Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 707 Airplanes and Model 720 and 720B Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 78 (Monday, April 25, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21136-21137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7996]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20023; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-49-AD; 
Amendment 39-14067; AD 2005-08-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 707 Airplanes and Model 
720 and 720B Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), which applies to certain Boeing Model 707 airplanes and Model 720 
and 720B series airplanes. That AD currently requires a preventive 
modification of the front spar fitting on the outboard engine nacelle. 
This new AD removes the requirement to do this preventive modification, 
and requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the front spar 
fitting of the inboard and outboard nacelle struts, and replacement of 
any cracked fitting with a new fitting. This AD also applies to more 
airplanes. This AD is prompted by a report indicating that a crack was 
found in a front spar fitting that had been replaced as part of the 
modification required by the existing AD. We are issuing this AD to 
detect and correct this cracking, which could result in reduced 
structural integrity of the engine nacelle, and consequent separation 
of an engine from the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 31, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
A3514, dated July 29, 2004, as listed in the AD, is approved by the 
Director of the Federal Register as of May 31, 2005.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing 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-2005-20023; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-49-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candice Gerretsen, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
917-6428; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend part 39 of the 
Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) with an AD to supersede 
AD 2001-17-24, amendment 39-12415 (66 FR 45572, August 29, 2001). The 
existing AD applies to certain Boeing Model 707 airplanes and Model 720 
and 720B series airplanes. The proposed AD was published in the Federal 
Register on January 12, 2005 (70 FR 2060), to remove the requirement to 
do the preventative modification of the front spar fitting on the 
outboard engine nacelle and to require repetitive inspections for 
cracking of the front spar fitting of the inboard and outboard nacelle 
struts, and replacement of any cracked fitting with a new fitting. The 
proposed AD would also apply to more airplanes.

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.

Explanation of Changes Made to This AD

    Boeing has received a Delegation Option Authorization (DOA). We 
have revised this final rule to delegate the authority to approve an 
alternative method of compliance for any repair required by this AD to 
the Authorized Representative for the Boeing DOA Organization rather 
than the Designated Engineering Representative (DER).
    We have removed paragraph (h)(1) of the proposed AD because 
paragraph (h)(2) would supersede those actions. We have re-identified 
paragraph (h)(2) of the proposed AD as paragraph (h) in this final 
rule.

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 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 290 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.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                      Number of
                                                       Average                                                          U.S.-
               Action                  Work  hours   labor rate            Parts              Cost per  airplane     registered         Fleet cost
                                                      per hour                                                        airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection..........................            8           $65   None...................  $520, per inspection              87   $45,240 per inspection
                                                                                            cycle.                                 cycle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[[Page 21137]]

    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, Incorporated 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 removing amendment 39-12415 (66 FR 
45572, August 29, 2001), and by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2005-08-15 Boeing: Amendment 39-14067. Docket No. FAA-2005-20023; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-49-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective May 31, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2001-17-24, amendment 39-12415 (66 FR 
45572, August 29, 2001).

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 707-100 long body, -200, -
100B long body, and -100B short body series airplanes; Model 707-
300, -300B, -300C, and -400 series airplanes; and Model 720 and 720B 
series airplanes; certificated in any category; having line numbers 
1 through 1012 inclusive.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report indicating that a crack was 
found in a front spar fitting that had been replaced as part of the 
modification required by AD 2001-17-24. We are issuing this AD to 
detect and correct this cracking, which could result in reduced 
structural integrity of the engine nacelle, and consequent 
separation of an engine from 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) Prior to the accumulation of 3,500 total flight hours, or 
within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever 
occurs later: Do a detailed inspection for cracking of the front 
spar fitting of the inboard and outboard nacelles according to the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin A3514, 
dated July 29, 2004. Repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals 
not to exceed 700 flight hours.

    Note 1: There is no terminating action at this time for the 
repetitive inspections required by paragraph (f) of this AD.

Replacement

    (g) If any cracking is found during any inspection required by 
paragraph (f) of this AD: Before further flight, replace the cracked 
front spar fitting with a new fitting, according to the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin A3514, 
dated July 29, 2004.

Parts Installation

    (h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, 
on any airplane, a front spar fitting having a part number other 
than the part numbers specified in paragraph 2.C.2. of Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin A3514, dated July 29, 2004.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) 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.
    (2) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any repair that is required by this AD, if it 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

    (j) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin A3514, dated July 
29, 2004, 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 this document in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To get copies of 
the service information, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. 
Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. To view the AD docket, 
contact the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif 
Building, Washington, DC. To review copies of the service 
information, contact 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 April 13, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-7996 Filed 4-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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