[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 141 (Friday, July 23, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43097-43099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18017]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0698; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-264-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 757 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness
directive (AD) that applies to all Model 757 airplanes. The existing AD
currently requires sealing the fasteners on the front and rear spars
inside the left and right main fuel tanks and on the rear spar and
lower panel of the center fuel tank. That AD also requires inspections
of the wire bundle support installations to verify if certain clamps
are installed and if Teflon sleeving covers the wire bundles inside the
left and right equipment cooling system bays, on the left and right
rear spars, and on the left and right front spars; and corrective
actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also require sealing the
additional fasteners on the rear spar inside the left and right main
fuel tanks. This proposed AD results from a fuel system review
conducted by the manufacturer. We have received reports from the
manufacturer that additional fasteners in the main fuel tanks must be
sealed for lightning strike protection. We are proposing this AD to
detect and correct improper wire bundle support installation and
sleeving and to prevent improperly sealed fasteners in the main and
center fuel tanks from becoming an ignition source, in the event of a
fault current or lightning strike, which could result in a fuel tank
explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 7,
2010.
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 proposed AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.
O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail [email protected];
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review copies of the
referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
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: Tak Kobayashi, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone
(425) 917-6499; 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-2010-0698;
Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-264-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
On October 24, 2008, we issued AD 2008-23-19, Amendment 39-15740
(73 FR 71534, November 25, 2008), for all Model 757 series airplanes.
That AD requires sealing the fasteners on the front and rear spars
inside the left and right main fuel tanks and on the rear spar and
lower panel of the center fuel tank. That AD also requires inspections
of the wire bundle support installations to verify if certain clamps
are installed and if Teflon sleeving covers the wire bundles inside the
left and right equipment cooling system bays, on the left and right
rear spars, and on the left and right front spars; and corrective
actions if necessary. That AD resulted
[[Page 43098]]
from a fuel system review conducted by the manufacturer. We issued that
AD to detect and correct improper wire bundle support installation and
sleeving and to prevent improperly sealed fasteners in the main and
center fuel tanks from becoming an ignition source, in the event of a
fault current, which could result in a fuel tank explosion and
consequent loss of the airplane.
Clarification of Applicability
The applicability of AD 2008-23-19 refers to Model 757-200, -200CB,
-200PF, and -300 series airplanes, as identified in Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 757-57A0064, dated July 16, 2007. Since that service
bulletin affects all Model 757 airplanes, we have revised paragraph (c)
of this AD to include all Model 757 airplanes.
Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued
Since we issued AD 2008-23-19, we have received reports that it is
possible for some fuel tank fasteners, in the event of a lightning
strike, to become an ignition source. Additional fasteners in the main
fuel tanks must be sealed for lightning strike protection.
Relevant Service Information
AD 2008-23-19 referred to Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-
57A0064, dated July 16, 2007, as the appropriate source of service
information for the required actions. Boeing has since revised the
service bulletin. Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-57A0064, Revision
1, dated October 5, 2009, identifies additional fasteners on the rear
spar inside the left and right main fuel tanks that must be sealed.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to develop on other airplanes of the
same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, which
would supersede AD 2008-23-19 and would retain the requirements of the
existing AD. This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions
specified in the Relevant Service Information described previously.
Change to Existing AD
This proposed AD would retain all requirements of AD 2008-23-19.
Since AD 2008-23-19 was issued, the AD format has been revised, and
certain paragraphs have been rearranged. As a result, the corresponding
paragraph identifiers have changed in this proposed AD, as listed in
the following table:
Revised Paragraph Identifiers
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Corresponding requirement in this
Requirement in AD 2008-23-19 proposed AD
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paragraph (d) paragraph (e)
paragraph (e) paragraph (f)
paragraph (f) paragraph (g)
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Costs of Compliance
There are about 1,036 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.
Estimated Costs
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplane airplanes
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Fastener Sealing and Inspections (required Up to 545 hours per airplane $85 $325 $46,650 667 $31,115,550
by AD 2008[dash]23[dash]19). depending on airplane
configuration.
Main Tank Fastener Sealing (new proposed 30.......................... 85 0 2,550 667 1,700,850
action).
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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 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 proposed 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.
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 removing Amendment 39-15740 (73 FR
71534, November 25, 2008), and adding the following new AD:
[[Page 43099]]
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2010-0698; Directorate Identifier
2009-NM-264-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by September
7, 2010.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2008-23-19, Amendment 39-15740.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -
200CB, -200PF, and -300 series airplanes, certificated in any
category.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57: Wings.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from a fuel system review conducted by the
manufacturer. We have received reports from the manufacturer that
additional fasteners in the main fuel tanks must be sealed for
lightning strike protection. The Federal Aviation Administration is
issuing this AD to detect and correct improper wire bundle support
installation and sleeving and to prevent improperly sealed fasteners
in the main and center fuel tanks from becoming an ignition source,
in the event of a fault current or lightning strike, which could
result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.
Compliance
(f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Restatement of Requirements of AD 2008-23-19, With Revised Service
Information
Fastener Sealing and Inspections
(g) Within 60 months after December 30, 2008 (the effective date
of AD 2008-23-19), seal the applicable fasteners and do the general
visual inspections of the wire bundle support installations, and do
all the applicable corrective actions before further flight, by
accomplishing all of the applicable actions specified in the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-
57A0064, dated July 16, 2007; or Part 1 through Part 10 of the Work
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-57A0064, Revision
1, dated October 5, 2009.
New Requirements of This AD
Fastener Sealing on the Rear Spar
(h) For airplanes on which Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-
57A0064, dated July 16, 2007, was done: Within 60 months after
December 30, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008-23-19), seal the
fasteners on the rear spar inside the left and right main fuel
tanks, in accordance with Part 11 of the Work Instructions of Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 757-57A0064, Revision 1, dated October 5,
2009.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to
ATTN: Tak Kobayashi, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-
140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue,
SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6499; fax
(425) 917-6590. Information may be e-mailed to: [email protected].
(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 principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office.
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
(3) AMOCs approved previously in accordance with AD 2008-23-19,
Amendment 39-15740, are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding
provisions of paragraph (g) of this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 15, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-18017 Filed 7-22-10; 8:45 am]
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