[Federal Register: July 6, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 128)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38755-38757]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06jy05-3]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2004-19764; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-02-AD;
Amendment 39-14182; AD 2005-14-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD
requires applying an anti-static conductive coating to the fuel access
and thermal anti-icing blowout doors at the location of the bonding
fasteners on the leading edge of the wings, and performing a resistance
test on the new coating to ensure correct ground path resistance. This
AD is prompted by a report that an anti-static coating was not applied
correctly on doors located within a flammable fluid leakage zone. We
are issuing this AD to prevent an uncontrollable fire in the leading
edge of the wing, which could damage critical wing structures and cause
a fuel tank explosion.
DATES: This AD becomes effective August 10, 2005.
The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of August
10, 2005.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing
[[Page 38756]]
Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207.
Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any
final disposition. You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401,
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-19764; the directorate
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-02-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Langsted, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone
(425) 917-6500; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39
with an AD for certain Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes.
That action, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2004 (69
FR 70574), proposed to require applying an anti-static conductive
coating to the fuel access and thermal anti-icing blowout doors at the
location of the bonding fasteners on the leading edge of the wings, and
performing a resistance test on the new coating to ensure correct
ground path resistance.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments that have been
submitted on the proposed AD.
Support for the Proposed AD
One commenter, the manufacturer, supports the proposed AD.
Request To Remove a Service Bulletin Action To Maintain Certain Coating
Thickness
One commenter concurs with the AD. However, the commenter states
that Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-57-0046, dated
September 25, 2003, which is referenced in the proposed AD as the
appropriate source of service information, specifies an action to
maintain a certain coating thickness that is impractical to perform.
The commenter states that Note (b) of Figures 1 and 2 in the
Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin specifies that the
conductive coating be applied at a thickness of 0.0004 to 0.0008 inch.
The commenter states that there is no practical method to measure the
thickness and that they have confirmation from the manufacturer that
the intent of Note (b) is to ensure that the coating application is
continuous. The commenter also notes that the manufacturer plans to
delete the thickness dimension and revise the wording in Note (b) in
the next revision of the service bulletin.
We agree with the commenter that the intent of Note (b) of the
service bulletin is to ensure a continuous coating and that the
measured thickness is not relevant. Although Note (b) specifies
maintaining the thickness of the applied conductive coating between
0.0004 and 0.0008 inch, we have revised paragraph (f) of this AD to
clarify the manufacturer's intent: to apply a uniform coating to avoid
runs, sags, or wrinkles, and to ensure the anti-static coating touches
the anti-static coating exposed during surface preparation.
We have coordinated this difference with the manufacturer. The
manufacturer has informed us that a revision of the service bulletin
that contains a revised Note (b) is planned for release. Once the
revision has been issued, under the provisions of paragraph (g) of this
AD, affected operators may request approval to use the later revision
of the referenced service bulletin as an alternative method of
compliance.
Request To Reduce the Compliance Time
One commenter requests that the compliance time be reduced. The
commenter suggests that the simplicity and low cost of the task would
allow airlines to perform the task sooner.
We do not agree with the request to shorten the compliance time.
After considering all the available information, including the fact
that there have been no reports of in-service arcing or sparking as a
result of the missing anti-static coating, we determined that the
compliance time, as proposed, represents an appropriate interval in
which the anti-static coating can be applied in a timely manner within
the fleet, while still maintaining an adequate level of safety. In
developing the compliance time for this AD action, we considered not
only the safety implications of the identified unsafe condition, but
the average utilization rate of the affected fleet, the practical
aspects of an orderly modification of the fleet during regular
maintenance periods, the availability of required parts, and the time
necessary for the rulemaking. However, if additional data are presented
that would justify a shorter compliance time, we may consider further
rulemaking on this issue. Operators are always permitted to accomplish
the requirements of an AD at a time earlier than the specified
compliance time.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments that have been submitted, and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD with the change described
previously. We have determined that this change will neither increase
the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
This AD will affect about 65 airplanes worldwide and 18 airplanes
of U.S. registry. The actions will take about 5 work hours per
airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these
figures, the estimated cost of this AD for U.S. operators is $5,850, or
$325 per airplane.
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;
[[Page 38757]]
(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. 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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2005-14-05 Boeing: Amendment 39-14182. Docket No. FAA-2004-19764;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-02-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective August 10, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series
airplanes, certificated in any category; as listed in Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 777-57-0046, dated September 25, 2003.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report that an anti-static coating
was not applied correctly on doors located within a flammable fluid
leakage zone. We are issuing this AD to prevent an uncontrollable
fire in the leading edge of the wing, which could damage critical
wing structures and cause a fuel tank explosion.
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.
Modification and Resistance Test
(f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, apply
an anti-static conductive coating to the fuel access and thermal
anti-icing blowout doors at the location of the bonding fasteners,
and perform a resistance test on the new coating, in accordance with
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 777-57-0046, dated September 25, 2003. Where Note (b) of
Figures 1 and 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of the service
bulletin specifies to maintain the thickness of the conductive
coating between 0.0004 and 0.0008 inch, this AD requires applying a
uniform coating to avoid runs, sags, or wrinkles, and to ensure the
anti-static coating touches the anti-static coating exposed during
surface preparation.
(1) If the resistance measured between the door surface and a
fastener located within the doors' surrounding support structure is
within the limits specified in the service bulletin, no further
action is required by this paragraph.
(2) If the resistance measured between the door surface and a
fastener located within the doors' surrounding support structure is
outside the limits specified in the service bulletin, before further
flight, repeat the actions as required by paragraph (f) of this AD
up to five times, as applicable. If the results of the fifth test
exceed the limits specified in the service bulletin, before further
flight, contact the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), FAA, for disposition of repairs.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g) The Manager, Seattle ACO, FAA, has the authority to approve
AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures
found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(h) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-
57-0046, dated September 25, 2003, to perform the actions that are
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director
of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of
this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
To get copies of the service information, contact Boeing Commercial
Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. To view
the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department
of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif
Building, Washington, DC. To review copies of the service
information, go to the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at the
NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www. archives. gov/
federal -- register/ code-- of-- federal -- regulations/ ibr --
locations. html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 24, 2005.
Michael J. Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-13224 Filed 7-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P