Proposed AD and Referenced Service Bulletin
Operators should note that, although the Accomplishment
Instructions of the referenced Boeing service bulletin describe
procedures for submitting information to the manufacturer, this
proposed AD would not require that action.
Costs of Compliance
[[Page 26044]]
Estimated Costs
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Number of
Work Average U.S.-
Action hours labor rate Cost per product registered Fleet cost
per hour airplanes
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Inspections................... 20 $80 $1,600, per inspection cycle.............. 5 $8,000 per inspection cycle.
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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 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 this 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.
You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of
compliance in the AD Docket.
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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2008-0523; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-
049-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by June 23, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Model 707-100 long body, -200, -100B long
body, and -100B short body series airplanes; Model 707-300, -300B, -
300C, and -400 series airplanes; and Model 720 and 720B series
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing 707
Special Attention Service Bulletin 3524, dated July 18, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of cracks found in the wing to
body terminal fittings during routine inspections. We are issuing
this AD to prevent cracks and corrosion in the body terminal
fittings, which could cause loss of support for the wing and could
adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.
Compliance
(e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
Inspections and Corrective Actions
(f) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, do
detailed inspections and applicable related investigative and
corrective actions, by accomplishing all the actions specified in
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 707 Special Attention
Service Bulletin 3524, dated July 18, 2007, except as provided by
paragraph (g) of this AD. Repeat the detailed inspections thereafter
at intervals not to exceed 24 months. Do all applicable related
investigative and corrective actions before further flight.
(g) If any crack or corrosion is found during any inspection
required by paragraph (f) of this AD, and Boeing 707 Special
Attention Service Bulletin 3524, dated July 18, 2007, specifies to
contact Boeing for appropriate action: Before further flight, repair
the terminal fittings using a method approved in accordance with the
procedures specified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
No Information Submission
(h) Although Boeing 707 Special Attention Service Bulletin 3524,
dated July 18, 2007, specifies to submit information to the
manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office
(SACO), FAA, ATTN: Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe
Branch, ANM-120S, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 917-6577; fax (425) 917-6590; has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 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.
(3) 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, SACO, 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 25, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-10217 Filed 5-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P