[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 21, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65478-65480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22727]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0214; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-224-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 
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 McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. This proposed AD 
would require installing an additional support bracket for the gray 
water drain hose, replacing the screw of the support bracket with a new 
screw for the potable water supply hose, installing a spacer, doing a 
detailed inspection to detect interference or wear damage on hoses, 
lines and/or cables, and doing corrective actions if necessary. This 
proposed AD results from reports of interference between the potable 
water supply hose and/or gray water drain hose at the aft lavatories 
with the fuel line and/or power feeder cables of the auxiliary power 
unit (APU) located below the aft cabin floor. We are proposing this AD 
to prevent interference and chafing between the potable water supply 
hose and/or gray water hose with the fuel line and/or power feeder 
cables of the APU, which may cause arcing and sparking, and/or fuel 
leaking, and consequent fire or explosion.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 7, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-

[[Page 65479]]

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing 
Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, 
Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and Service Management, 
Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024).

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 proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Sujishi, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin 
Safety/Mechanical and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150L, FAA, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 
Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5353; fax (562) 
627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0214; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-224-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We have received reports of interference between the potable water 
supply hose and/or gray water drain hose at the aft lavatories with the 
fuel line and/or power feeder cables of the auxiliary power unit (APU) 
located below the aft cabin floor, on McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 
airplanes. A production quality line check determined that, due to a 
manufacturing process error, airplanes were delivered with a potable 
water drain hose that does not conform to design specifications. As a 
result, the potable water supply hose and/or gray water hose causes 
chafing with the fuel line and/or power feeder cables of the APU. These 
conditions, if not corrected, may cause arcing and sparking, and/or 
fuel leaking, and consequent fire or explosion.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 717-38A0004, 
Revision 1, dated August 15, 2007. The service bulletin describes the 
following procedures:
     Installing an additional support bracket for the gray 
water drain hose.
     Replacing the screw of the support bracket of the potable 
water supply hose with a new screw and installing a spacer.
     Doing detailed inspections to detect interference or wear 
damage of the potable water supply hose, gray water drain hose, and 
fuel lines and power feeder cables of the auxiliary power unit.
     Doing applicable corrective actions. The corrective 
actions include repairing power feeder cables and fuel lines of the 
APU, and contacting Boeing for repair, as applicable.
    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, except as discussed under 
``Difference Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin.''

Difference Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin

    Although the service bulletin specifies that operators may contact 
the manufacturer for disposition of certain repair conditions, this 
proposed AD would require operators to repair those conditions using a 
method approved by the FAA.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 123 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 95 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The proposed actions would take about 70 work hours per 
airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. The 
manufacturer states that it will supply required parts to the operators 
at no cost. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the proposed 
AD for U.S. operators is $532,000, or $5,600 per airplane.

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.

[[Page 65480]]

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-2007-0214; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
224-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by January 
7, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 717-38A0004, Revision 1, dated August 15, 
2007.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of interference between the 
potable water supply hose and/or gray water drain hose at the aft 
lavatories with the fuel line and/or power feeder cables of the 
auxiliary power unit (APU) located below the aft cabin floor. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent interference and chafing between the 
potable water supply hose and/or gray water hose with the fuel line 
and/or power feeder cables of the APU, which may cause arcing and 
sparking, and/or fuel leaking, and consequent fire or explosion.

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.

Installations, Replacements, Inspections, and Corrective Actions

    (f) Within 27 months after the effective date of this AD, do the 
installations, replacement, inspections, and applicable corrective 
actions by accomplishing all the actions specified in the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 717-
38A0004, Revision 1, dated August 15, 2007; except as provided by 
paragraph (g) of this AD. The applicable corrective actions must be 
done before further flight.
    (g) If any discrepancy is found during any inspection required 
by this AD, and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 717-38A0004, Revision 
1, dated August 15, 2007, specifies to contact Boeing for 
appropriate
    Before further flight, repair the discrepancy in accordance with 
a method approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), FAA. For a repair method to be approved, the repair 
must meet the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval 
must specifically refer to this AD.

Credit for Actions Done Using the Previous Service Information

    (h) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 717-38A0004, dated December 
6, 2006, is considered acceptable for compliance with the 
corresponding actions specified in paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 13, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-22727 Filed 11-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P