Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747 Series Airplanes Equipped With General Electric CF6-80C2 Engines

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8538-8540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2147]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-NM-119-AD; Amendment 39-9132; AD 95-02-13]


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747 Series Airplanes 
Equipped With General Electric CF6-80C2 Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain Boeing Model 747 series airplanes, that requires 
modification of the fire extinguishing system in the number two engine 
strut. This amendment is prompted by reports of chafing of the fire 
extinguishing tubes [[Page 8539]] in a certain inboard strut to wing 
area. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent chafing 
of the fire extinguishing tube; such chafing could cause cracking of 
the tube and consequently produce a hole in the fire extinguishing 
tube, which could prevent the proper distribution of the fire 
extinguisher agent within the nacelle in the event of a fire.

DATES: Effective March 17, 1995.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of March 17, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules 
Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of 
the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, 
Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tamra Elkins, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 227-2669; fax (206) 227-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 747 series 
airplanes was published in the Federal Register on October 7, 1994 (59 
FR 51151). That action proposed to require modification of the fire 
extinguishing system in the number two engine strut.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the two comments received.
    Both commenters support the proposed rule.
    Since issuance of the notice, Boeing has issued Alert Service 
Bulletin 747-26A2226, Revision 1, dated November 23, 1994. This alert 
service bulletin is essentially identical to the original issue, but 
contains certain editorial changes. The FAA has revised the final rule 
to include reference to this revision of the alert service bulletin as 
an additional appropriate source of service information.
    As a result of recent communications with the Air Transport 
Association (ATA) of America, the FAA has learned that, in general, 
some operators may misunderstand the legal effect of AD's on airplanes 
that are identified in the applicability provision of the AD, but that 
have been altered or repaired in the area addressed by the AD. The FAA 
points out that all airplanes identified in the applicability provision 
of an AD are legally subject to the AD. If an airplane has been altered 
or repaired in the affected area in such a way as to affect compliance 
with the AD, the owner or operator is required to obtain FAA approval 
for an alternative method of compliance with the AD, in accordance with 
the paragraph of each AD that provides for such approvals. A note has 
been added to this final rule to clarify this requirement.
    The FAA has recently reviewed the figures it has used over the past 
several years in calculating the economic impact of AD activity. In 
order to account for various inflationary costs in the airline 
industry, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to increase the 
labor rate used in these calculations from $55 per work hour to $60 per 
work hour. The economic impact information, below, has been revised to 
reflect this increase in the specified hourly labor rate.
    After careful review of the available data, including the comments 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the changes previously 
described. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.
    There are approximately 145 Boeing Model 747 series airplanes 
equipped with General Electric CF6-80C2 engines of the affected design 
in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 2 airplanes of U.S. 
registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 3 
work hours per airplane to accomplish the required actions, and that 
the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts will be 
supplied by the manufacturer at not cost to the operators. Based on 
these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $360, or $180 per airplane.
    The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on 
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the 
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish 
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects 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.
    Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is 
determined that this final rule does not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety. Adoption of the Amendment.

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

95-02-13  Boeing: Amendment 39-9132 . Docket 94-NM-119-AD.

    Applicability: Model 747 series airplanes equipped with General 
Electric CF6-80C2 engines; as listed in Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 747-26A2226, dated June 30, 1994, or Revision 1, dated 
November 23, 1994; certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must use the authority 
provided in paragraph (b) to request approval from the FAA. This 
approval may address either no action, if the current configuration 
[[Page 8540]] eliminates the unsafe condition; or different actions 
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such 
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To ensure proper distribution of the fire extinguisher agent 
within the nacelle in the event of a fire, accomplish the following:
    -(a) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the fire extinguishing system in the number two engine strut, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 747-26A2226, dated June 30, 1994, or Revision 1, 
dated November 23, 1994.
    (b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall 
submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Seattle ACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Seattle ACO.

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (d) The modification shall be done in accordance with Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 747-26A2226, dated June 30, 1994, and Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 747-26A2226, Revision 1, dated November 23, 
1994. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director 
of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 
part 51. Copies may be obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane 
Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. Copies may be 
inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (e) This amendment becomes effective on March 17, 1995.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 24, 1995.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-2147 Filed 2-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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