[Federal Register: April 14, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 72)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 19968-19971]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ap08-5]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0227; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-159-AD;
Amendment 39-15454; AD 2008-08-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Boeing Model 727 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for
cracking or corrosion of the threaded end of the lower segment of the
main landing gear (MLG) side strut, and corrective actions if
necessary. This AD also requires prior or concurrent inspection for
cracking or corrosion of the threads and thread relief area of the
lower segment, corrective action if necessary, and re-assembly using
corrosion inhibiting compound. This AD results from reports of the
threads cracking on the MLG side strut lower segment. We are issuing
this AD to
[[Page 19969]]
prevent a fractured side strut, which could result in collapse of the
MLG.
DATES: This AD is effective May 19, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of May 19, 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: 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:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to
all Boeing Model 727 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal
Register on November 26, 2007 (72 FR 65913). That NPRM proposed to
require repetitive inspections for cracking or corrosion of the
threaded end of the lower segment of the main landing gear (MLG) side
strut, and corrective actions if necessary. That NPRM also proposed to
require prior or concurrent inspection for cracking or corrosion of the
threads and thread relief area of the lower segment, corrective action
if necessary, and re-assembly using corrosion inhibiting compound.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the single comment received. Boeing supports the
NPRM.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 842 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 459 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to
comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work hour.
Estimated Costs
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Average labor
Action Work hours rate per hour Cost per airplane Fleet cost
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Inspection...................... 12.................. $80 $960, per $440,640, per
inspection cycle. inspection cycle.
Prior/concurrent actions........ Up to 6............. 80 Up to $480......... Up to $220,320.
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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
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.
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, 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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
2008-08-02 Boeing: Amendment 39-15454. Docket No. FAA-2007-0227;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-159-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 19, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all Model 727, 727C, 727-100, 727-100C,
727-200, and 727-200F series airplanes, certificated in any
category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of the threads cracking on the
main landing gear (MLG) side strut lower segment. We are issuing
this AD to prevent a fractured side strut, which could result in
collapse of the MLG.
[[Page 19970]]
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.
Inspections and Corrective Actions
(f) At the latest applicable time in paragraph (f)(1), (f)(2),
or (f)(3) of this AD: Do detailed and magnetic particle inspections
for cracking or corrosion of the threaded end of the lower segment
of the MLG side strut and do all applicable corrective actions as
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 727-32-0338, Revision 4, dated April 7,
2007. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight.
Repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 120
months.
(1) Within 48 months after the last MLG overhaul.
(2) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD.
(3) Within 120 months after the last MLG overhaul for airplanes
on which the actions in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin
727-32-0338, Revision 4, dated April 7, 2007, have been accomplished
before the effective date of this AD.
Prior/Concurrent Requirements
(g) Prior to or concurrently with the actions required by
paragraph (f) of this AD: Do all applicable actions specified in the
service bulletins listed in Table 1 of this AD. Where the
lubrication and corrosion protection procedures in any service
bulletin listed in Table 1 of this AD differ from those in Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-32-0338, Revision 4, dated
April 7, 2007, use the procedures in Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 727-32-0338, Revision 4.
Table 1.--Prior/Concurrent Requirements
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Describes procedures
For-- Service Bulletin-- for these prior or
concurrent actions--
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(1) All airplanes........... Boeing Special Inspecting for
Attention 727-32- corrosion or
0411, Revision 1, cracking of the
dated February 19, threads and thread
2007. relief area of the
swivel clevis, and
improving the
corrosion
protection of the
swivel clevis
fitting threads in
commonly affected
airplanes.
(2) Airplanes specified as Boeing 727 Service Modifying the MLG
Options III, IV and V Bulletin 32-79, side strut
configurations in Boeing Revision 1, dated universal joint.
Special Attention Service February 27, 1967.
Bulletin 727-32-0338,
Revision 4.
Boeing 727 Service Replacing the MLG
Bulletin 32-157, side strut swivel
dated August 30, bushing,
1968. incorporating only
parts kit 65-89855-
1, and not
installing the lube
fitting in the
lower segment.
(3) Airplanes specified as Boeing Service Inspecting and
Option V configuration in Bulletin 727-32- modifying the MLG
Boeing Special Attention 268, Revision 2, side strut.
Service Bulletin 727-32- dated February 20,
0338, Revision 4. 1981.
Boeing Service Resolving the
Bulletin 727-57- interference
163, dated between the MLG
September 17, 1982. gear beam and the
MLG side strut.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(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) 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, 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
(i) You must use the applicable service information listed in
Table 2 of this AD to do the actions required by this AD, unless the
AD specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington
98124-2207.
(3) You may review copies of the service information that is
incorporated by reference 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/code_of_federal_
regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Table 2.--Material Incorporated by Reference
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Service Bulletin Revision Date
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Boeing Special Attention Service 4.................................. April 7, 2007.
Bulletin 727-32-0338.
Boeing Special Attention Service 1.................................. February 19, 2007.
Bulletin 727-32-0411.
Boeing 727 Service Bulletin 32-157.... Original........................... August 30, 1968.
Boeing 727 Service Bulletin 32-79..... 1.................................. February 27, 1967.
Boeing Service Bulletin 727-32-268.... 2.................................. February 20, 1981.
Boeing Service Bulletin 727-57-163.... Original........................... September 17, 1982.
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[[Page 19971]]
Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 28, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-7176 Filed 4-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P