[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 13, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 8247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2742]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0109; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-235-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Lockheed Model 382, 382B, 382E, 382F, 
and 382G Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); reopening of comment 
period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces a reopening of the comment period for 
the above-referenced NPRM. The NPRM proposed the adoption of a new 
airworthiness directive for all Lockheed Model 382, 382B, 382E, 382F, 
and 382G series airplanes. That NPRM invites comments concerning the 
proposed requirements for revising the FAA-approved maintenance 
inspection program to include inspections that will give no less than 
the required damage tolerance rating for each structural significant 
item (SSI), doing repetitive inspections to detect cracks of all SSIs, 
and repairing cracked structure. This reopening of the comment period 
is necessary to provide additional opportunity for public comment on 
the proposed requirements of that NPRM.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 31, 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 Lockheed 
Martin Aeronautics Company, 86 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, Georgia 
30063.

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: Carl Gray, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ACE-117A, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 
One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 
30349; telephone (770) 703-6131; fax (770) 703-6097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    We proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 with a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) for an AD for all Lockheed Model 382, 382B, 382E, 
382F, and 382G series airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on November 14, 2007 (72 FR 64005). The NPRM proposed to 
require revising the FAA-approved maintenance inspection program to 
include inspections that will give no less than the required damage 
tolerance rating for each structural significant item (SSI), doing 
repetitive inspections to detect cracks of all SSIs, and repairing 
cracked structure. The NPRM action invites comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
AD.

Actions Since NPRM Was Issued

    Since we issued the NPRM, we have received one comment. Lynden Air 
Cargo requests an additional 45 days to comment on the NPRM. Lynden Air 
Cargo states that it needs more time to:
     Review Lockheed Martin Model 382, 382B, 382E, 382F, and 
382G Series Aircraft Service Manual Publication (SMP), Supplemental 
Structural Inspection Document, SMP 515-C-SSID, Change 1, dated 
September 10, 2007 (referred to the NPRM as the appropriate source of 
service information for accomplishing the proposed actions). Lynden Air 
Cargo states that the service information was not made available by the 
Type Certificate holder until December 18, 2007.
     Comment about the conclusion in the Regulatory Evaluation 
(located in the docket) that the NPRM does not affect intrastate 
aviation in Alaska. Lynden Air Cargo states that its military 
operations in Alaska account for some 4.5 million pounds of lift per 
year.
     Review service difficulty reports to validate the presence 
of an unsafe condition relating to the affected airplanes. Lynden Air 
Cargo states that it does not appear that the requirements of the NPRM 
are based upon any unsafe condition related to a particular type 
design.
    It is our intent to address the identified unsafe condition in a 
timely manner with minimum disruption to industry. We encourage 
interested parties to continue to evaluate the NPRM and to submit 
additional comments with more specific details concerning issues that 
we may need to evaluate before finalizing decisions on the proposal. We 
have determined that such input may be beneficial before adoption of a 
final rule. As a result, we have decided to reopen the comment period 
for 45 days to receive additional comments.
    No part of the regulatory information has been changed; therefore, 
the NPRM is not republished in the Federal Register.

Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments on this AD action by March 31, 2008.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 7, 2008.
Kevin Hull,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-2742 Filed 2-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P