Professional Documents
Culture Documents
docket contains this proposed AD, the Issued in Renton, Washington, on • Mail: U.S. Department of
regulatory evaluation, any comments November 8, 2007. Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
received, and other information. The Ali Bahrami, 30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
street address for the Docket Office Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
(telephone 800–647–5527) is in the Aircraft Certification Service. Washington, DC 20590.
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be [FR Doc. E7–22546 Filed 11–16–07; 8:45 am] • Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of
available in the AD docket shortly after BILLING CODE 4910–13–P Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
receipt. 30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
International Branch, ANM–116, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration except Federal holidays.
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Contact Boeing Commercial
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 14 CFR Part 39 Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
98057–3356; telephone (425) 227–1137; [Docket No. FAA–2007–0204; Directorate Washington 98124–2207, for the service
fax (425) 227–1149. Identifier 2007–NM–083–AD] information identified in this proposed
AD.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We RIN 2120–AA64
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 with Tamara Anderson, Aerospace Engineer,
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing
a notice of proposed rulemaking Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA,
Model 747–100, –100B, –100B SUD,
(NPRM) for an AD for all ATR Model –200B, –200C, –200F, –300, 747SP, and Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes. The 747SR Series Airplanes Powered by 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
NPRM was published in the Federal General Electric (GE) CF6–45/50 and Washington 98057–3356; telephone
Register on September 28, 2007 (72 FR Pratt & Whitney (P&W) JT9D–70, JT9D– (425) 917–6421; fax (425) 917–6590.
55113). The NPRM proposed to require 3 or JT9D–7 Series Engines SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
revising the Airworthiness Limitations
Section of the Instructions for AGENCY: Federal Aviation Comments Invited
Continued Airworthiness to incorporate Administration (FAA), Department of We invite you to submit any relevant
new limitations for fuel tank systems. Transportation (DOT). written data, views, or arguments
The NPRM action invites comments on ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking regarding this proposed AD. Send your
the overall regulatory, economic, (NPRM). comments to an address listed in the
environmental, and energy aspects of ADDRESSES section. Include the docket
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a
the proposed AD. number ‘‘FAA–2007–0204; Directorate
new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Identifier 2007–NM–083–AD’’ at the
Actions Since NPRM Was Issued certain Boeing Model 747–100, –100B,
beginning of your comments. We
–100B SUD, –200B, –200C, –200F, –300,
Since we issued the NPRM, the DOT’s specifically invite comments on the
747SP, and 747SR series airplanes
Docket Management System (DMS) was overall regulatory, economic,
powered by General Electric (GE) CF6–
replaced by the Federal Docket environmental, and energy aspects of
45/50 and Pratt & Whitney (P&W) JT9D–
the proposed AD. We will consider all
Management System (FDMS). FDMS is 70, JT9D–3 or JT9D–7 series engines.
comments received by the closing date
a government-wide, electronic docket This proposed AD would require
and may amend the proposed AD in
management system, which contains the repetitive inspections to find cracks and
light of those comments.
public dockets and is the method used broken fasteners of the rear engine
We will post all comments we
for submitting comments on the overall mount bulkhead of the inboard and
receive, without change, to http://
regulatory, economic, environmental, outboard nacelle struts, and repair if
www.regulations.gov; including any
and energy aspects of proposed necessary. For certain airplanes, this
personal information you provide. We
rulemaking actions. However, due to the proposed AD mandates a terminating
will also post a report summarizing each
service disruption caused by the modification for certain inspections of
substantive verbal contact with FAA
transition from DOT’s DMS to the the inboard and outboard nacelle struts.
personnel concerning this proposed AD.
FDMS, the docket material was not This proposed AD results from reports
Using the search function of that Web
posted on the FDMS until November 1, of web and frame cracks and sheared
site, anyone can find and read the
attachment fasteners on the inboard and
2007. Therefore, we have determined comments in any of our dockets,
outboard nacelle struts. We are
that the public was not provided including the name of the individual
proposing this AD to detect and correct
adequate opportunity to submit who sent the comment (or signed the
cracks and broken fasteners of the
comments on the NPRM. As a result, we comment on behalf of an association,
inboard and outboard nacelle struts,
have decided to reopen the comment business, labor union, etc.). You may
which could result in possible loss of
period for 30 days to receive additional review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
the rear engine mount bulkhead load
comments. Statement in the Federal Register
path and consequent separation of the
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
No part of the regulatory information engine from the airplane.
19477–78), or you may visit http://
has been changed; therefore, the NPRM DATES: We must receive comments on www.regulations.gov.
is not republished in the Federal this proposed AD by January 3, 2008.
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64962 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 222 / Monday, November 19, 2007 / Proposed Rules
except Federal holidays. The Docket • Adds modifications, inspections, HFEC inspections for cracks of the
Operations office (telephone (800) 647– and post-modification inspections for bulkhead frame, replacement of cracked
5527) is located on the ground floor of airplanes in Groups 1 through 5 (those frames, inspection of holes in frames for
the West Building at the DOT street included in the effectivity of the original cracks, inspection of holes in chords for
address stated in the ADDRESSES section. issue of the service bulletin). cracks, replacement of cracked chords,
Comments will be available in the AD • Adds outboard strut inspections for inspection of holes in frame and skin for
docket shortly after the Docket Groups 3, 4, and 5 airplanes included in cracks, contacting Boeing for repair for
Management System receives them. the effectivity of the original issue of the cracks in skin, inspection of holes on aft
service bulletin. left-hand and right-hand sides of
Discussion The compliance times listed in the bulkhead in frame and skin for cracks,
On January 2, 2002, the FAA issued Part A Inspections, as specified in the inspection of frame edge for cracks, and
a notice of proposed rulemaking service bulletin, are as follows: The inspection of the holes on the forward
(NPRM), Docket No. 2001–NM–40–AD, compliance time for airplanes on which side of bulkhead in frame and skin for
to address the identified unsafe the detailed visual and high frequency cracks.
condition; that action was published in eddy current (HFEC) inspections of the
the Federal Register on January 9, 2002 inboard and outboard strut rear engine • For Groups 1 and 5 airplanes (on
(67 FR 1167). That NPRM proposed to mount bulkheads in the original issue of inboard struts only for Group 5): If more
require repetitive inspections to find the service bulletin have been done than two broken fasteners are found, do
cracks and broken fasteners of the ranges from 180 days to 18 months from Repair 2 or 3 of the service bulletin
inboard and outboard nacelle struts of the release date of Revision 1 of the (depending on configuration). Install
the rear engine mount bulkhead, and service bulletin or 350 flight cycles to doublers, chords, and CRES repair
repair if necessary. For certain 1,200 flight cycles, whichever occurs angles before further flight.
airplanes, that NPRM provided for an earlier; the repetitive interval ranges —Repair 2 includes the following
optional terminating modification for from 350 flight cycles to 1,200 flight related investigative and corrective
the inspections of the outboard nacelle cycles or 18 months, whichever occurs actions: Detailed visual and HFEC
struts. That NPRM was prompted by earlier. inspections for cracks of the bulkhead
reports indicating that fatigue cracking The compliance time for airplanes on
frame, repair or replacement of cracked
of the inboard and outboard nacelle which the inspections in the original
frames, inspection of holes in frames for
struts of the rear engine mount bulkhead issue of the service bulletin have not
cracks, inspection of holes in chords for
was found. The unsafe condition is been done is within 90 days from the
cracks, replacement of cracked chords,
cracks and broken fasteners of the release date of Revision 1 of the service
bulletin to within 18 months or 1,200 inspection of holes on aft left-hand and
inboard and outboard nacelle struts.
flight cycles, whichever occurs earlier; right-hand sides of bulkhead in frame
Subsequently, we worked with the
the repetitive interval ranges from 350 and skin for cracks, inspection of frame
manufacturer to ensure that the unsafe
flight cycles to 1,200 flight cycles or 18 edge for cracks, and inspection of the
condition is adequately addressed and
months, whichever occurs earlier. The holes on the forward side of bulkhead
appropriate service instructions are
compliance times depend on airplane in frame and skin for cracks.
available. We have also received many
new reports of additional web and frame configuration and nacelle strut position. —Repair 3 includes the following
cracks and sheared attachment The compliance times listed in the related investigative and corrective
fasteners, and reports of cracks on the Part B Inspections—Post Modification, actions: Inspection of holes in frames for
outboard struts of airplanes not as specified in the service bulletin, are cracks, replacement of cracked frames,
identified in the applicability of that as follows: The compliance time for inspection of frame edge for cracks, and
NPRM. In addition, we have considered airplanes on which the repairs have replacement of cracked frames.
comments submitted in response to that been done ranges from 600 flight cycles
• For Group 1 airplanes: If any new
NPRM. to 7,200 flight cycles or 18 months after
crack, extension of stop-drilled crack, or
In light of all this information, we repair; the repetitive interval ranges
more than two broken fasteners are
have determined that the corrective from 600 flight cycles to 1,200 flight
found, do Repair 4 of the service
actions required by that NPRM are cycles or 18 months, whichever occurs
bulletin. Install additional CRES repair
inadequate for addressing the identified earlier. At 7,200 flight cycles after repair
angles before further flight. Repair 4
unsafe condition; therefore, we have the repetitive interval changes from
includes the following related
withdrawn that NPRM and are issuing doing a detailed visual inspection every
investigative and corrective actions:
this new proposed AD to address the 1,200 flight cycles or 18 months, to
HFEC inspections of the fastener holes
unsafe condition. doing detailed visual and HFEC
and open holes of the bulkhead frame
inspections every 1,200 flight cycles or
Relevant Service Information for cracks, stop drill or trim out cracks
18 months.
In light of those new reports, Boeing Depending on the group, the service found in the frame only, contact Boeing
has issued Alert Service Bulletin 747– bulletin specifies doing the following for repair of cracks in the existing
54A2202, Revision 1, dated June 22, repairs, related investigative actions, doubler or repair angle, and fabricate
2006. The original issue, dated and corrective actions: and install certain repair angles.
December 21, 2000, was referred to in • For Groups 1, 2, and 5 airplanes (on • For Groups 1, 2, and 5 airplanes: If
the NPRM, Docket No. 2001–NM–40– inboard struts only for Group 5): If any only one or two broken fasteners are
AD, as the appropriate source of service crack is found, do Repair 1 of the found, do Repair 5 of the service
information for accomplishing certain service bulletin. Replace cracked frames bulletin, replace the fasteners before
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actions. Revision 1 includes the with new frames, and install repair further flight, and do Repair 2, 3, or 4,
following changes to the original issue: doublers, chords, and corrosion depending on configuration, within 18
• Adds additional airplanes powered resistant steel (CRES) repair angles or 36 months from the release date of
by General Electric (GE) CF6–45/50 before further flight. Repair 1 includes the service bulletin, as applicable.
series engines to the effectivity the following related investigative and Repair 5 includes the following related
(identified as Group 6 airplanes). corrective actions: Detailed visual and investigative and corrective actions:
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 222 / Monday, November 19, 2007 / Proposed Rules 64963
HFEC inspections of the fastener holes Costs of Compliance implications under Executive Order
for cracks, and repair of any cracks. There are about 460 airplanes of the 13132. This proposed AD would not
• For Groups 3, 4, and 6 airplanes: If affected design in the worldwide fleet. have a substantial direct effect on the
any crack, or more than two broken This proposed AD would affect about States, on the relationship between the
fasteners are found, do the applicable 135 airplanes of U.S. registry. national Government and the States, or
repair before further flight (contact It would take about 4 work hours per on the distribution of power and
Boeing or repair per the structural repair airplane to accomplish the proposed responsibilities among the various
manual, depending on configuration). detailed inspection, at an average labor levels of government.
• For Groups 3, 4, and 6 airplanes: If rate of $80 per work hour. Based on For the reasons discussed above, I
only one or two broken fasteners are these figures, the estimated cost of the certify that the proposed regulation:
found, do Repair 5 of the service proposed inspection is $43,200, or $320 1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
bulletin before further flight. per airplane, per inspection cycle. action’’ under Executive Order 12866;
• For Group 5 airplanes (outboard It would take about 32 work hours per 2. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the
strut only): If any crack or broken airplane to accomplish the proposed DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures
fastener is found, repair and contact high frequency eddy current inspection, (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
Boeing before further flight. at an average labor rate of $80 per work
• For airplanes that have done post- 3. Will not have a significant
hour. Based on these figures, the economic impact, positive or negative,
modification inspections: If any crack or estimated cost of the proposed high
broken fastener is found, repair and on a substantial number of small entities
frequency eddy current inspection is under the criteria of the Regulatory
contact Boeing before further flight. $345,600, or $2,560 per airplane, per
The procedures in the service bulletin Flexibility Act.
inspection cycle.
specify doing the following For Groups 1, 2, and 5 airplanes, it We prepared a regulatory evaluation
modifications for Groups 1, 2, and 5 would take between approximately 10 of the estimated costs to comply with
airplanes, depending on airplane and 95 work hours per strut (four struts this proposed AD and placed it in the
configuration: per airplane) to accomplish the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES section
• If no crack or broken fastener is proposed modification, depending on for a location to examine the regulatory
found, do Repair 2 or 3 within 18 to 36 airplane configuration, at an average evaluation.
months. labor rate of $80 per work hour. Parts List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
• If no new crack, extension of stop cost for the fasteners only would be
drill cracking, or broken fastener is between $269 and $897 per strut. Based Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation
found, do Repair 4 within 36 months. on these figures, the cost impact of the safety, Safety.
FAA’s Determination and Requirements proposed modification would be The Proposed Amendment
of the Proposed AD between $4,276 and $33,988 per
airplane. We are unable to provide Accordingly, under the authority
We have evaluated all pertinent specific information as to the cost of the delegated to me by the Administrator,
information and identified an unsafe actual parts other than the fasteners that the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part
condition that is likely to exist or would be required to accomplish the 39 as follows:
develop on other airplanes of this same proposed modification since the parts
type design. For this reason, we are would be supplied from operator stock. PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS
proposing this AD, which would require DIRECTIVES
accomplishing the actions specified in Authority for This Rulemaking
the service information described 1. The authority citation for part 39
Title 49 of the United States Code
previously, except as discussed below. continues to read as follows:
specifies the FAA’s authority to issue
rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Differences Between the Alert Service
Bulletin and This Proposed AD Section 106, describes the authority of § 39.13 [Amended]
the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII,
The alert service bulletin specifies to Aviation Programs, describes in more 2. The Federal Aviation
contact the manufacturer for detail the scope of the Agency’s Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13
instructions on how to repair certain authority. by adding the following new
conditions, but this proposed AD would We are issuing this rulemaking under airworthiness directive (AD):
require repairing those conditions in the authority described in Subtitle VII, Boeing: Docket No. FAA–2007–0204;
one of the following ways: Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, Directorate Identifier 2007–NM–083–AD.
• Using a method that we approve; or ‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that Comments Due Date
• Using data that meet the section, Congress charges the FAA with
certification basis of the airplane, and promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in (a) The FAA must receive comments on
this AD action by January 3, 2008.
that have been approved by an air commerce by prescribing regulations
Authorized Representative for the for practices, methods, and procedures Affected ADs
Boeing Commercial Airplanes the Administrator finds necessary for (b) None.
Delegation Option Authorization safety in air commerce. This regulation
Applicability
Organization whom we have authorized is within the scope of that authority
to make those findings. because it addresses an unsafe condition (c) This AD applies to Model 747–100,
that is likely to exist or develop on –100B, –100B SUD, 200B, 200C, –200F, –300,
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64964 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 222 / Monday, November 19, 2007 / Proposed Rules
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