[Federal Register: April 1, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 63)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 17258-17260]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01ap08-10]
========================================================================
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.
========================================================================
[[Page 17258]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0376; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-322-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-100, 747-200B, 747-
300, and 747SR Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Boeing Model 747-100, 747-200B, 747-300, and 747SR series
airplanes that have been converted by Boeing to the Boeing Special
Freighter configuration. This proposed AD would require installation of
a closeout panel and moisture curtains for the main equipment center.
This proposed AD would also require changing the drain tubes for the
power drive units and the pitot static tubes and installing larger
moisture shrouds. This proposed AD results from a report of water
contamination in the electrical and electronic units in the main
equipment center. We are proposing this AD to prevent the malfunction
of one or more electrical and electronic units in the main equipment
center, which could adversely affect the airplane's continued safe
flight.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 16, 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: 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:
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-2008-0376;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-322-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 a report of water contamination in the electrical
and electronic units in the main equipment center. The water
contamination caused a central air data computer (CADC-2) and an air
data inertial reference unit (ADIRU-1) to malfunction with eight
cockpit indications of failure. When loading cargo in rain or snow
conditions, water can spill onto the main deck cargo floor and flow
through the power drive units (PDUs). If the amount of water exceeds
the drain capacity of the PDUs above the main equipment center, water
can spill onto the electrical and electronic units. This water
contamination could cause one or more of the approximately 80
electrical and electronic units to malfunction. The malfunction of one
or more electrical and electronic units in the main equipment center,
if not corrected, could adversely affect the airplane's continued safe
flight.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3368,
Revision 1, dated June 25, 2007. The service bulletin describes
procedures for installing a closeout panel and moisture curtains to
protect the electrical and electronic units in the main equipment
center from water contamination.
We have also reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3346,
dated September 13, 2007. The service bulletin describes procedures for
changing the PDU drain tubes and pitot static tubes, and installing
larger moisture shrouds to provide additional protection from water
contamination. Operators should note that accomplishing the actions
specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3346 concurrently
with the actions specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3368
would necessitate less work than accomplishing the service bulletins at
different times.
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
[[Page 17259]]
actions specified in the service information described previously.
Clarification of Service Information
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3346 specifies prior or
concurrent accomplishment of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3368,
dated August 25, 2005, or Revision 1, dated June 25, 2007. However,
this proposed AD would allow accomplishment of the original issue of
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3368 before the effective date of
the proposed AD only if the additional work specified in Revision 1 of
the service bulletin is accomplished.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 42 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The following table provides the estimated costs, at an
average labor rate of $80 per work hour, for U.S. operators to comply
with this proposed AD.
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Cost per U.S.-
Action Work hours Parts product registered Fleet cost
airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation for Boeing Alert Up to 10........ Up to $11,672... Up to $12,472.. 42 Up to $523,824.
Service Bulletin 747-25A3368.
Installation for Boeing Alert Up to 62........ Up to $31,621... Up to $36,581.. 42 Up to
Service Bulletin 747-25A3346. $1,536,402.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-2008-0376; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
322-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by May 16, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-100, 747-200B, 747-300,
and 747SR series airplanes, certificated in any category, as
identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3346, dated
September 13, 2007; and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3368,
Revision 1, dated June 25, 2007.
Note 1: The affected airplanes are those that have been
converted by Boeing to the Boeing Special Freighter configuration.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report of water contamination in the
electrical and electronic units in the main equipment center. We are
issuing this AD to prevent the malfunction of one or more electrical
and electronic units in the main equipment center, which could
adversely affect the airplane's continued safe flight.
Compliance
(e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
Installation of Closeout Panel and Moisture Curtains
(f) For the airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-25A3368, Revision 1, dated June 25, 2007: Within 24
months after the effective date of this AD, install the closeout
panel and moisture curtains for the main equipment center, by
accomplishing all of the applicable actions specified in the
Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin.
Installation of Larger Moisture Shrouds and Additional Drain Lines
(g) For the airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-25A3346, dated September 13, 2007: Within 72 months
after the effective date of this AD, change the drain tubes for the
power drive units and the pitot static tubes and install larger
moisture shrouds, by accomplishing all of the applicable actions
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of the service
bulletin.
Note 2: Accomplishing the actions specified in Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 747-25A3346 dated September 13, 2007, concurrently
with the actions specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
25A3368, Revision 1, dated June 25, 2007, would necessitate less
work than accomplishing the service bulletins at different times.
Credit for Actions Done According to Previous Issue of the Service
Bulletin
(h) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Boeing Alert
[[Page 17260]]
Service Bulletin 747-25A3368, dated August 25, 2005, are acceptable
for compliance with the corresponding actions required by paragraph
(f) of this AD, provided that all of the additional work specified
in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3368, Revision 1, dated June
25, 2007, is accomplished in accordance with paragraph (f) of this
AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
ATTN: Marcia Smith, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and
Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6484; 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 24, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-6613 Filed 3-31-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P