[Federal Register: February 22, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 36)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9666-9668]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22fe08-5]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-28381; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-164-AD;
Amendment 39-15383; AD 2008-04-11]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 707 Airplanes, and Model
720 and 720B Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes.
This AD requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance program by
incorporating new airworthiness limitations (AWLs) for fuel tank
systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88
requirements. This AD also requires the initial performance of certain
repetitive AWL inspections to phase in those inspections, and repair if
necessary. This AD results from a design review of the fuel tank
systems. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential for ignition
sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, alterations,
repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination with flammable
fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss
of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective March 28, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of March 28,
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: Kathrine Rask, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone
(425) 917-6505; 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 apply to all Boeing Model 707
airplanes, and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. That NPRM was
published in the Federal Register on July 3, 2007 (72 FR 36370). That
NPRM proposed to require revising the FAA-approved maintenance program
by incorporating new airworthiness limitations (AWLs) for fuel tank
systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88
requirements. That NPRM also proposed to require the initial
performance of certain repetitive AWL inspections to phase in those
inspections, and repair if necessary.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comment received.
Changes Made to This AD
For standardization purposes, we have revised this AD in the
following ways:
We have added a new paragraph (i) to this AD to specify
that no alternative inspections, inspection intervals, or critical
design configuration control limitations (CDCCLs) may be used unless
they are part of a later approved revision of Boeing 707/720
Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) Document D6-7552-AWL, dated March
2006, or unless they are approved as an alternative method of
compliance (AMOC). Inclusion of this paragraph in the AD is intended to
ensure that the AD-mandated airworthiness limitations changes are
treated the same as the airworthiness limitations issued with the
original type certificate.
We have simplified the language in Note 1 of this AD to
clarify that an operator must request approval for an AMOC if an
operator cannot accomplish the required inspections because an airplane
has been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas
addressed by the required inspections.
Request To Change Wording in Note 1 of the NPRM
Boeing requests that we change the wording in Note 1 of the NPRM as
follows:
Change ``new inspections and maintenance actions'' to
include the words ``according to paragraph (g)'' after ``actions.''
Change ``the operator must request approval for revision
to the airworthiness limitations'' to ``the operator must request
approval for deviation from the airworthiness limitations.''
Remove ``as applicable'' from the last sentence of the
note and change the paragraph reference from ``paragraph (g) or (i)''
to ``paragraph (i).''
Boeing explains that the current wording is difficult to follow.
As stated previously, we have simplified the language in Note 1 of
this AD for standardization with other similar ADs. The language the
commenter requests we change does not appear in the revised note;
therefore, no additional change to this AD is necessary in this regard.
Credit for Prior Accomplishment of AWL 28-AWL-01
We have added a statement to paragraph (h) of this AD specifying
that accomplishment of AWL 28-AWL-01 as part of an FAA-approved
maintenance program prior to the later of the times specified in
paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this AD constitutes compliance with the
requirements of paragraph (h).
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 with the changes described previously.
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 213 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 76 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The required actions take about 8 work hours per airplane, at an
average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the
estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $48,640, or $640 per
airplane.
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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 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):
2008-04-11 Boeing: Amendment 39-15383. Docket No. FAA-2007-28381;
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-164-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective March 28, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all Boeing 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.
Note 1: This AD requires revisions to certain operator
maintenance documents to include new inspections. Compliance with
these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes
that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the
areas addressed by these limitations, the operator may not be able
to accomplish the actions described in the revisions. In this
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must
request approval for an alternative method of compliance according
to paragraph (i) of this AD. The request should include a
description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure
the continued operational safety of the airplane.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a design review of the fuel tank
systems. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential for
ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures,
alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination
with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions 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.
Service Information
(f) The term ``D6-7552-AWL March 2006,'' as used in this AD,
means Boeing 707/720 Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) Document D6-
7552-AWL, dated March 2006.
Revision of AWLs Section
(g) Before December 16, 2008, revise the FAA-approved
maintenance program by incorporating the information in the sections
specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(3) of this AD, except
that the initial inspection specified in paragraph (h) of this AD
must be done at the time specified in paragraph (h). Accomplishing
the revision in accordance with a later revision of D6-7552-AWL
March 2006 is an acceptable method of compliance if the revision is
approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), FAA.
(1) Section B., ``FUEL SYSTEMS AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS,'' of
D6-7552-AWL March 2006.
(2) Section C., ``SYSTEM AWL PAGE FORMAT,'' of D6-7552-AWL March
2006.
(3) Section D., ``AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS--FUEL SYSTEMS,'' of
D6-7552-AWL March 2006.
Initial Inspection and Repair if Necessary
(h) At the later of the times specified in paragraphs (h)(1) and
(h)(2) of this AD: Do a detailed inspection of external wires over
the center fuel tank for damaged or loose clamps, wire chafing, and
wire bundles in contact with the surface of the center fuel tank, in
accordance with Section D, ``AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS--FUEL
SYSTEMS,'' AWL 28-AWL-01, of D6-7552-AWL March 2006. If any
discrepancy is found during this inspection, repair the discrepancy
before further flight in accordance with D6-7552-AWL March 2006.
Accomplishing the actions required by this paragraph in accordance
with a later revision of D6-7552-AWL March 2006 is an acceptable
method of compliance if the revision is approved by the Manager,
Seattle ACO. Accomplishing AWL 28-AWL-01 as part of an FAA-approved
maintenance program prior to the later of the times specified in
paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this AD constitutes compliance with
the requirements of this paragraph.
(1) Before the accumulation of 36,000 total flight cycles, or
within 120 months since the date of issuance of the original
standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the
original export certificate of airworthiness, whichever occurs
first.
(2) Within 72 months after the effective date of this AD.
Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is:
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning
and elaborate procedures may be required.''
No Alternative Inspections, Inspection Intervals, or CDCCLs
(i) After accomplishing the actions specified in paragraphs (g)
and (h) of this AD, no alternative inspections, inspection
intervals, or CDCCLs may be used unless the inspections, intervals,
or CDCCLs are part of a later revision of D6-7552-AWL March 2006,
that is approved by the Manager, Seattle ACO; or unless the
inspections, intervals, or CDCCLs are approved as an alternative
method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures
specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(j)(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO, has the authority to approve
AMOCs for this AD, if
[[Page 9668]]
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
(k) You must use Boeing 707/720 Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs)
Document D6-7552-AWL, including attachment, dated March 2006, to
perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD
specifies otherwise. (Only the first page of the attachment contains
the document date; no other page of the attachment contains this
information.) 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 February 13, 2008.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-3189 Filed 2-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P