[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 22, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14428-14430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5571]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20661; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-261-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-300, 747-
400, and 747-400D Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-300, 747-400, and 747-400D 
series airplanes. This proposed AD would require modifying the lateral 
shear beam for the Door 5 crew rest and, for certain airplanes, 
replacing Zone E tie rods and modifying the Zone E stowbin ladder. This 
proposed AD is prompted by a report indicating that the lateral shear 
beam for the Door 5 crew rest does not meet the 9G forward loading 
requirement. We are proposing this AD to prevent the structural support 
for the Door 5 crew rest and Zone E stowbins from failing during an 
emergency, which could result in the crew rest or stowbins falling and 
consequent injury to crew and passengers.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 6, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, 
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This docket 
number is FAA-2005-20661; the directorate identifier for this docket is 
2004-NM-261-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Wren, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin 
Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6451; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-20661; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-261-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://

[[Page 14429]]

dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of 
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You can review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    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 DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    We have received a report indicating that the lateral shear beam 
for the Door 5 crew rest does not meet the 9G forward loading 
requirement on certain Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in the failure of the 
structural support for the Door 5 crew rest and Zone E stowbins, and 
could result in the crew rest or stowbins falling during an emergency 
and consequent injury to crew and passengers.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-
2497, dated November 4, 2004 (for Boeing Model 747-200B and -300 series 
airplanes), which describes procedures for modifying the lateral shear 
beam for the Door 5 crew rest. The modification includes replacing the 
web with a new thicker web and installing additional stiffeners.
    We have also reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 
747-53-2481, dated October 24, 2002 (for Boeing Model 747-400 and -400D 
series airplanes), which describes procedures for modifying the lateral 
shear beam for the Door 5 crew rest and replacing Zone E tie rods with 
new tie rods and modifying the Zone E stowbin ladder by installing new 
intercostals.
    Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is 
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes 
of this same type design. Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which 
would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously, except as discussed under 
``Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletins.''

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletins

    Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2497 recommends 
accomplishing the modification ``at the earliest opportunity when 
manpower, materials and facilities are available,'' and Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2481 recommends accomplishing the 
modification ``within 3 years of the release date on the service 
bulletin.'' However, this proposed AD specifies accomplishing the 
modification within 60 months after the effective date of the AD. In 
developing an appropriate compliance time for this AD, we considered 
the degree of urgency associated with addressing the subject unsafe 
condition, the average utilization of the affected fleet, and the time 
necessary to perform the modification. In light of all of these 
factors, we find a compliance time of 60 months for completing the 
proposed modification to be warranted, in that it represents an 
appropriate interval of time for affected airplanes to continue to 
operate without compromising safety. We have coordinated this 
compliance time with the manufacturer.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 424 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 65 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                                       Number of
                                                                  Average                                                U.S.-
                     Action                       Work hours    labor rate          Parts         Cost per airplane   registered         Fleet cost
                                                                 per hour                                              airplanes
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Modification...................................       86-207           $65      $7,095-$37,770     $12,685-$51,225            65    $824,525-$3,329,625
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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 proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 the 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. 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.

[[Page 14430]]

    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed 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, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2005-20661; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
261-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this AD action by May 6, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the Boeing airplanes, certificated in any 
category, specified in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this 
AD.
    (1) Model 747-200B and 747-300 series airplanes identified in 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2497, dated 
November 4, 2004.
    (2) Model 747-200B and 747-300 series airplanes on which Boeing 
Service Bulletins 747-25-2716, 747-25-2724, and 747-25-2784 have 
been done.
    (3) Model 747-400 and 747-400D series airplanes identified in 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2481, dated October 
24, 2002.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report that the lateral shear beam 
for the Door 5 crew rest does not meet the 9G forward loading 
requirement. We are issuing this AD to prevent the structural 
support for the Door 5 crew rest and Zone E stowbins from failing, 
which could result in the crew rest or stowbins falling during an 
emergency and consequent injury to crew and passengers.

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.

Model 747-200B and 747-300: Modification

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the lateral shear beam for the Door 5 crew rest by accomplishing all 
of the actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2497, dated 
November 4, 2004.

Model 747-400 and 747-400D: Modification and Replacement

    (g) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the lateral shear beam for the Door 5 crew rest, replace the Zone E 
tie rods, and modify the Zone E stowbin ladder, by accomplishing all 
of the actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2481, dated October 
24, 2002.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5571 Filed 3-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P