[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 12, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66737-66738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25689]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0585; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-027-AD; 
Amendment 39-15704; AD 2008-22-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747SP Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Boeing Model 747SP series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive 
lubrication of the rudder tab hinges and repetitive replacement of the 
rudder tab control rods. This AD results from reports of freeplay-
induced vibration on the control surfaces on Boeing Model 727, 737, 
757, and 767 airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent damage to the 
control surface structure during flight, which could result in loss of 
control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective December 17, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 17, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207; telephone 206-544-9990; fax 206-766-5682; e-mail [email protected]; 
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.

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: Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace 
Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 917-6426; fax (425) 917-6590.

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 
all Boeing Model 747SP series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on May 23, 2008 (73 FR 30007). That NPRM proposed to 
require repetitive lubrication of the rudder tab hinges and repetitive 
replacement of the rudder tab control rods.

Comments

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

Request To Revise Discussion Section of NPRM

    Boeing requests that we revise the Discussion section of the NPRM 
to remove the statement that the affected control surfaces on Boeing 
Model 727, 737, 757, and 767 airplanes and Boeing Model 747SP airplanes 
are similar in design. Boeing states that the only similarity between 
Model 727, 737, 757, and 767 airplanes and Model 747SP airplanes 
pertains to flutter-critical unbalanced control surfaces of the 
identified unsafe condition. Boeing requests that we revise that 
section of the NPRM to state: ``There have been no reports of freeplay-
induced vibration of the 747SP rudder tabs. However, there have been 
reports pertaining to flutter-critical unbalanced control surfaces on 
727, 737, 757 and 767 airplanes. This lubrication and replacement will 
help prevent conditions which allow excessive freeplay of control 
surfaces.''
    We agree with Boeing that the Discussion section could be clarified 
as Boeing specified. However, since that section of the preamble does 
not reappear in the final rule, no change to the final rule is 
necessary.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 7 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to 
comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work hour.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Action               Work hours        Parts         Cost per product           Fleet cost
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Lubrication....................            2  None.............  $160, per cycle..  $1,120, per cycle.
Replacement....................           16  $39,511..........  40,791, per cycle  285,537, per cycle.
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[[Page 66738]]

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:

2008-22-09 Boeing: Amendment 39-15704. Docket No. FAA-2008-0585; 
Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-027-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 17, 
2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Boeing Model 747SP series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of freeplay-induced vibration 
on the control surfaces on Boeing Model 727, 737, 757, and 767 
airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent damage to the control 
surface structure during flight, which could result in loss of 
control of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

Repetitive Lubrication and Replacement

    (f) At the applicable compliance time listed in Paragraph 1.E., 
``Compliance,'' of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-27-
2447, dated January 17, 2008, lubricate the rudder tab hinges and 
replace the rudder tab control rods with new control rods. Repeat 
the lubrication and replacement thereafter at the applicable repeat 
interval listed in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of the service 
bulletin. Do all actions in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-27-
2447, dated January 17, 2008. Where Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 747-27-2447, dated January 17, 2008, specifies a compliance 
time after the date on the service bulletin, this AD requires 
compliance within the specified compliance time after the effective 
date of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, ATTN: Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, 
ANM-120S, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; 
telephone (425) 917-6426; fax (425) 917-6590; has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 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.
    (3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any repair required by this AD, if it is approved by an 
Authorized Representative for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes 
Delegation Option Authorization Organization who has been authorized 
by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make those findings. 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-
27-2447, dated January 17, 2008, 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, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 
98124-2207; telephone 206-544-9990; fax 206-766-5682; e-mail 
[email protected]; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    (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 October 10, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-25689 Filed 11-10-08; 8:45 am]
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