[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 236 (Monday, December 10, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69583-69585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23685]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28943; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-011-AD; 
Amendment 39-15295; AD 2007-25-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-300F 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 767-300F series airplanes. This AD requires 
replacing the rotomolded duct(s) of the mix manifold system with new 
duct(s). This AD results from a report of failures of the duct joint 
seal of the mix manifold system. We are issuing this AD to prevent air 
conditioning leakage into the mix manifold bay. Such leakage could 
decrease the air flow to the flight compartment and main cabin or could 
allow smoke into the flight compartment in the event of a fire in the 
main cabin or forward cargo compartment.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 14, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of January 14, 
2008.

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: Jeffrey S. Palmer, Aerospace Engineer, 
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office,

[[Page 69584]]

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
917-6481; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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 
767-300F series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on August 16, 2007 (72 FR 45980). That NPRM proposed to 
require replacing the rotomolded duct(s) of the mix manifold system 
with new duct(s).

Comments

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

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 40 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 32 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The required actions will take about 2 or 8 work hours per airplane, at 
an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Required parts will cost 
about $4,123 or $42,825 per airplane. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $4,283 or $43,465 per 
airplane. (The estimated work hours and costs depend on the airplane 
configuration).

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):

2007-25-13 Boeing: Amendment 39-15295. Docket No. FAA-2007-28943; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-011-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective January 14, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 767-300F series airplanes, 
certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 767-21-0192, dated March 23, 2006.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of failures of the duct joint 
seal of the mix manifold system. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
air conditioning leakage into the mix manifold bay. Such leakage 
could decrease the air flow to the flight compartment and main cabin 
or could allow smoke into the flight compartment in the event of a 
fire in the main cabin or forward cargo compartment.

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.

Replacement

    (f) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, do the 
applicable action specified in Table 1 of this AD in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 767-21-0192, dated March 23, 2006.

                          Table 1.--Replacement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  For airplanes identified in
   the service bulletin as--            Do the following action--
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(1) Group 1 airplanes.........  Replace the rotomolded duct between the
                                 transition duct of the right cooling
                                 pack and the mix manifold with a new
                                 duct made of aluminum.
(2) Group 2 airplanes.........  Replace the rotomolded ducts of the mix
                                 manifold system with new ducts made
                                 from Kevlar[reg] and aluminum.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(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) 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

[[Page 69585]]

Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-
21-0192, dated March 23, 2006, 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 
this document 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 23, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23685 Filed 12-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P