[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 26, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54533-54535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18747]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28349; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-025-AD; 
Amendment 39-15211; AD 2007-20-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 
747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and 747SP 
Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Boeing Model 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-
300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and 747SP series airplanes. This AD 
requires reconfiguring the clamps of certain wire bundles and applying 
insulating sealant to certain fasteners inside the fuel tanks. This AD 
results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent arcing inside the fuel tanks in the event of 
a lightning strike or high-powered short circuit, which could result in 
a fuel tank explosion or fire.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 31, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of October 31, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC.
    Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207, for service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sulmo Mariano, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office,

[[Page 54534]]

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
917-6501; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Operations 
office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is located on the ground floor of the 
West Building at the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES 
section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Boeing Model 
747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 
747-400F, and 747SP series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on June 5, 2007 (72 FR 30999). That NPRM proposed to 
require reconfiguring the clamps of certain wire bundles and applying 
insulating sealant to certain fasteners inside the fuel tanks.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the single comment received.

Request To Add Information About New Clamp Design

    Boeing requests that we add information about the design of the 
replacement clamps. Boeing asserts that the second paragraph of the 
Relevant Service Information section of the NPRM does not describe how 
the new clamps protect the wire bundle. Boeing explains that the new 
clamps are of a different design and have additional protection on 
their edges. Boeing therefore requests that we revise the described 
paragraph to read ``* * * installing new, larger clamps, which contain 
additional protection against metal to bundle contact, * * *.''
    We partially agree with this request. We agree that this 
information clarifies the nature of the modification developed to 
address the unsafe condition; however, the Relevant Service Information 
section of the NPRM is not retained in the final rule. Therefore, we 
find that no change to the AD is necessary in this regard.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 707 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 107 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
Depending on airplane configuration, the required actions take between 
106 and 448 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 
per work hour. Required parts cost between $430 and $2,074 per 
airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD for U.S. 
operators is between $8,910 and $37,914 per airplane, or up to 
$4,056,798 for all airplanes.

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;
    (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 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, 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2007-20-01 Boeing: Amendment 39-15211. Docket No. FAA-2007-28349; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-025-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective October 31, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-
200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and 747SP 
series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-2327, Revision 1, 
dated July 10, 2006; and Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 
747-57-2326, dated January 4, 2007.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent arcing inside the 
fuel tanks in the event of a lightning strike or high-powered short 
circuit, which could result in a fuel tank explosion or fire.

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.

Change and Seal

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions required by paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Reconfigure the wire bundle clamps and seal the ends of 
certain fasteners inside the auxiliary fuel tank, main fuel tanks, 
and surge fuel tanks, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-
2327, Revision 1, dated July 10, 2006.

[[Page 54535]]

    (2) Seal the ends of certain fasteners inside the main fuel 
tanks, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-2326, dated January 4, 
2007.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) 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.
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-
57-2327, Revision 1, dated July 10, 2006; and Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-2326, dated January 4, 2007; as 
applicable, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, 
unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved the incorporation by reference of these documents 
in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Boeing 
Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207, 
for a copy of this service information. You may review copies at the 
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington; or at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 17, 2007.
John Piccola,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service. 7
 [FR Doc. E7-18747 Filed 9-25-07; 8:45 am]
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