Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, and 747SR Series Airplanes Equipped With General Electric (GE) CF6-45 or -50 Series Engines

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 53 (Monday, March 21, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13347-13349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5298]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19945; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-22-AD; 
Amendment 39-14017; AD 2005-06-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-
200F, 747-300, and 747SR Series Airplanes Equipped With General 
Electric (GE) CF6-45 or -50 Series Engines

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 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, and 747SR 
series airplanes, equipped with GE CF6-45 or -50 series engines. This 
AD requires modifying the side cowl assemblies on the engines by 
replacing existing wear plates with new extended wear plates and 
installing new stop fittings. This AD is prompted by reports of a gap 
at the interface of the lower portion of the side cowl and the aft 
flange of the thrust reverser. We are issuing this AD to prevent an 
excessive quantity of air from entering the fire zone that surrounds 
the engine, which, in the event of an engine fire, could result in an 
inability to control or extinguish the fire.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 25, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April 
25, 2005.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing

[[Page 13348]]

Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207.
    Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any 
final disposition. You can 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 U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401, 
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-19945; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-22-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Kinney, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone 
(425) 917-6499; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39 
with an AD for certain Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-
300, and 747SR series airplanes, equipped with General Electric CF6-45 
or -50 series engines. That action, published in the Federal Register 
on January 3, 2005 (70 FR 51), proposed to require modifying the side 
cowl assemblies on the engines by replacing existing wear plates with 
new extended wear plates and installing new stop fittings.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the single comment that has 
been submitted on the proposed AD. The commenter supports the proposed 
AD.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment that has been submitted, and determined that air safety and the 
public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 140 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 38 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to 
comply with this AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Average
                    Action                      Work hours   labor rate      Parts      Cost per     Fleet cost
                                                              per hour                  airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification per Boeing Service Bulletin 747-          72           $65     $25,736       $30,416    $1,155,808
 71-2300, Revision 1..........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. 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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2005-06-09 Boeing: Amendment 39-14017. Docket No. FAA-2004-19945; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-22-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 25, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-
200F, 747-300, and 747SR series airplanes; certificated in any 
category; equipped with General Electric CF6-45 or -50 series 
engines.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by reports of a gap at the interface of 
the lower portion of the side cowl and the aft flange of the thrust 
reverser. We are issuing this AD to prevent an excessive quantity of 
air from entering the fire zone that surrounds the engine, which, in 
the event of an engine fire, could result in an inability to control 
or extinguish the fire.

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 24 months after the effective date of this AD: Modify 
the side cowl assemblies on the engines by replacing existing wear 
plates with new extended wear plates and installing new stop 
fittings, by doing all actions according to the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing

[[Page 13349]]

Service Bulletin 747-71-2300, Revision 1, dated October 30, 2003. 
Any applicable corrective actions must be done before further 
flight.

On Condition: Removal of Bulb Seals and Other Specified Actions

    (g) If bulb seals were installed on the trailing edge of the fan 
thrust reverser in accordance with Boeing Service Letter 747-SL-71-
045: Concurrently with or before further flight after accomplishing 
paragraph (f) of this AD, remove the bulb seals, plug the open holes 
in the trailing edge of the fan thrust reverser, and adjust the cowl 
latches as applicable, in accordance with Boeing Service Letter 747-
SL-71-045-C, dated April 10, 2003.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, Seattle 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71-2300, Revision 
1, dated October 30, 2003; and Boeing Service Letter 747-SL-71-045-
C, including Attachment, dated April 10, 2003; as applicable, to 
perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD 
specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approves 
the incorporation by reference of those documents in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the service 
information, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, 
Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. For information on the availability 
of this material at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. You may view the AD docket at the Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 8, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5298 Filed 3-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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