[Federal Register: April 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 68)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 19015-19017]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ap08-16]
========================================================================
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 19015]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-28160; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-006-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 757-200 and 757-300 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); reopening of
comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA is revising an earlier proposed airworthiness
directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757-200 and 757-300 series
airplanes. The original NPRM would have required installing a bonding
jumper between a ground and the clamp on the tube of the forward and
aft gray water composite drain masts. The original NPRM resulted from a
report of charred insulation blankets and burned wires around the
forward gray water composite drain mast found during an inspection of
the forward cargo compartment on a Model 767-300F airplane. For certain
airplanes, this action revises the original NPRM by adding a new
inspection of existing aft bonding jumper assemblies that might be too
short, repair if necessary, and replacement of the bonding jumper
assembly with a new, longer bonding jumper assembly if necessary. We
are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent a fire near a composite
drain mast and possible disruption of the electrical power system due
to a lightning strike on a composite drain mast, which could result in
the loss of several functions essential for safe flight.
DATES: We must receive comments on this supplemental NPRM by May 5,
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: Nicholas Wilson, 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) 917-6476; 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-2007-
28160; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-006-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 issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (the ``original
NPRM'') to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to certain Boeing Model 757-200 and 757-300
series airplanes. The original NPRM was published in the Federal
Register on May 16, 2007 (72 FR 27497). The original NPRM proposed to
require installing a bonding jumper between a ground and the clamp on
the tube of the forward and aft gray water composite drain masts.
Actions Since Original NPRM Was Issued
Since we issued the original NPRM, Boeing has advised us of reports
of the bonding jumper being too short to reach the bracket in the aft
drain installation, as described in Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 757-30-0024, dated July 24, 2006. Boeing has issued Special
Attention Service Bulletin 757-30-0024, Revision 1, dated October 25,
2007. The procedures in this service bulletin are essentially the same
as those in the original service bulletin. The service bulletin also
includes procedures to correct bonding jumper assemblies that are too
short on airplanes that changed the aft drain mast in accordance with
the original issue of the service bulletin, and procedures that should
be followed if the proper resistance values of the bonding jumper
cannot be met. We have added a new paragraph to this supplemental NPRM
to require inspection, repair, and replacement of the aft bonding
jumper assemblies installed according to the original service bulletin
that have been determined to be too short. We have also revised
paragraph (f) of the supplemental NPRM to refer to Revision 1 of the
service bulletin as the appropriate source of service information for
the proposed requirements.
[[Page 19016]]
Additional Changes to This Supplemental NPRM
We have also updated the Costs of Compliance section of this
supplemental NPRM to reflect the new inspection, the current number of
U.S.-registered airplanes, and the cost of parts necessary to
accomplish the proposed actions.
We have confirmed with the airplane manufacturer that the composite
and aluminum drain mast can be interchangeable. Therefore, we have
added a new paragraph (h), ``Parts Installation,'' to this supplemental
NPRM to prohibit installation of a composite gray water drain mast,
unless a bonding jumper is also installed, as specified in paragraph
(f) of this AD. We have also re-identified subsequent paragraphs
accordingly.
FAA's Determination and Proposed Requirements of the Supplemental NPRM
We are proposing this supplemental NPRM because we evaluated all
pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition exists and is
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.
Certain changes described above expand the scope of the original NPRM.
As a result, we have determined that it is necessary to reopen the
comment period to provide additional opportunity for the public to
comment on this supplemental NPRM.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 83 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this supplemental NPRM.
Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average labor Cost per Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours rate per hour Parts airplane registered airplanes Fleet cost
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonding jumper installation...... 2 $80 $392, per kit (1 kit $944 70................... $66,080.
per drain mast).
Inspection of existing bonding 1 80 $392................ 472 Up to 70............. Up to $33,040.
jumper installation in bulk
cargo compartment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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 that the 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this supplemental NPRM 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, 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-2007-28160; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
006-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by May 5, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 757-200 and 757-300 series
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-30-0024, Revision 1, dated
October 25, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report of charred insulation blankets
and burned wires around the forward gray water composite drain mast
found during an inspection of the forward cargo compartment on a
Model 767-300F airplane. We are issuing this AD to prevent a fire
near a composite drain mast and possible disruption of the
electrical power system due to a lightning strike on a composite
drain mast, which could result in the loss of several functions
essential for safe flight.
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.
Bonding Jumper Installation
(f) Except as provided by paragraph (g) of this AD: Within 60
months after the effective date of this AD, install a bonding jumper
between a ground and the clamp on the tube of the forward and aft
gray water composite drain mast, in accordance with Parts 1 and 2 of
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 757-30-0024, Revision 1, dated October 25, 2007.
Existing Bonding Jumper Inspection
(g) For airplanes on which the bonding jumper was installed on
the aft drain mast in
[[Page 19017]]
accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-30-
0024, dated July 24, 2006: Within 60 months after the effective date
of this AD, do a general visual inspection of the aft bonding jumper
assembly for signs of riding (chafing) in accordance with Part 3 of
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 757-30-0024, Revision 1, dated October 25, 2007. If no
riding damage is found, no further action is required by this AD for
the aft drain mast. If riding damage is found, before further flight
do the actions specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD.
Doing the actions specified in this paragraph terminates the
requirement to install the bonding jumper on the aft drain mast
specified in paragraph (f) of this AD.
(1) Repair any riding damage found in accordance with the
service bulletin.
(2) Remove the existing bonding jumper assembly and install a
new, longer bonding jumper assembly in accordance with Part 3 of the
Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin. As an option to
the longer bonding jumper assembly, operators may remove the
bracket, fill the holes in the stringer, and restore the finish in
accordance with Part 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of the
service bulletin; and install the ground bracket and jumper assembly
in accordance with Part 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of the
service bulletin.
Parts Installation
(h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install,
on any airplane, a composite gray water drain mast, unless a bonding
jumper is also installed, as specified in paragraph (f) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 31, 2008.
Dionne Palermo,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-7302 Filed 4-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P