[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 9, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 634-636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-260]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-NM-93-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-100, -200, and -300 
Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 747-100, -200, and -
300 series airplanes, that would have required an inspection to 
determine if hinge bolts and nuts are installed in the overhead stowage 
bins, and the installation of hinge bolts and nuts, if necessary. That 
proposal was prompted by reports that overhead stowage bins in the 
passenger compartment have fallen out of position due to missing hinge 
bolts. This action revises the proposed rule by revising the 
applicability to include additional airplanes. The actions specified by 
this proposed AD are intended to ensure that hinge bolts are installed 
in the overhead storage bins. Missing hinge bolts could result in the 
overhead stowage bins falling out of position and injuring airplane 
occupants.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 29, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-NM-93-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this location 
between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorothy Lundy, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington; telephone (206) 227-1675; fax (206) 227-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 95-NM-93-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 95-NM-93-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 39) to add an airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to 
certain Boeing Model 747-100, -200, and -300 series airplanes, was 
published as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal 
Register on August 23, 1995 (60 FR 43728). That NPRM would have 
required a one-time visual inspection to determine if the hinge bolts 
and nuts are installed in the overhead stowage bins. That NPRM also 
would have required installation of hinge bolts and nuts, if necessary. 
That NPRM was prompted by reports indicating that overhead stowage bins 
in the passenger compartment of certain Model 747 series airplanes have 
fallen out of position and injured passengers due to missing hinge 
bolts. Missing 

[[Page 635]]
hinge bolts could result in the overhead stowage bins falling out of 
position and injuring airplane occupants.
    Since the issuance of that NPRM, the FAA has reviewed and approved 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3095, Revision 1, dated September 
28, 1995. This service bulletin revises the effectivity listing of the 
original issue of the service bulletin by adding airplanes RA006, and 
RD251 through RD262 inclusive. In addition, certain passenger airplanes 
(which have been converted to special freighters) are removed from the 
effectivity of the alert service bulletin. This revision of the service 
bulletin does not describe any additional work requirements.
    The FAA has determined that these additional airplanes are subject 
to the same unsafe condition as described previously, and therefore, 
must be subject to the requirements of the proposed AD. The FAA has 
revised the proposal to add these airplanes to the applicability of the 
rule.
    Since this change expands the scope of the originally proposed 
rule, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to reopen the comment 
period to provide additional opportunity for public comment.
    In addition, the FAA has given due consideration to the following 
comments received in response to the proposal:
    Three commenters request that the ``credit time'' for inspections 
accomplished prior to the effective date of the AD be extended. The 
commenters note that several operators have accomplished the inspection 
on their fleets as far back as when the original service bulletin was 
issued in April 1995. Because the proposed AD would provide credit only 
if the inspection previously had been accomplished within the last 6 
months prior to the effective date of the AD, these operators would be 
required to perform the inspection again. Therefore, one of these 
commenters requests that the credit time be extended from 6 months to 
18 months prior to the effective date of the rule.
    The FAA concurs. Since the relevant service bulletin containing the 
instructions for the inspection was issued originally in April 1995, 
the FAA considers that inspections conducted at least since then will 
satisfy the intent of the proposed AD. In light of this, and taking 
into account the number of days normally required for the rulemaking 
process, the FAA has revised the proposal to provide credit for 
inspections that were accomplished within 18 months prior to the 
effective date of this AD. The FAA finds that extending this credit 
time for previously accomplished inspections will not adversely affect 
safety and will prevent an unnecessary economic burden on operators who 
have performed the inspection within that credit time.
    There are approximately 573 Model 747-100, -200, and -300 series 
airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA 
estimates that 157 airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this 
proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 work hour per airplane 
to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is 
$60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $9,420, or $60 per 
airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of 
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in 
the future if this AD were not adopted.
    The regulations proposed herein would 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 
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 
and (3) if promulgated, 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 copy of the draft 
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the 
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules 
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
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 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

Boeing: Docket 95-NM-93-AD.

    Applicability: Model 747-100, -200, and -300 series airplanes, 
as listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3095, Revision 1, 
dated September 28, 1995; 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.
    To ensure that hinge bolts are installed in the overhead storage 
bins, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, unless 
accomplished previously within the last 18 months prior to the 
effective date of this AD, perform a one-time visual inspection to 
determine if hinge bolts and nuts are installed in the overhead 
stowage bins, in accordance with either Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 747-25A3095, dated April 27, 1995, or Revision 1, dated 
September 28, 1995.
    (1) If the hinge bolts and nuts are installed, no further action 
is required by this AD.
    (2) If any hinge bolt or nut is not installed, prior to further 
flight, install a hinge bolt and nut in accordance with either alert 
service bulletin.
    (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.


[[Page 636]]

    (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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 3, 1996.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-260 Filed 1-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U