Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-200B, 747-300, and 747SR Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10669-10671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4650]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0376; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-322-AD; 
Amendment 39-16221; AD 2010-05-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-
200B, 747-300, and 747SR 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 certain 
Model 747-100, 747-200B, 747-300, and 747SR series airplanes. This AD 
requires installation of a closeout panel and moisture curtains for the 
main equipment center. This AD results from a report of water 
contamination in the electrical and electronic units in the main 
equipment center. We are issuing this AD to prevent the malfunction of 
one or more electrical and electronic units in the main equipment 
center, which could adversely affect the airplane's continued safe 
flight.

DATES: This AD is effective April 13, 2010.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 13, 
2010.

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.

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: Marcia Smith, Aerospace Engineer, 
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6484; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to 
amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that 
would apply to certain Boeing Model 747-100, 747-200B, 747-300, and 
747SR series airplanes. That supplemental NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on September 25, 2009 (74 FR 48882). That supplemental 
NPRM proposed to require installation of a closeout panel and moisture 
curtains for the main equipment center.

Comments

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

Request to Reference Revised Service Bulletin

    Boeing requests that we revise the supplemental NPRM to refer to 
Revision 1, dated June 25, 2007, of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
25A3346 for the shroud installation (paragraph (g) in the original 
NPRM). Boeing states that Revision 1 reroutes the forward drain tube 
installation, revises the pitot static lines, revises the moisture 
shroud inboard bracket installation, and revises the wire routing.
    We disagree with Boeing's request. As noted in the supplemental 
NPRM, we have removed the requirement to perform any actions in 
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3346. We have not 
changed the AD in this regard.

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.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD interim action. The manufacturer is currently 
developing a modification that will address the unsafe condition 
identified in this AD. Once this modification is developed, approved, 
and available, we might consider additional rulemaking.

[[Page 10670]]

Explanation of Change to Costs of Compliance

    Since issuance of the NPRM, we have increased the labor rate used 
in the Costs of Compliance from $80 per work-hour to $85 per work-hour. 
The Costs of Compliance information, below, reflects this increase in 
the specified hourly labor rate.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 47 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
following table provides the estimated costs, at an average labor rate 
of $85 per work hour, for U.S. operators to comply with this AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Number of U.S.-
           Action                Work hours         Parts           Cost per       registered       Fleet cost
                                                                    product         airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation................  Up to 10.......  Up to $11,672..  Up to $12,522..              47  Up to $588,534.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

2010-05-11 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-16221. Docket No. FAA-
2008-0376; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-322-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 13, 
2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-
200B, 747-300, and 747SR series airplanes, certificated in any 
category; as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25A3368, 
Revision 2, dated June 12, 2008.

    Note 1:  The affected airplanes are those that have been 
converted by Boeing to the Boeing Special Freighter configuration.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25: 
Equipment/furnishings.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from a report of water contamination in the 
electrical and electronic units in the main equipment center. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent the malfunction of one or more electrical 
and electronic units in the main equipment center, which could 
adversely affect the airplane's continued safe flight.

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.

Install the Closeout Panel and Moisture Curtains

    (g) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install the closeout panel and moisture curtains for the main 
equipment center, by accomplishing all of the applicable actions 
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service 
Bulletin 747-25A3368, Revision 2, dated June 12, 2008.

Credit for Actions Done According to Previous Issue of the Service 
Bulletin

    (h) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions in Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 747-25A3368, dated August 25, 2005, are acceptable 
for compliance with the corresponding actions required by paragraph 
(g) of this AD, provided that the additional work specified in the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
25A3368, Revision 1, dated June 25, 2007; or Revision 2, dated June 
12, 2008; is accomplished. The additional work required is to cap 
seal all rivets fastening the mounting base assembly to the moisture 
shroud as given in Figure 10 in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
25A3368, Revision 2, dated June 12, 2008, and to fill any unused 
pilot holes in the mounting base assembly in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
25A3368, Revision 2, dated June 12, 2008; or cap seal all rivets 
fastening the mounting base assembly to the moisture shroud as given 
in Figure 10 of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3368, Revision 
1, dated June 25, 2007, and to fill any unused pilot holes in the 
mounting base assembly in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3368, Revision 
1, dated June 25, 2007.
    (i) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3368, Revision 
1, dated June 25, 2007, are acceptable for compliance with the 
corresponding actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD.

[[Page 10671]]

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: 
Marcia Smith, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental 
Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; 
telephone (425) 917-6484; fax (425) 917-6590. Or, e-mail information 
to [email protected].
    (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 principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or 
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a 
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. 
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25A3368, Revision 
2, dated June 12, 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, 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 or 425-227-1152.
    (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 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 February 25, 2010.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-4650 Filed 3-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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