Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 138 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40953-40955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15710]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0267; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-245-AD; 
Amendment 39-15609; AD 2008-14-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D 
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 
Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series airplanes. This AD requires a 
general visual inspection of the power feeder wire bundle of the 
auxiliary power unit (APU) where it crosses the hydraulic system 4 
return tube to determine if parts are installed to provide separation 
between the wire bundle and hydraulic tube. This AD also requires 
related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD 
results from a report that the power feeder wire bundle of the APU was 
found touching the hydraulic system return tube during inspection of an 
airplane. We are issuing this AD to prevent insufficient clearance 
between the wire bundle and hydraulic tube that could lead to chafing 
of the wire bundle, which could cause arcing and a consequent hydraulic 
fluid fire in an area outside of the smoke detection and fire 
extinguishing zone; this condition could result in an uncontrolled fire 
on the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective August 21, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference

[[Page 40954]]

of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 21, 2008.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.

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: Georgios Roussos, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 917-6482; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to 
certain Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series airplanes. That NPRM 
was published in the Federal Register on December 4, 2007 (72 FR 
68106). That NPRM proposed to require a general visual inspection of 
the power feeder wire bundle of the auxiliary power unit (APU) where it 
crosses the hydraulic system 4 return tube to determine if parts are 
installed to provide separation between the wire bundle and hydraulic 
tube. That NPRM also proposed to require related investigative and 
corrective actions if necessary.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the three comments received.

Supportive Comment

    The commenters Adam W. Rocks and Boeing support the NPRM.

Request To Revise Applicability

    Brady J. Mitchell, an employee of Boeing, requests that all Boeing 
Model 747-400 series airplanes converted from a passenger-to-freighter 
configuration be excluded from the applicability of the NPRM. Mr. 
Mitchell states that those airplanes will have new hydraulic tubes and 
eliminate the possibility of an insufficient clearance or potential 
chafing condition between the tubes and the power feeder wire bundles 
of the APU between stations 2040 and 2060. Mr. Mitchell concludes that 
such a configuration change fulfills the requirements in paragraph (f) 
of the NPRM.
    We do not agree. We have reviewed the details of the passenger-to-
freighter conversion to which the commenter refers. We have determined 
that there is not a common configuration for each airplane that is 
converted. Rather, the details of each conversion are likely to be 
different from airplane to airplane. Therefore, each conversion 
configuration needs to be evaluated to ensure the unsafe condition 
identified in this AD is corrected. For this reason, providing a 
blanket exception for all airplanes that are converted to a freighter 
configuration is not appropriate. However, anyone may apply for an 
alternative method of compliance (AMOC) for relief from the 
requirements of this AD. Under the provisions of paragraph (h) of this 
AD, we may consider requests for approval of an AMOC if sufficient data 
are submitted to substantiate that a passenger-to-freighter 
configuration change would provide an acceptable level of safety.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 462 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD affects 61 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
required inspection takes 1 work hour per airplane, at an average labor 
rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost 
of the AD for U.S. operators is $4,880, or $80 per airplane.

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:

2008-14-14 Boeing: Amendment 39-15609. Docket No. FAA-2007-0267; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-245-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 21, 
2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

[[Page 40955]]

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series 
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-24-2257, Revision 1, dated 
August 2, 2007.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report that the power feeder wire 
bundle of the auxiliary power unit (APU) was found touching the 
hydraulic system return tube during inspection of an airplane. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent insufficient clearance between the 
wire bundle and hydraulic tube that could lead to chafing of the 
wire bundle, which could cause arcing and a consequent hydraulic 
fluid fire in an area outside of the smoke detection and fire 
extinguishing zone; this condition could result in an uncontrolled 
fire on 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 and Related Investigative and Corrective Actions

    (f) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, do a 
general visual inspection of the power feeder wire bundle of the APU 
where it crosses the hydraulic system 4 return tube to determine if 
parts are installed to provide separation between the wire bundle 
and hydraulic tube, and do all the related investigative and 
corrective actions as applicable, by accomplishing all of the 
actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-24-2257, Revision 1, dated 
August 2, 2007. The related investigative and corrective actions 
must be accomplished before further flight after the inspection.

Credit for Actions Done According to Previous Issue of Service Bulletin

    (g) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-24-
2257, dated May 18, 2006, are acceptable for compliance with the 
corresponding requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

    (i) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-
24-2257, Revision 1, dated August 2, 2007, 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, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 
98124-2207.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information 
incorporated by reference 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 27, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-15710 Filed 7-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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