Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 195 (Friday, October 7, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69666-69668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22707]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-3986; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-147-AD; 
Amendment 39-18661; AD 2016-19-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company 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 
The Boeing Company Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series 
airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that a certain 
fastener type in the fuel tank walls has insufficient bond to the 
structure, and an electrical wiring short could cause arcing to occur 
at the ends of fasteners in the fuel tanks. This AD requires the 
installation of new clamps and polytetrafluoroethylene (TFE) sleeves on 
the wire bundles of the front spars and rear spars of the wings. This 
AD also requires inspecting the existing TFE sleeves under the wire 
bundle clamps for correct installation, and replacement if necessary. 
We are issuing this AD to prevent potential ignition sources in the 
fuel tank in the event of a lightning strike or high-powered short 
circuit, and consequent fire or explosion.

DATES: This AD is effective November 14, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 14, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 
Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone: 
206-544-5000, extension 1; fax: 206-766-5680; Internet: https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service information 
at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 425-227-1221. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
3986.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://

[[Page 69667]]

www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
3986; 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 Docket 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 
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-
6505; fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain The Boeing Company 
Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series airplanes. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on March 1, 2016 (81 FR 10537) (``the 
NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by a determination that a certain 
fastener type in the fuel tank walls has insufficient bond to the 
structure, and an electrical wiring short could cause arcing to occur 
at the ends of fasteners in the fuel tanks. The NPRM proposed to 
require the installation of new clamps and TFE sleeves on the wire 
bundles of the front spars and rear spars of the wings. The NPRM also 
proposed to require inspecting the existing TFE sleeves under the wire 
bundle clamps for correct installation, and replacement if necessary. 
We are issuing this AD to prevent potential ignition sources in the 
fuel tank in the event of a lightning strike or high-powered short 
circuit, and consequent fire or explosion.

Comments

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

Support for the NPRM

    Boeing supported the content of the NPRM. United Airlines had no 
objection to the NPRM.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD as proposed, except for minor editorial changes. We have 
determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2324, 
Revision 1, dated July 27, 2015. The service information describes 
procedures for installing new clamps and TFE sleeves on the wire 
bundles of the front spars and rear spars of the wings. The service 
information also describes procedures for inspecting TFE sleeves under 
the wire bundle clamps that were installed using the procedures 
specified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2324, 
dated November 3, 2014, for correct installation, and replacing them if 
necessary. This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 135 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                      Labor cost          Parts cost    Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation of wire bundle       Up to 7 work-hours x $85         $138  Up to $733.........  Up to $98,955.
 clamps.                           per hour = $595.
Inspection......................  Up to 5 work-hours x $85            0  Up to $425.........  Up to $57,375.
                                   per hour = $425.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We have received no definitive data that enables us to provide cost 
estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.

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,

[[Page 69668]]

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):

2016-19-12 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-18661; Docket No. FAA-
2016-3986; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-147-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective November 14, 2016.

 (b) Affected ADs

    None.

 (c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400, 747-400D, 
and 747-400F series airplanes, certificated in any category, as 
identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2324, 
Revision 1, dated July 27, 2015.

 (d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 28, Fuel.

 (e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a determination that a certain fastener 
type in the fuel tank walls has insufficient bond to the structure, 
and an electrical wiring short could cause arcing to occur at the 
ends of fasteners in the fuel tanks. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent potential ignition sources in the fuel tank in the event of 
a lightning strike or high-powered short circuit, and consequent 
fire or explosion.

 (f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

 (g) Installation/Inspection

    Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, as 
applicable.
    (1) For airplanes on which the modification specified in Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2324, dated November 3, 
2014, has not been done as of the effective date of this AD: Install 
new clamps and polytetrafluoroethylene (TFE) sleeves on the wire 
bundles of the front spars and rear spars of the wings, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2324, Revision 1, dated July 27, 
2015.
    (2) For airplanes on which the modification specified in Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2324, dated November 3, 
2014, has been done as of the effective date of this AD: Do a 
detailed inspection of the TFE sleeves under the wire bundle clamps 
for correct installation, and replace the sleeves if not correctly 
installed, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2324, Revision 1, 
dated July 27, 2015.

 (h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (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 manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (i) of this AD. 
Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (2) 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.
    (3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any repair, alteration, or modification required by this AD 
if it is approved by the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization 
Designation Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the 
Manager, Seattle ACO, to make those findings. For a repair method to 
be approved, the repair method, modification deviation, or 
alteration deviation must meet the certification basis of the 
airplane, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD.

 (i) Related Information

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

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2324, 
Revision 1, dated July 27, 2015.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P. O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone: 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax: 206-766-5680; Internet: https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    (4) You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 425-227-1221.
    (5) You may view this 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 13, 2016.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-22707 Filed 10-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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