[Federal Register: August 19, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 161)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48294-48296]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19au08-6]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0642; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-039-AD;
Amendment 39-15643; AD 2008-17-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.
(EMBRAER) Model EMB-135 Airplanes, and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -
145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP 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 EMBRAER Model EMB-135 airplanes and
Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP
airplanes. That AD currently requires replacing the metallic tubes
enclosing the vent and pilot valve wires in the left- and right-hand
wing fuel tanks with non-conductive hoses. This new AD adds airplanes
to the applicability of the existing AD. This AD results from fuel
system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to
prevent an ignition source inside the fuel tank that could ignite fuel
vapor and cause a fuel tank explosion and loss of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective September 23, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of September 23,
2008.
On July 19, 2007 (72 FR 32780, June 14, 2007), the Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain
other documents.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER), P.O. Box 343--CEP
12.225, Sao Jose dos Campos--SP, Brazil.
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)
[[Page 48295]]
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: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-1175; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that supersedes AD 2007-12-17, amendment
39-15095 (72 FR 32780, June 14, 2007). The existing AD applies to
certain EMBRAER Model EMB-135 airplanes and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -
145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes. That NPRM was
published in the Federal Register on June 20, 2008 (73 FR 35098). That
NPRM proposed to continue to require replacing the metallic tubes
enclosing the vent and pilot valve wires in the left- and right-hand
wing fuel tanks with non-conductive hoses. That NPRM also proposed to
add airplanes to the applicability of the existing AD.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. No comments have been received on the NPRM or
on the determination of the cost to the public.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
airplane airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tube replacement (required by 1 $1,121 (for $1,201 30 $36,030
AD 2007-12-17). Model EMB-135BJ
airplanes).
1 $1,788 (for 1,868 593 1,107,724
remaining
airplanes).
Tube replacement for 1 $1,121 (for 1,201 11 13,211
additional airplanes. Model EMB-135BJ
airplanes).
1 $1,788 (for 1,868 75 140,100
remaining
additional
airplanes).
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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. 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 39-15095 (72 FR 32780, June 14, 2007) and by adding
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
2008-17-05 Empresa Brasileira De Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER:
Amendment 39-15643. Docket No. FAA-2008-0642; Directorate Identifier
2008-NM-039-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective September 23, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2007-12-17.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all EMBRAER Model EMB-135ER, -135KE, -
135KL, -135LR, and -135BJ airplanes; and all Model EMB-145, -145ER,
-145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes; certificated
in any category.
[[Page 48296]]
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source
inside the fuel tank that could ignite fuel vapor and cause a fuel
tank explosion and loss of 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.
Requirements of AD 2007-12-17 Including Additional Airplanes:
Tube Replacement
(f) For airplanes identified in the applicable service bulletins
specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD: Within 5,000
flight hours or 48 months after July 19, 2007 (the effective date of
AD 2007-12-17), whichever occurs first, replace the metallic tubes
enclosing the vent and pilot valve wires in the left- and right-hand
wing fuel tanks with new, improved, non-conductive hoses, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the service
bulletins specified in paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, as
applicable.
(1) For Model EMB-135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -
145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes: EMBRAER Service
Bulletin 145-28-0023, Revision 07, dated February 7, 2007.
(2) For Model EMB-135BJ airplanes: EMBRAER Service Bulletin
145LEG-28-0018, Revision 01, dated April 20, 2005.
(g) For Model EMB-135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -
145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes that are not
identified in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD: Within 5,000 flight hours
or 48 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs
first, replace the metallic tubes enclosing the vent and pilot valve
wires in the left- and right-hand wing fuel tanks with new,
improved, non-conductive hoses; in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of EMBRAER Service Bulletin 145-28-0023,
Revision 11, dated December 4, 2007.
Credit for Actions Done Using Previous Service Information
(h) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with the service information specified in Table 1 of this
AD are considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding
actions of this AD.
Table 1--Acceptable EMBRAER Service Information
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Revision
EMBRAER Service Bulletin-- level-- Dated--
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145-28-0023................. (\1\) April 19, 2004.
145-28-0023................. 01 June 9, 2004.
145-28-0023................. 02 November 8, 2004.
145-28-0023................. 03 April 27, 2005.
145-28-0023................. 04 November 7, 2005.
145-28-0023................. 05 May 15, 2006.
145-28-0023................. 06 October 31, 2006.
145-28-0023................. 07 February 7, 2007.
145-28-0023................. 08 May 25, 2007.
145-28-0023................. 09 July 30, 2007.
145-28-0023................. 10 October 28, 2007.
145LEG-28-0018.............. (\1\) April 23, 2004.
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\1\ Original.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send
information to ATTN: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone
(425) 227-1175; fax (425) 227-1149. 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.
Related Information
(j) None.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(k) You must use the applicable service information listed in
Table 2 of this AD to perform the actions that are required by this
AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
Table 2--Material Incorporated by Reference
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Revision
EMBRAER Service Bulletin-- level-- Dated--
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145LEG-28-0018.............. 01 April 20, 2005.
145-28-0023................. 07 February 7, 2007.
145-28-0023................. 11 December 4, 2007.
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(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of EMBRAER Service Bulletin 145-28-0023,
Revision 11, dated December 4, 2007, in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) On July 19, 2007 (72 FR 32780, June 14, 2007), the Director
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of
EMBRAER Service Bulletin 145-28-0023, Revision 07, dated February 7,
2007; and EMBRAER Service Bulletin 145LEG-28-0018, Revision 01,
dated April 20, 2005.
(3) Contact Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER),
P.O. Box 343--CEP 12.225, Sao Jose dos Campos--SP, Brazil, 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 August 6, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-18808 Filed 8-18-08; 8:45 am]
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