Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 183 (Friday, September 21, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53915-53918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18473]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27712; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-233-AD; 
Amendment 39-15207; AD 2007-19-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747 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 747 series airplanes. That 
AD requires a one-time inspection for discrepancies of the potable 
water and drain lines in the cargo compartments, and corrective action 
if necessary. This new AD requires that the inspection be repetitively 
performed using new service information, until terminating action is 
done. This AD also removes certain airplanes from the applicability. 
This AD results from a report of a fire in the aft cargo compartment 
started by a potable water line heater tape. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent overheating of the heater tape on potable water fill and drain 
lines, which could ignite accumulated debris or contaminants on or near 
the potable water fill and drain lines, resulting in a fire in the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 26, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of October 26, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC.
    Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207, for service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Eiford, 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) 917-6465; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Operations 
office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is located on the ground floor of the 
West Building at the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES 
section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR

[[Page 53916]]

part 39 to include an AD that supersedes AD 2004-09-10, amendment 39-
13599 (69 FR 23647, April 30, 2004). The existing AD applies to certain 
Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on March 29, 2007 (72 FR 14719). That NPRM proposed to 
require repetitive inspections of the potable water and drain lines in 
the cargo compartments for indications of overheating of the heater 
tape, exposed foam insulation, missing or damaged protective tape, or 
debris around the potable water fill and drain lines; corrective 
action, if necessary; and eventual installation of new ribbon heaters, 
which would terminate the repetitive inspections. That NPRM also 
proposed to remove certain airplanes from the applicability.

Relevant Service Information

    The NPRM cited Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-30A2080, Revision 
2, dated September 14, 2006, as the appropriate source of service 
information for the proposed actions. Boeing has since revised the 
service bulletin. We have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 747-30A2080, 
Revision 3, dated June 14, 2007. Revision 3 removes certain airplanes 
from the effectivity, revises certain references, and updates certain 
other information, but otherwise does not substantially change any of 
the actions.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment that has been 
received on the NPRM.

Request To Remove Airplanes From the Proposed Applicability

    Boeing requests that we revise the applicability of the NPRM to 
remove Model 747-400 passenger airplanes that have been converted to 
the 747-400 BCF configuration, except for the first such configured 
airplane (variable number RT456). Boeing reports that as part of the 
conversion, heater tapes are replaced with new heater ribbons that 
satisfy the requirements for the terminating action specified in the 
NPRM and eliminates the unsafe condition associated with the 
installation of heater tapes addressed by superseded AD 2004-09-10.
    We agree with Boeing's rationale. Accordingly, we have revised Note 
1 and paragraphs (c), (f), and (g) in this final rule to refer to 
Revision 3 of the service bulletin. We have also revised paragraph (h) 
in this final rule to provide credit for actions already accomplished 
as specified in Revision 2 of the service bulletin.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment that has been received, 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 1,114 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, at an average labor rate of $80 
per hour. The cost of parts is minimal.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   No. of U.S.-
            Action                    Group         Work hours       Cost per       registered     Fleet cost by
                                                                     airplane        airplanes         group
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection (cost per            1...............               3            $240             113         $27,120
 inspection cycle).             2 (Config. 1)...               2             160              18           2,880
                                2 (Config. 2)...               2             160              17           2,720
                                3...............               3             240               2             480
                                4...............               3             240               0               0
                                5...............               2             160               0               0
Modification..................  1...............              48           3,840             113         433,920
                                2 (Config. 1)...               7             560              18          10,080
                                2 (Config. 2)...              15           1,200              17          20,400
                                2 (Config. 3)...               8             640              17          10,880
                                3...............              60           4,800               2           9,600
                                4...............              61           4,880               0               0
                                5...............              27           2,160               0               0
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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 and placed it in the AD docket.

[[Page 53917]]

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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
removing amendment 39-13599 (69 FR 23647, April 30, 2004) and by adding 
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2007-19-16 Boeing: Amendment 39-15207. Docket No. FAA-2007-27712; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-233-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective October 26, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2004-09-10.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747 airplanes, certificated 
in any category, as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-
30A2080, Revision 3, dated June 14, 2007.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a cargo area that is not 
fully enclosed or not enclosed, as identified in Boeing Service 
Bulletin 747-30A2080, Revision 3, dated June 14, 2007, is a floor 
without panels installed between all roller trays in the cargo 
compartment.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of a fire in the aft cargo 
compartment started by a potable water line heater tape. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent overheating of the heater tape on potable 
water fill and drain lines, which could ignite accumulated debris or 
contaminants on or near the potable water fill and drain lines, 
resulting in a fire in 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.

Inspections

    (f) At the later of the times specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and 
(f)(2) of this AD: Do the initial inspections specified in Table 1 
of this AD in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Service Bulletin 747-30A2080, Revision 3, dated June 14, 
2007. Correct any discrepancy before further flight in accordance 
with the service bulletin. Repeat the inspections at the applicable 
time specified in Table 1 of this AD.
    (1) Within 18 calendar months since the date of issuance of the 
original standard airworthiness certificate or within 18 calendar 
months since the date of issuance of the original export certificate 
of airworthiness.
    (2) Within 90 calendar days after the effective date of this AD.

                          Table 1.--Inspections
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Do a general visual inspection     And repeat the
  of the forward and aft cargo       inspection at
  compartments, as applicable,     intervals not to         Until--
              for--                    exceed--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign object debris (FOD) or    600 flight hours..  The heater tape
 contamination on, near, or                            replacement
 around the potable water supply                       required by
 and gray water drain lines.                           paragraph (g) of
                                                       this AD is done.
Indications of heat damage,       1,800 flight hours  The heater tape
 exposed foam insulation, or                           replacement
 missing or damaged protective                         required by
 tape of all heater tape on the                        paragraph (g) of
 potable water supply and gray                         this AD is done.
 water drain lines.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Terminating Action

    (g) At the applicable time specified in Table 2 of this AD: 
Replace the heater tape on the potable water supply and gray water 
drain lines of the forward and aft cargo compartments, as 
applicable, with Adel Wiggins ribbon heaters. Do the actions in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service 
Bulletin 747-30A2080, Revision 3, dated June 14, 2007. This 
replacement terminates the requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.

            Table 2.--Compliance Time for Terminating Action
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  For airplanes on which the    (1) Replace the heater tape at the later
       heater tape has--                           of--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Not been replaced before    Within 42 months since  24 months after
 the effective date of this AD   the date of issuance    the effective
 in accordance with Boeing       of the original         date of this
 Alert Service Bulletin 747-     standard                AD.
 30A2079, dated December 12,     airworthiness
 2002; Revision 1, dated         certificate or the
 October 16, 2003; or Revision   date of issuance of
 2, dated December 16, 2004.     the original export
                                 certificate of
                                 airworthiness,
                                 whichever occurs
                                 first.
(2) Been replaced before the    Within 42 months after  24 months after
 effective date of this AD in    the heater tape was     the effective
 accordance with Boeing Alert    replaced.               date of this
 Service Bulletin 747-30A2079,                           AD.
 dated December 12, 2002;
 Revision 1, dated October 16,
 2003; or Revision 2, dated
 December 16, 2004.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Provisions for Previously Accomplished Work

    (h) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-30A2080--either 
the original version dated December 16, 2004, or Revision 1, dated 
August 18, 2005--are acceptable for compliance with the 
corresponding requirements of this AD; except, for Group 2, 
Configuration 2 and Configuration 3 airplanes, as defined in 
Revision 2 of the service bulletin, additional work is required in 
the forward cargo compartment, as specified in Parts 1, 2, and 3 of 
the service bulletin and required by this AD. Actions done before 
the effective date of this AD in accordance with Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 747-30A2080, Revision 2, dated September 14, 2006, 
are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding requirements of 
this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
has the authority to

[[Page 53918]]

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (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 appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 747-30A2080, Revision 
3, dated June 14, 2007, to perform the actions that are required by 
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this 
document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207, for a copy of this service information. You 
may review copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or 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 10, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-18473 Filed 9-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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