[Federal Register: September 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 183)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53915-53918]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21se07-2]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-27712; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-233-AD;
Amendment 39-15207; AD 2007-19-16]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive
(AD), which applies to certain Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. That
AD requires a one-time inspection for discrepancies of the potable
water and drain lines in the cargo compartments, and corrective action
if necessary. This new AD requires that the inspection be repetitively
performed using new service information, until terminating action is
done. This AD also removes certain airplanes from the applicability.
This AD results from a report of a fire in the aft cargo compartment
started by a potable water line heater tape. We are issuing this AD to
prevent overheating of the heater tape on potable water fill and drain
lines, which could ignite accumulated debris or contaminants on or near
the potable water fill and drain lines, resulting in a fire in the
airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective October 26, 2007.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of October 26,
2007.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC.
Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207, for service information identified in this AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Eiford, 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) 917-6465; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Examining the Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Operations
office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is located on the ground floor of the
West Building at the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES
section.
Discussion
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR
[[Page 53916]]
part 39 to include an AD that supersedes AD 2004-09-10, amendment 39-
13599 (69 FR 23647, April 30, 2004). The existing AD applies to certain
Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on March 29, 2007 (72 FR 14719). That NPRM proposed to
require repetitive inspections of the potable water and drain lines in
the cargo compartments for indications of overheating of the heater
tape, exposed foam insulation, missing or damaged protective tape, or
debris around the potable water fill and drain lines; corrective
action, if necessary; and eventual installation of new ribbon heaters,
which would terminate the repetitive inspections. That NPRM also
proposed to remove certain airplanes from the applicability.
Relevant Service Information
The NPRM cited Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-30A2080, Revision
2, dated September 14, 2006, as the appropriate source of service
information for the proposed actions. Boeing has since revised the
service bulletin. We have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 747-30A2080,
Revision 3, dated June 14, 2007. Revision 3 removes certain airplanes
from the effectivity, revises certain references, and updates certain
other information, but otherwise does not substantially change any of
the actions.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comment that has been
received on the NPRM.
Request To Remove Airplanes From the Proposed Applicability
Boeing requests that we revise the applicability of the NPRM to
remove Model 747-400 passenger airplanes that have been converted to
the 747-400 BCF configuration, except for the first such configured
airplane (variable number RT456). Boeing reports that as part of the
conversion, heater tapes are replaced with new heater ribbons that
satisfy the requirements for the terminating action specified in the
NPRM and eliminates the unsafe condition associated with the
installation of heater tapes addressed by superseded AD 2004-09-10.
We agree with Boeing's rationale. Accordingly, we have revised Note
1 and paragraphs (c), (f), and (g) in this final rule to refer to
Revision 3 of the service bulletin. We have also revised paragraph (h)
in this final rule to provide credit for actions already accomplished
as specified in Revision 2 of the service bulletin.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comment that has been received, and determined that air safety and the
public interest require adopting the AD with the changes described
previously. We have determined that these changes will neither increase
the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 1,114 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this AD, at an average labor rate of $80
per hour. The cost of parts is minimal.
Estimated Costs
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No. of U.S.-
Action Group Work hours Cost per registered Fleet cost by
airplane airplanes group
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Inspection (cost per 1............... 3 $240 113 $27,120
inspection cycle). 2 (Config. 1)... 2 160 18 2,880
2 (Config. 2)... 2 160 17 2,720
3............... 3 240 2 480
4............... 3 240 0 0
5............... 2 160 0 0
Modification.................. 1............... 48 3,840 113 433,920
2 (Config. 1)... 7 560 18 10,080
2 (Config. 2)... 15 1,200 17 20,400
2 (Config. 3)... 8 640 17 10,880
3............... 60 4,800 2 9,600
4............... 61 4,880 0 0
5............... 27 2,160 0 0
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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 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.
[[Page 53917]]
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.
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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
removing amendment 39-13599 (69 FR 23647, April 30, 2004) and by adding
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
2007-19-16 Boeing: Amendment 39-15207. Docket No. FAA-2007-27712;
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-233-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective October 26, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2004-09-10.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747 airplanes, certificated
in any category, as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-
30A2080, Revision 3, dated June 14, 2007.
Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a cargo area that is not
fully enclosed or not enclosed, as identified in Boeing Service
Bulletin 747-30A2080, Revision 3, dated June 14, 2007, is a floor
without panels installed between all roller trays in the cargo
compartment.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report of a fire in the aft cargo
compartment started by a potable water line heater tape. We are
issuing this AD to prevent overheating of the heater tape on potable
water fill and drain lines, which could ignite accumulated debris or
contaminants on or near the potable water fill and drain lines,
resulting in a fire in the airplane.
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
(f) At the later of the times specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and
(f)(2) of this AD: Do the initial inspections specified in Table 1
of this AD in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of
Boeing Service Bulletin 747-30A2080, Revision 3, dated June 14,
2007. Correct any discrepancy before further flight in accordance
with the service bulletin. Repeat the inspections at the applicable
time specified in Table 1 of this AD.
(1) Within 18 calendar months since the date of issuance of the
original standard airworthiness certificate or within 18 calendar
months since the date of issuance of the original export certificate
of airworthiness.
(2) Within 90 calendar days after the effective date of this AD.
Table 1.--Inspections
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Do a general visual inspection And repeat the
of the forward and aft cargo inspection at
compartments, as applicable, intervals not to Until--
for-- exceed--
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Foreign object debris (FOD) or 600 flight hours.. The heater tape
contamination on, near, or replacement
around the potable water supply required by
and gray water drain lines. paragraph (g) of
this AD is done.
Indications of heat damage, 1,800 flight hours The heater tape
exposed foam insulation, or replacement
missing or damaged protective required by
tape of all heater tape on the paragraph (g) of
potable water supply and gray this AD is done.
water drain lines.
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Terminating Action
(g) At the applicable time specified in Table 2 of this AD:
Replace the heater tape on the potable water supply and gray water
drain lines of the forward and aft cargo compartments, as
applicable, with Adel Wiggins ribbon heaters. Do the actions in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service
Bulletin 747-30A2080, Revision 3, dated June 14, 2007. This
replacement terminates the requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.
Table 2.--Compliance Time for Terminating Action
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For airplanes on which the (1) Replace the heater tape at the later
heater tape has-- of--
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(1) Not been replaced before Within 42 months since 24 months after
the effective date of this AD the date of issuance the effective
in accordance with Boeing of the original date of this
Alert Service Bulletin 747- standard AD.
30A2079, dated December 12, airworthiness
2002; Revision 1, dated certificate or the
October 16, 2003; or Revision date of issuance of
2, dated December 16, 2004. the original export
certificate of
airworthiness,
whichever occurs
first.
(2) Been replaced before the Within 42 months after 24 months after
effective date of this AD in the heater tape was the effective
accordance with Boeing Alert replaced. date of this
Service Bulletin 747-30A2079, AD.
dated December 12, 2002;
Revision 1, dated October 16,
2003; or Revision 2, dated
December 16, 2004.
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Provisions for Previously Accomplished Work
(h) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-30A2080--either
the original version dated December 16, 2004, or Revision 1, dated
August 18, 2005--are acceptable for compliance with the
corresponding requirements of this AD; except, for Group 2,
Configuration 2 and Configuration 3 airplanes, as defined in
Revision 2 of the service bulletin, additional work is required in
the forward cargo compartment, as specified in Parts 1, 2, and 3 of
the service bulletin and required by this AD. Actions done before
the effective date of this AD in accordance with Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 747-30A2080, Revision 2, dated September 14, 2006,
are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding requirements of
this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
has the authority to
[[Page 53918]]
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.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(j) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 747-30A2080, Revision
3, dated June 14, 2007, to perform the actions that are required by
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this
document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207, for a copy of this service information. You
may review copies 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 10, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-18473 Filed 9-20-07; 8:45 am]
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