[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 236 (Monday, December 10, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69585-69587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23851]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0301; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-069-AD; 
Amendment 39-15300; AD 2007-25-18]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D 
Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series airplanes. For certain 
airplanes, this AD requires modifying the stowage bin ladder of zone E, 
installing new intercostals, removing existing tie rods, and installing 
new tie rods. For certain other airplanes, this AD requires modifying 
the lateral shear beam. This AD results from a report indicating that 
the overhead lateral shear beam aft of main entry door number 5 reacts 
to certain loads from the weight of the center stowage bins of zone E 
and additional loads. We are issuing this AD to prevent detachment of 
the center stowage bins of zone E at forward load levels less than 9g 
during an emergency landing, which could cause injury to passengers 
and/or crew and could impede subsequent rapid evacuation.

DATES: This AD is effective December 26, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 26, 
2007.
    We must receive comments on this AD by February 8, 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-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, 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 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: Rene Buendia, 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) 917-6448; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We have received a report indicating that a review, at Boeing, of 
the airplane interior loads on certain Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-
400D series airplanes without a door 5 crew rest, showed that the 
overhead lateral shear beam aft of main entry door number 5 does not 
meet the 9g forward loading requirement. As a result, the overhead 
lateral shear beam at that door reacts to loads from the weight of the 
center stowage bins of zone E and to additional loads due to galleys, 
life raft boxes, closets, and partitions (depending on airplane 
configuration). This condition, if not corrected, could result in 
detachment of the center stowage bins of zone E at forward load levels 
less than 9g during an emergency landing, which could cause injury to 
passengers and/or crew and could impede subsequent rapid evacuation.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-
2498, dated December 19, 2006. For certain airplanes, the service 
bulletin describes procedures for modifying the stowage bin ladder of 
zone E by installing new tie rod fittings, installing new right and 
left intercostals, and removing existing tie rods. For certain other 
airplanes, the service bulletin describes procedures for modifying the 
lateral shear beam by installing additional stiffeners. Accomplishing 
the actions specified in the service information is intended to 
adequately address the unsafe condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    No airplanes affected by this AD are on the U.S. Register. We are 
issuing this AD because the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop on other products of the(se) same type 
design(s) that could be registered in the United States in the future. 
This AD requires modifying the stowage bin ladder of zone E, installing 
new intercostals, removing existing tie rods, and installing new tie 
rods. For certain other airplanes, this AD requires modifying the 
lateral shear beam.
    Since no airplanes are affected by this AD, notice and opportunity 
for public comment before issuing this AD are unnecessary.

Costs of Compliance

    None of the airplanes affected by this action are on the U.S. 
Register. All airplanes affected by this AD are currently operated by 
non-U.S. operators under foreign registry; therefore, they are not 
directly affected by this AD action. However, we consider this AD 
necessary to ensure that the unsafe condition is addressed if any 
affected airplane is imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the 
future.
    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this AD for any affected

[[Page 69586]]

airplane that might be imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the 
future.

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                      Number of
                                                       Work     Average                   Cost per      U.S.-
                       Action                          hours   labor rate     Parts       airplane    registered
                                                                per hour                              airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification of the stowage bin ladder, installation      59          $80      $40,107      $44,827            0
 of intercostals, and replacement of tie rods (for
 Group 1 airplanes).................................
Modification of the lateral shear beam (for Group 2        5           80        5,091        5,491            0
 airplanes).........................................
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FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    No airplane affected by this AD is currently on the U.S. Register. 
Therefore, providing notice and opportunity for public comment is 
unnecessary before this AD is issued, and this AD may be made effective 
in less than 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite 
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send 
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include 
``Docket No. FAA-2007-0301; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-069-AD'' at 
the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the 
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend this 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 AD.

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 the 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 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):

2007-25-18 Boeing: Amendment 39-15300. Docket No. FAA-2007-0301; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-069-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective December 26, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series 
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2498, dated December 19, 
2006.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report indicating that the overhead 
lateral shear beam aft of main entry door number 5 reacts to certain 
loads. We are issuing this AD to prevent detachment of the center 
stowage bins of zone E at forward load levels less than 9g during an 
emergency landing, which could cause injury to passengers and/or 
crew and could impede subsequent rapid evacuation.

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.

Modification, Installation, and Replacement

    (f) Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, do the 
applicable actions required by paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this 
AD by doing all the actions in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-
2498, dated December 19, 2006.
    (1) For Group 1 airplanes, as identified in the service 
bulletin: Modify the stowage bin ladder of zone E, install new right 
and left intercostals, and remove existing tie rods and install new 
tie rods.
    (2) For Group 2 airplanes, as identified in the service 
bulletin: Modify the lateral shear beam.

[[Page 69587]]

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-
53-2498, dated December 19, 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 30, 2007.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-23851 Filed 12-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P