[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 16, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58492-58495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20223]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21701; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-086-AD; 
Amendment 39-15231; AD 2007-21-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747 and 767 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 and 767 airplanes. This AD requires reworking 
the electrical bonding between the airplane structure and the pump 
housing of the outboard boost pumps in the main fuel tank of certain 
Boeing Model 747

[[Page 58493]]

airplanes, and between the airplane structure and the pump housing of 
the override/jettison pumps in the left and right wing center auxiliary 
fuel tanks of certain Boeing Model 767 airplanes. This AD also requires 
related investigative actions and corrective actions if necessary. This 
AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent insufficient electrical bonding, which 
could result in a potential of ignition sources inside the fuel tanks, 
and which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in 
fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 20, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of November 20, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip Sheridan, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 917-6441; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain 
Boeing Model 747 and 767 airplanes. That supplemental NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2007 (72 FR 15069). That 
supplemental NPRM proposed to require reworking the electrical bonding 
between the airplane structure and the pump housing of the outboard 
boost pumps in the main fuel tank of certain Boeing Model 747 
airplanes, and between the airplane structure and the pump housing of 
the override/jettison pumps in the left and right wing center auxiliary 
fuel tanks of certain Boeing Model 767 airplanes. That supplemental 
NPRM also proposed to require related investigative actions and 
corrective actions if necessary. That supplemental NPRM proposed to 
revise the original NPRM to add an inspection requirement for certain 
Model 747 airplanes, and to specify cold-working the fastener holes for 
certain other Model 747 airplanes.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received to the 
supplemental NPRM.

Requests To Refer to New Revisions of Service Information

    Boeing, All Nippon Airways, and Air Transport Association on behalf 
of its member United Airlines, all request that we refer to various new 
revisions of relevant service information as follows: Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletins 747-28-2259, Revision 2, dated July 5, 
2007; 767-57-0092, Revision 1, dated February 15, 2007; and 767-57-
0093, Revision 1, dated February 15, 2007. (We referred to earlier 
revisions of these service bulletins as the appropriate sources of 
service information for accomplishing the actions proposed in the 
supplemental NPRM.)
    We agree with the commenters' requests. We have reviewed the new 
service information and revised Table 1 and paragraph (f) of the AD to 
refer to the new revisions of the service information. We have also 
revised paragraph (g) of the AD to give credit for prior accomplishment 
of earlier revisions by adding a new Table 2. The new revisions specify 
that no more work is necessary for airplanes on which the actions were 
accomplished in accordance with the earlier revisions. The new 
revisions of the service information, among other things, correct 
certain typographical errors, change references to certain documents, 
add information about certain edge margins, and revise the grouping of 
airplanes in the effectivity.
    Operators should note that on September 25, 2007, Boeing issued 
Information Notice 747-28-2259 IN 01. The information notice alerts 
operators of a typographical error in step 9 of figures 1 through 6 of 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2259, Revision 2, 
dated July 5, 2007. The information notice states that the note given 
in step 9 should read ``if the maximum resistance value of 0.0005 ohm 
can not be met, repeat steps 1 through 7'' and not ``steps 1 through 
8.''

Explanation of Additional Change Made to This AD

    We have simplified paragraph (f)(1) of this AD by referring to the 
``Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)'' paragraph of this AD for 
repair methods.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. 
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the 
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 3,401 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                  Number of U.S.-
                 Action                    Work    Average labor     Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                           hours   rate per hour     airplane        airplanes
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Rework electrical bonding for Boeing          10             $80            $800           1,115        $892,000
 Model 747 airplanes....................
Rework electrical bonding for Boeing           9              80             720             921         663,120
 Model 767 airplanes....................
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[[Page 58494]]

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):

2007-21-13 Boeing: Amendment 39-15231. Docket No. FAA-2005-21701; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-086-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective November 20, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the Boeing airplane models identified in 
Table 1 of this AD, certificated in any category.

                 Table 1.--Airplanes Affected by This AD
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                                         As identified in Boeing special
                Model--                   attention  service bulletin--
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747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-    747-28-2259, Revision 2, dated
 200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-  July 5, 2007.
 400, 747-400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and
 747SP series airplanes.
767-200, -300, and -300F series          767-57-0092, Revision 1, dated
 airplanes.                               February 15, 2007.
767-400ER series airplanes.............  767-57-0093, Revision 1, dated
                                          February 15, 2007.
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Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent insufficient 
electrical bonding, which could result in a potential of ignition 
sources inside the fuel tanks, and which, in combination with 
flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and 
consequent loss of the airplane.

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.

Rework Electrical Bonding

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD: Do the 
actions specified in paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, as 
applicable, by accomplishing all the actions specified in the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service bulletin 
specified in Table 1 of this AD. Do any related investigative and 
corrective actions before further flight.
    (1) For Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 
747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and 
747SP series airplanes: Rework the electrical bonding between the 
airplane structure and the pump housing of the outboard boost pumps 
in the main fuel tank, and do related investigative and applicable 
corrective actions. If any crack, corrosion, or damage is found 
during the open-hole high-frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection 
specified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2259, 
Revision 2, dated July 5, 2007, and the special attention service 
bulletin specifies contacting Boeing for repair instructions: Before 
further flight, repair using a method approved in accordance with 
the procedures specified in paragraph (h) of this AD.
    (2) For Boeing Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and -400ER series 
airplanes: Rework the electrical bonding between the airplane 
structure and the pump housing of the override/jettison pumps in the 
left and right wing center auxiliary fuel tanks, and do the related 
investigative and applicable corrective actions.

Credit for Actions Accomplished Previously

    (g) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with the applicable special attention service bulletins 
listed in Table 2 of this AD are acceptable for compliance with the 
corresponding requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.

                   Table 2.--Service Bulletins Acceptable for Actions Accomplished Previously
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   Boeing special attention service
               bulletin                            Revision level                            Date
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747-28-2259...........................  Original...........................  November 4, 2004.
747-28-2259...........................  1..................................  October 5, 2006.

[[Page 58495]]

 
767-57-0092...........................  Original...........................  November 4, 2004.
767-57-0093...........................  Original...........................  November 4, 2004.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Seattle 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

    (i) You must use the applicable special attention service 
bulletin listed in Table 3 of this AD 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 98057-3356; 
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.

                                  Table 3.--Material Incorporated by Reference
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   Boeing special attention service
               bulletin                            Revision level                            Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
747-28-2259...........................  2..................................  July 5, 2007.
767-57-0092...........................  1..................................  February 15, 2007.
767-57-0093...........................  1..................................  February 15, 2007.
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    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 5, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-20223 Filed 10-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P