Airworthiness Directives; Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER) Model EMB-135 Airplanes, and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 19, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48294-48296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18808]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0642; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-039-AD; 
Amendment 39-15643; AD 2008-17-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. 
(EMBRAER) Model EMB-135 Airplanes, and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -
145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), which applies to certain EMBRAER Model EMB-135 airplanes and 
Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP 
airplanes. That AD currently requires replacing the metallic tubes 
enclosing the vent and pilot valve wires in the left- and right-hand 
wing fuel tanks with non-conductive hoses. This new AD adds airplanes 
to the applicability of the existing AD. This AD results from fuel 
system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent an ignition source inside the fuel tank that could ignite fuel 
vapor and cause a fuel tank explosion and loss of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective September 23, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of September 23, 
2008.
    On July 19, 2007 (72 FR 32780, June 14, 2007), the Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
other documents.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER), P.O. Box 343--CEP 
12.225, Sao Jose dos Campos--SP, Brazil.

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)

[[Page 48295]]

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: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-1175; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that supersedes AD 2007-12-17, amendment 
39-15095 (72 FR 32780, June 14, 2007). The existing AD applies to 
certain EMBRAER Model EMB-135 airplanes and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -
145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes. That NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on June 20, 2008 (73 FR 35098). That 
NPRM proposed to continue to require replacing the metallic tubes 
enclosing the vent and pilot valve wires in the left- and right-hand 
wing fuel tanks with non-conductive hoses. That NPRM also proposed to 
add airplanes to the applicability of the existing AD.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. No comments have been received on the NPRM or 
on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work hour.

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Number of U.S.-
            Action                Work hours          Parts          Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                                                     airplane        airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tube replacement (required by                1  $1,121 (for               $1,201              30         $36,030
 AD 2007-12-17).                                 Model EMB-135BJ
                                                 airplanes).
                                             1  $1,788 (for                1,868             593       1,107,724
                                                 remaining
                                                 airplanes).
Tube replacement for                         1  $1,121 (for                1,201              11          13,211
 additional airplanes.                           Model EMB-135BJ
                                                 airplanes).
                                             1  $1,788 (for                1,868              75         140,100
                                                 remaining
                                                 additional
                                                 airplanes).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. 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 39-15095 (72 FR 32780, June 14, 2007) and by adding 
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2008-17-05 Empresa Brasileira De Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER: 
Amendment 39-15643. Docket No. FAA-2008-0642; Directorate Identifier 
2008-NM-039-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective September 23, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2007-12-17.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all EMBRAER Model EMB-135ER, -135KE, -
135KL, -135LR, and -135BJ airplanes; and all Model EMB-145, -145ER, 
-145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes; certificated 
in any category.

[[Page 48296]]

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source 
inside the fuel tank that could ignite fuel vapor and cause a fuel 
tank explosion and loss of 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.

Requirements of AD 2007-12-17 Including Additional Airplanes:

Tube Replacement

    (f) For airplanes identified in the applicable service bulletins 
specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD: Within 5,000 
flight hours or 48 months after July 19, 2007 (the effective date of 
AD 2007-12-17), whichever occurs first, replace the metallic tubes 
enclosing the vent and pilot valve wires in the left- and right-hand 
wing fuel tanks with new, improved, non-conductive hoses, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the service 
bulletins specified in paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, as 
applicable.
    (1) For Model EMB-135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -
145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes: EMBRAER Service 
Bulletin 145-28-0023, Revision 07, dated February 7, 2007.
    (2) For Model EMB-135BJ airplanes: EMBRAER Service Bulletin 
145LEG-28-0018, Revision 01, dated April 20, 2005.
    (g) For Model EMB-135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -
145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes that are not 
identified in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD: Within 5,000 flight hours 
or 48 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
first, replace the metallic tubes enclosing the vent and pilot valve 
wires in the left- and right-hand wing fuel tanks with new, 
improved, non-conductive hoses; in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of EMBRAER Service Bulletin 145-28-0023, 
Revision 11, dated December 4, 2007.

Credit for Actions Done Using Previous Service Information

    (h) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with the service information specified in Table 1 of this 
AD are considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding 
actions of this AD.

             Table 1--Acceptable EMBRAER Service Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Revision
 EMBRAER Service Bulletin--       level--               Dated--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
145-28-0023.................           (\1\)  April 19, 2004.
145-28-0023.................              01  June 9, 2004.
145-28-0023.................              02  November 8, 2004.
145-28-0023.................              03  April 27, 2005.
145-28-0023.................              04  November 7, 2005.
145-28-0023.................              05  May 15, 2006.
145-28-0023.................              06  October 31, 2006.
145-28-0023.................              07  February 7, 2007.
145-28-0023.................              08  May 25, 2007.
145-28-0023.................              09  July 30, 2007.
145-28-0023.................              10  October 28, 2007.
145LEG-28-0018..............           (\1\)  April 23, 2004.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Original.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send 
information to ATTN: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 
(425) 227-1175; fax (425) 227-1149. 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.

Related Information

    (j) None.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use the applicable service information listed in 
Table 2 of this AD to perform the actions that are required by this 
AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

               Table 2--Material Incorporated by Reference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Revision
 EMBRAER Service Bulletin--       level--               Dated--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
145LEG-28-0018..............              01  April 20, 2005.
145-28-0023.................              07  February 7, 2007.
145-28-0023.................              11  December 4, 2007.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of EMBRAER Service Bulletin 145-28-0023, 
Revision 11, dated December 4, 2007, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) On July 19, 2007 (72 FR 32780, June 14, 2007), the Director 
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of 
EMBRAER Service Bulletin 145-28-0023, Revision 07, dated February 7, 
2007; and EMBRAER Service Bulletin 145LEG-28-0018, Revision 01, 
dated April 20, 2005.
    (3) Contact Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER), 
P.O. Box 343--CEP 12.225, Sao Jose dos Campos--SP, Brazil, 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 August 6, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-18808 Filed 8-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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