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

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 9, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46072-46074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15586]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21088; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-267-AD; 
Amendment 39-14215; AD 2005-16-10]
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.

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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. This AD 
requires an inspection for corrosion and cracks of the station 980 
upper deck floor beam, and repair and related investigative actions if 
necessary. This AD results from reports of corrosion under the cart 
lift threshold at the station 980 upper deck floor beam. We are issuing 
this AD to detect and correct such corrosion, which could result in a 
cracked or broken floor beam, extensive damage to adjacent structure, 
and possible rapid decompression of the airplane.

DATES: Effective September 13, 2005.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of September 13, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207, for service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ivan Li, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe 
Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6437; 
fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in person at the Docket Management Facility office between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket 
Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the 
plaza level of the Nassif Building at the street address stated in the 
ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Boeing Model 
747-400 and 747-400D series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on May 3, 2005 (70 FR 22826). That NPRM proposed to 
require an inspection for corrosion and cracks of the station 980 upper 
deck floor beam, and repair and related investigative actions if 
necessary.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment that has been 
received on the NPRM.

Support for the Proposed AD

    The commenter supports the NPRM.

Explanation of Change to Paragraph (f)(2)

    We have revised paragraph (f)(2) of this AD to correct a 
typographical error that resulted in an incorrect paragraph reference.

Clarification of Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    We have revised paragraph (h)(2) of this AD to clarify the AMOC 
requirements.

Clarification of Compliance Time

    We have made a minor editorial change to clarify the compliance 
time in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. 
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the 
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 363 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.

[[Page 46073]]



                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                 Number of
                                                               Average                                               Cost per      U.S.-
                     Action                      Work hours   labor rate                   Parts                     airplane    registered   Fleet cost
                                                               per hour                                                          airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection.....................................          3          $65   None required..........................        $195           46       $8,970
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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.
    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):

2005-16-10 Boeing: Amendment 39-14215. Docket No. FAA-2005-21088; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-267-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective September 13, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series 
airplanes, certificated in any category, as listed in Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 747-53A2503, dated November 11, 2004.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by reports of corrosion under the cart 
lift threshold at the station 980 upper deck floor beam. We are issuing 
this AD to detect and correct such corrosion, which could result in a 
cracked or broken floor beam, extensive damage to adjacent structure, 
and possible rapid decompression 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.

Inspection

    (f) At the later of the times specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and 
(f)(2) of this AD: Do a detailed inspection for corrosion and cracks of 
the station 980 upper deck floor beam, in accordance with Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 747-53A2503, dated November 11, 2004.
    (1) Inspect within 120 months since the date of issuance of the 
original standard Airworthiness Certificate or the date of issuance of 
the original Export Certificate of Airworthiness; or
    (2) Inspect at the time specified in paragraph (f)(2)(i), 
(f)(2)(ii), or (f)(2)(iii) of this AD for the applicable airplane group 
as identified in the service bulletin.
    (i) For Group 1 airplanes: Within 18 months after the effective 
date of this AD.
    (ii) For Group 2 airplanes: Within 36 months after the effective 
date of this AD.
    (iii) For Group 3 airplanes: Within 120 months after the airplane 
has been modified in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-
3107, or within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs later.

Repair

    (g) If any cracking or corrosion is found during any inspection 
required by this AD, do all related investigative and corrective 
actions before further flight, in accordance with Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 747-53A2503, dated November 11, 2004. If the service bulletin 
specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate action, repair before 
further flight according to a method approved by the Manager, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA; or according to data meeting 
the certification basis of the airplane approved by an Authorized 
Representative for the Boeing Delegation Option Authorization (DOA) 
Organization who has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to 
make those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the approval 
must specifically reference this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Seattle 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) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used 
for any repair required by this AD, if it

[[Page 46074]]

is approved by an Authorized Representative for the Boeing DOA 
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

    (i) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2503, dated 
November 11, 2004, 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 Docket 
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh 
Street SW., Room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at the 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 July 29, 2005.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-15586 Filed 8-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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