[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 4 (Monday, January 8, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 664-666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22535]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26726; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-205-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-400F 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 747-400F series airplanes. This proposed AD 
would require installing drains and drain tubes to eliminate water 
accumulation in the dripshield above the M826 Card File in the main 
equipment center. This proposed AD results from a report that water 
from the dripshield entered the card file and damaged a circuit card, 
causing the AFT CARGO FIRE MSG message to be illuminated and resulting 
in an air turn back. We are proposing this AD to prevent water from 
entering the card file and damaging a circuit card. Failure of one or 
more of the 15 fuel system circuit cards in the card file could cause 
loss of fuel management, which could cause unavailability of fuel. 
Failure of one or more of the 35 fire detection circuit cards could 
cause a false message of a fire, or no message of a fire when there is 
a fire.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 22, 
2007.

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.
     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.
    Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207, for the service information identified in this 
proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marcia Smith, Aerospace Engineer, 
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6484; 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 in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
26726; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-205-AD'' at the beginning 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 received 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://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 may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may 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

[[Page 665]]

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 Docket Management System receives them.

Discussion

    We have received a report of the AFT CARGO FIRE MSG message 
illuminating in the cockpit of a Boeing Model 747-400F series airplane, 
resulting in an air turn back. An investigation revealed no signs of 
actual fire. Investigation found water dripping onto and around the 
dripshield located over the M826 Card File in the main equipment center 
at station 400. Due to the amount of water, the dripshield was not able 
to prevent water from entering the card file and damaging a circuit 
card. Circuit cards subject to damage in that location are fire 
detection, fuel system, and electrical system cards. This condition, if 
not corrected, could result in water entering the card file and 
damaging a circuit card. Failure of one or more of the 15 fuel system 
circuit cards in the card file could cause loss of fuel management, 
which could cause unavailability of fuel. Failure of one or more of the 
35 fire detection circuit cards could cause a false message of a fire, 
or no message of a fire when there is a fire.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3370, 
Revision 1, dated April 27, 2006. The alert service bulletin describes 
procedures for installing two drains and drain tubes in the dripshield 
above the M826 Card File. 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. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, 
which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 86 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. 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                    Cost per        U.S.-
           Action              Work hours    labor rate       Parts       airplane     registered    Fleet cost
                                              per hour                                  airplanes
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Installation................            8           $80          $822        $1,462            21       $30,702
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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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed 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, 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2006-26726; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-
205-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by February 
22, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-400F series airplanes, 
certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 747-25A3370, Revision 1, dated April 27, 2006.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report that water from the dripshield 
entered the card file and damaged a circuit card, causing the AFT 
CARGO FIRE MSG message to be illuminated and resulting in an air 
turn back. We are issuing this AD to prevent water from entering the 
card file and damaging a circuit card. Failure of one or more of the 
15 fuel system circuit cards in the card file could cause loss of 
fuel management, which could cause unavailability of fuel. Failure 
of one or more of the 35 fire detection circuit cards could cause a 
false message of a fire, or no message of a fire when there is a 
fire.

[[Page 666]]

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.

Installation

    (f) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install two drains and drain tubes in the dripshield above the M826 
Card File over the nose wheel left side in the main equipment center 
at station 400, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions 
of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3370, Revision 1, dated 
April 27, 2006.

Installation According to Previous Issue of Service Bulletin

    (g) Installing the drains and drain tubes is also acceptable for 
compliance with the requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD if done 
before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 747-25A3370, dated September 8, 2005.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 12, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-22535 Filed 1-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P