[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 141 (Monday, July 24, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37811-37813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17159]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-NM-177-AD; Amendment 39-9309; AD 95-15-06]


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727 and Model 737 Series 
Airplanes Equipped with J.C. Carter Company Fuel Valve Actuators

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain Boeing Model 727 and Model 737 series airplanes, 
that requires replacement of the actuator of the engine fuel shutoff 
valve and the fuel system crossfeed valve with an improved actuator. 
This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that, during 
laboratory tests on Model 737 series airplanes, the actuator clutch on 
the engine shutoff and crossfeed valves slipped at cold temperatures 
due to improper functioning. The actions specified by this AD are 
intended to prevent improper functioning of these actuators, which 
could result in a fuel imbalance due to the inability of the flight 
crew to crossfeed fuel; improperly functioning actuators could also 
prevent the pilot from shutting off the fuel to the engine following an 
engine failure and/or fire.

DATES: Effective August 23, 1995. The incorporation by reference of 
certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the 
Director of the Federal Register as of August 23, 1995.


[[Page 37812]]

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules 
Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of 
the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street NW., suite 700, 
Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen S. Bray, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 227-2681; fax (206) 227-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 727 and Model 
737 series airplanes was published as a supplemental notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on March 30, 1995 (60 FR 
16388). That action proposed to require replacement of the actuator of 
the engine fuel shutoff valve and the fuel system crossfeed valve with 
an improved actuator.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the comments received.
    One commenter supports the proposed rule.
    One commenter notes that the description of what prompted the 
proposal that appeared in the Summary and Discussion sections of the 
preamble to the notice refers to ``during ground acceptance tests.'' 
This commenter states that the problem has only been seen ``during 
laboratory tests;'' therefore, this commenter suggests that the 
proposal be revised accordingly. The FAA acknowledges that the 
commenter's wording is more accurate. The pertinent wording in the 
preamble to the final rule has been revised to reflect this change.
    This same commenter requests that the FAA revise paragraph (a) of 
the proposed rule to reference part number 3715-7 by General Design in 
addition to P/N 40574-4 as an alternative method of compliance. The FAA 
does not concur, since the commenter provided no design or service 
history data for this particular actuator. However, paragraph (b) of 
this AD allows an operator to elect to provide such data in a request 
for an alternative method of compliance with the rule.
    Furthermore, this same commenter requests that the applicability of 
the proposal be revised to only reflect the vendor of the parts, J.C. 
Carter, instead of Boeing. This commenter contends that the primary 
responsibility for tracking AD incorporation should be with the vendor, 
since airplane effectivity is not identified in either the NPRM or in 
J.C. Carter Service Bulletin 61163-28-08, dated December 2, 1994. The 
FAA does not concur. The FAA's general policy is that, when an unsafe 
condition results from the installation of an appliance or other item 
that is installed in only certain makes and models of aircraft, the AD 
is issued so that it is applicable to the aircraft, rather than the 
item. The FAA finds that making the AD applicable to the airplane model 
on which the item is installed ensures that operators of those 
airplanes will be notified directly of the unsafe condition and the 
action required to correct it. While it is assumed that an operator 
will know the models of airplanes that it operates, there is a 
potential that the operator will not know or be aware of specific items 
that are installed on its airplanes. Therefore, calling out the 
airplane model as the subject of the AD prevents ``unknowing non-
compliance'' on the part of the operator. The FAA recognizes that there 
are situations when an unsafe condition exists in an item that is 
installed in many aircraft; in fact, many times, the exact models and 
numbers of aircraft on which the item is installed may not be known. 
Therefore, in those situations, the AD is issued so that it is 
applicable to the item; furthermore, those AD's usually indicate that 
the item is known to be installed on, but not limited to, various 
aircraft models.
    Several commenters request that the compliance time for 
accomplishment of the replacement be extended from the proposed 24 
months to 36 months. These commenters state that such an extension will 
allow operators to accomplish the replacement during a regularly 
scheduled heavy maintenance visit. One of these commenters states that 
it would have to procure additional parts, and would need to special 
schedule its fleet of airplanes to accomplish this replacement within 
the proposed compliance time. This would entail considerable expense 
over what was estimated in the FAA's cost impact analysis. This 
commenter indicates that a compliance time of 36 months would allow the 
replacement to be accomplished during regularly scheduled maintenance, 
thereby eliminating any additional expenses. The FAA concurs. The FAA 
finds that extending the compliance time to 36 months will not 
adversely affect safety, and will allow the replacement to be performed 
using modified parts rather than newly purchased parts. Paragraph (a) 
of the final rule has been revised to specify a compliance time of 36 
months.
    After careful review of the available data, including the comments 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the changes previously 
described. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.
    There are approximately 4,137 Model 727 and Model 737 series 
airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA 
estimates that 2,190 airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by 
this AD, that it will take approximately 3 work hours per airplane to 
accomplish the required actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 
per work hour. Required parts will be supplied by J.C. Carter Company 
at no cost to the operators. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $394,200, or $180 
per airplane.
    The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on 
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the 
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish 
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects 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. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules 

[[Page 37813]]
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

95-15-06 Boeing: Amendment 39-9309. Docket 94-NM-177-AD.

    Applicability: Model 727 and Model 737 series airplanes; 
equipped with J.C. Carter Company fuel valve actuators, as listed in 
J.C. Carter Company Service Bulletin 61163-28-08, dated December 2, 
1994, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must use the authority 
provided in paragraph (b) of this AD to request approval from the 
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current 
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition; or different actions 
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such 
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent improper functioning of certain actuators, which 
could result in a fuel imbalance due to the inability of the 
flightcrew to crossfeed fuel, or which could prevent the pilot from 
shutting off the fuel to the engine following an engine failure and/
or fire, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the actuator having part number (P/N) 40574-2 (Model EM487-
2, serial numbers 0001 through 1443 inclusive; and Model EM487-3, 
serial numbers 0001 through 2711 inclusive), on the fuel system 
crossfeed valve and the engine shutoff valves with a new actuator 
having P/N 40574-4, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of J.C. Carter Company Service Bulletin 61163-28-08, 
dated December 2, 1994.
    (b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall 
submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Seattle ACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Seattle ACO.

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (d) The replacement shall be done in accordance with J.C. Carter 
Company Service Bulletin 61163-28-08, dated December 2, 1994. This 
incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the 
Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 
51. Copies may be obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, 
P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. Copies may be 
inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (e) This amendment becomes effective on August 23, 1995.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 7, 1995.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-17159 Filed 7-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U