[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4059-4061]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-971]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-29329; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-205-AD; 
Amendment 39-15342; AD 2008-02-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. This AD requires 
modification of the conduit for the forward boost pump of the center 
fuel tank. This AD results from the finding that a potential chafing 
condition exists in the volute assembly of the forward boost pump for 
the center fuel tank. We are issuing this AD to prevent chafing of the 
fuel boost pump wiring that could lead to arcing to the inside of the 
45-degree angle fitting, which, in combination with flammable fuel 
vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of 
the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective February 28, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 28, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: 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 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: Samuel S. Lee, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA,

[[Page 4060]]

Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 
Lakewood, California 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5262; fax (562) 
627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to 
certain McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. That NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on October 11, 2007 (72 FR 57892). 
That NPRM proposed to require modification of the conduit for the 
forward boost pump of the center fuel tank.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We have considered the two comments received from the one 
commenter.

Support for the NPRM

    AirTran Airways supports the NPRM.

Request To Allow Use of Original Issue of Service Bulletin

    AirTran Airways requests that we revise this AD to specify that 
actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in accordance 
with Boeing Service Bulletin 717-28-0007, dated August 22, 2002, are 
considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions 
specified in paragraph (f) of this AD provided that a leak check of the 
conduit is accomplished in accordance with Boeing 717 Airplane 
Maintenance Manual (AMM) Task 28-22-28-700-801, ``Leak Test of the Fuel 
Pump Electrical Conduit.'' AirTran Airways has accomplished the actions 
specified in the original issue of the service bulletin on all 
applicable airplanes in its fleet. AirTran Airways states that Revision 
1, dated September 23, 2003, of the service bulletin was published to 
provide a torque value for the conduits due to an instance of fuel 
leaking from the conduit at the front spar following accomplishment of 
the task. AirTran Airways notes that it accomplished a leak check of 
the conduit during accomplishment of the original issue of the service 
bulletin, and that the leak check was later added to the AMM in January 
2004, as AMM Task 28-22-28-700-801. The leak check of the conduit 
ensured that the conduit was not leaking, in the absence of a specified 
torque value in the original issue of the service bulletin. AirTran 
Airways believes that, if operators have accomplished the modification 
in accordance with the original issue of the service bulletin, 
accomplishing a leak check of the conduits using AMM Task 28-22-28-700-
801 should be acceptable to ensure that the conduits are not leaking in 
lieu of accessing the conduit connections again for a torque check.
    We agree that work done in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 
717-28-0007, dated August 22, 2002, is acceptable for compliance with 
the requirements of this AD provided that a leak check of the conduit 
is accomplished in accordance with Boeing 717 AMM Task 28-22-28-700-
801. We have added a new paragraph (g) to this AD to allow credit for 
previous accomplishment.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the AD with the change described previously. We also determined that 
this change will not increase the economic burden on any operator or 
increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 77 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 61 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The required actions take about 10 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $48,800, or $800 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

    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.
    You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of 
compliance in the AD Docket.

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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2008-02-12 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-15342. Docket No. FAA-
2007-29329; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-205-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 28, 
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 
Service Bulletin 717-28-0007, Revision 1, dated September 23, 2003.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a finding that a potential chafing 
condition exists in the volute assembly of the forward boost pump 
for the center fuel tank. We are issuing this

[[Page 4061]]

AD to prevent chafing of the forward boost pump wiring that could 
lead to arcing to the inside of the 45-degree angle fitting, which, 
in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel 
tank explosion 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.

Modification

    (f) Within 78 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the conduit for the forward fuel boost pump of the center fuel tank, 
by accomplishing all of the actions specified in Boeing Service 
Bulletin 717-28-0007, Revision 1, dated September 23, 2003.

Credit for Actions Done According to Previous Issue of Service Bulletin

    (g) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 717-28-0007, dated August 
22, 2002, are acceptable for compliance with the requirements of 
paragraph (f) of this AD provided that a leak check of the conduit 
is accomplished in accordance with Boeing 717 Airplane Maintenance 
Manual (AMM) Task 28-22-28-700-801, ``Leak Test of the Fuel Pump 
Electrical Conduit.''

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles 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

    (i) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 717-28-0007, Revision 
1, dated September 23, 2003, to do the actions required by this AD, 
unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) 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).
    (3) You may review copies of the service information 
incorporated by reference 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 January 14, 2008.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-971 Filed 1-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P