[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 136 (Friday, July 15, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41673-41676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17401]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-1159; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-006-AD; 
Amendment 39-16746; AD 2011-14-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and -
400D 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 the 
products listed above. This AD requires a general visual inspection to 
determine the routing of the wire bundles in the number two and number 
three engine pylons near the leading edge, and related investigative 
and corrective actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, this AD 
also requires certain concurrent actions. This AD was prompted by a 
report of a fuel leak from the main fuel feed tube at the number two 
engine pylon. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct chafing of 
the main fuel feed tube and the alternating current motor-driven 
hydraulic pump wire bundle, which could lead to arcing from the exposed 
wire to the fuel feed tube, and could result in a fire or explosion.

DATES: This AD is effective August 19, 2011.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of August 19, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail [email protected]; 
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is 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: Tung Tran, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone: 
425-917-6505; fax: 425-917-6590; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 41674]]

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 
the specified products. That NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
December 1, 2010 (75 FR 74663). That NPRM proposed to require a general 
visual inspection to determine the routing of the wire bundles in the 
number two and number three engine pylons near the leading edge, and 
related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. For certain 
airplanes, that NPRM also proposed to require certain concurrent 
actions.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the proposal 
and the FAA's response to each comment.

Request To Change Wording of Precipitating Event

    Boeing requested a change to the wording describing the 
precipitating event specified in the Summary and Discussion sections 
and paragraph (e) of the NPRM to clarify the location of the fuel leak. 
Boeing clarified that, for the record, the fuel leaked from the main 
fuel feed tube and drained through the drain line.
    We agree that changing the language to specify the location of the 
leak makes the description more accurate. Therefore, we have changed 
the wording appropriately in the Summary section and paragraph (e) of 
this AD. However, the subject text does not appear in the Discussion 
section in the final rule.

Request To Include Service Bulletin Reference in the ``FAA's 
Determination and Requirements of this Proposed AD'' Paragraph of the 
NPRM

    Boeing requested that we change the last sentence of the ``FAA's 
Determination and Requirements of this Proposed AD'' paragraph in the 
NPRM to cite the specific service bulletin number, revision level, and 
date to differentiate between previous and new service information.
    We agree that the requested change might clarify the information. 
However, because that section is not restated in the final rule, we 
cannot make the requested change to this AD.

Request To Remove Cost of Concurrent Actions

    Boeing requested that we remove the cost of the concurrent 
inspection and bracket installation from the Costs of Compliance 
section of the NPRM. Boeing stated that the cost for the concurrent 
inspection and bracket installation was previously stated in AD 92-27-
13, Amendment 39-8448 (58 FR 5920, January 25, 1993), and is not 
necessary in this proposed AD.
    We disagree that it is unnecessary to include the cost of the 
concurrent actions in this AD. We acknowledge that these costs have 
already been stated in an existing AD; however, we have provided costs 
for required actions in this AD, including concurrent actions, 
regardless of whether operators might already have done them. No change 
has been made to the AD in this regard.

Request To Include On-Condition Costs

    Boeing stated that we should include the costs of inspecting the 
fuel feed tube and the alternating current motor driven hydraulic pump 
wire bundle, repairs, replacing the fuel tube, and changing the routing 
of the wire bundle to above the support bracket.
    We agree with the request to include the costs of these actions 
specified above. We have added an ``On-condition costs'' table to 
reflect these costs.

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 changes described previously--and minor editorial 
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.
    We also determined that these changes will not significantly 
increase the economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of 
the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 15 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                                 Table--Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Average                                Number of U.S.-
                               Action                                 Work hours   labor rate     Parts       Cost per       registered       Fleet cost
                                                                                    per hour                  product         airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection of wire routing.........................................            1          $85           $0          $85                  15       $1,275
Concurrent Inspection and Bracket Installation.....................            9          $85           $0         $765                  15      $11,475
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary inspections or 
repairs that would be required based on the results of the required 
inspection. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that 
might need these inspections or repairs:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Average labor                     Cost per
                     Action                         Work hours     rate per hour       Parts          product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection of wire bundle and fuel feed tube....               3             $85              $0            $255
Repair of wire bundle, repair or replacement of                7             $85             $26            $621
 fuel feed tube, and wire bundle routing change.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The cost estimate figures discussed above are based on assumptions 
that no operator has yet accomplished any of the actions required by 
this AD, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the 
future if this AD were not adopted. However, we have been advised that 
the concurrent inspection and bracket installation have already

[[Page 41675]]

been done on some affected airplanes. Therefore, the future economic 
cost impact of this rule on U.S. operators is expected to be less than 
the cost impact figure indicated above.

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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2011-14-11 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-16746; Docket No. FAA-
2010-1159; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-006-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD is effective August 19, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) AD 92-27-13, Amendment 39-8448, affects this AD.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and -
400D series airplanes, certificated in any category; as specified in 
Boeing Service Bulletin 747-29A2114, Revision 1, dated July 15, 
2010.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 29: 
Hydraulic power.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD was prompted by a report of a fuel leak from the 
main fuel feed tube at the number two engine pylon. The Federal 
Aviation Administration is issuing this AD to detect and correct 
chafing of the main fuel feed tube and the alternating current 
motor-driven hydraulic pump wire bundle, which could lead to arcing 
from the exposed wire to the fuel feed tube, and could result in a 
fire or explosion.

Compliance

    (f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Inspection

    (g) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, do a 
general visual inspection to determine the routing of the wire 
bundles in the number two and number three engine pylons near the 
leading edge, and do all applicable related investigative and 
corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 747-29A2114, Revision 1, 
dated July 15, 2010. Do all applicable related investigative and 
corrective actions before further flight.

Concurrent Requirements

    (h) For Model 747-400 series airplanes: Before or concurrently 
with accomplishing the requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD, 
install all applicable cable support brackets in the number two and 
number three engine pylon areas, and do all applicable related 
investigative and corrective actions, in accordance with Phase II of 
Boeing Service Bulletin 747-24A2168, Revision 3, dated July 29, 
1993. Do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions 
before further flight. Doing the actions required by paragraph (c) 
of AD 92-27-13, Amendment 39-8448, is an acceptable method of 
compliance for the installation required by this paragraph.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''

Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    (i) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD, 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 747-29A2114, dated October 1, 2009, are considered 
acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions specified 
in paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (j) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD, 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 747-24A2168, Revision 1, dated December 5, 1991; or 
Revision 2, dated September 24, 1992; are considered acceptable for 
compliance with the corresponding actions specified in paragraph (h) 
of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local 
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the ACO, send it to ATTN: Tung Tran, 
Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356, telephone: 425-917-6505; fax: 425-917-6590.
    (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, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the 
local flight standards district office/certificate holding district 
office. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this 
AD.

Related Information

    (l) For more information about this AD, contact Tung Tran, 
Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356, telephone: 425-917-6505; fax: 425-917-6590; 
e-mail: [email protected].

[[Page 41676]]

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (m) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 747-29A2114, Revision 
1, dated July 15, 2010; and Boeing Service Bulletin 747-24A2168, 
Revision 3, dated July 29, 1993; as applicable; 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, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 
206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail 
[email protected]; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at an NARA facility, 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 July 1, 2011.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-17401 Filed 7-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P