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

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 77 (Monday, April 21, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21240-21242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8327]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26726; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-205-AD; 
Amendment 39-15479; AD 2008-08-25]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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[[Page 21241]]

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Boeing Model 747-400F and -400 series airplanes. This AD requires 
installing drains and drain tubes to eliminate water accumulation in 
the dripshield above the M826 Card File in the main equipment center. 
This AD results from a report that water from the dripshield entered 
the card file and damaged a circuit card, causing the AFT CARGO FIRE 
MSG message to be illuminated and resulting in an air turn back. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent water from entering the card file and 
damaging a circuit card. Failure of one or more of the 15 fuel system 
circuit cards in the card file could cause loss of fuel management, 
which could cause unavailability of fuel. Failure of one or more of the 
35 fire detection circuit cards could cause a false message of a fire, 
or no message of a fire when there is a fire.

DATES: This AD is effective May 27, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of May 27, 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: Marcia Smith, 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) 917-6484; 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 747-400F series airplanes. That NPRM was published 
in the Federal Register on January 8, 2007 (72 FR 664). That NPRM 
proposed to require installing drains and drain tubes to eliminate 
water accumulation in the dripshield above the M826 Card File in the 
main equipment center.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comment received from the one commenter.

Request To Revise the Applicability Language and To Add New Service 
Information

    Boeing requests that all occurrences of the phrase ``certain 747-
400F series airplanes'' be changed to ``certain 747-400F and certain 
747-400BCF series airplanes.'' Boeing states that this change will 
clarify the affected models for operators, and that the wording of the 
proposed applicability statement, ``747-400F series,'' does not include 
the Model 747-400BCF (Boeing converted freighter) airplanes. Boeing 
states that it is revising the existing service bulletin referred to in 
the NPRM to include some early Model 747-400BCF airplanes.
    We partially agree. We have determined that these airplanes are 
also subject to the identified unsafe condition addressed by this AD. 
Therefore, we agree to revise the applicability language of this AD to 
include these airplanes; however, we do not agree to use the language 
suggested by Boeing. Section XIII., ``747-400SF Major Design Change,'' 
of the type certificate data sheet for Boeing Model 747 airplanes 
states that the Model 747-400SF (special freighter), optionally known 
as Model 747-400BCF, remains as Model 747-400 series airplanes for 
documentation purposes and with regard to the applicability of ADs. 
Therefore, we have revised the applicability language in the preamble 
of this final rule to specify ``certain Boeing Model 747-400F and 747-
400 series airplanes.'' However, none of the airplanes added to the 
applicability statement of this AD are on the U.S. Register, therefore 
additional notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing 
this AD are unnecessary. We have also revised the applicability 
statement of this final rule to refer to Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
747-25A3526, dated November 13, 2007 (described below), for Model 747-
400 series airplanes.
    Since we issued the NPRM, Boeing has issued Alert Service Bulletin 
747-25A3526 to address the identified unsafe condition on certain Model 
747-400 series airplanes. This service bulletin includes procedures 
that are essentially the same as those described in Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 747-25A3370, Revision 1, dated April 27, 2006 
(referred to in the NPRM as the appropriate source of service 
information for doing the proposed actions for Model 747-400F 
airplanes), except that it also includes moving the P402 panel. As we 
stated previously, we have added Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
25A3526 to this final rule.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD with the changes described previously. We also determined that these 
changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or 
increase the scope of the AD.

Change to Costs of Compliance Section of the NPRM

    We have revised this final rule to update the number of airplanes 
(representing the 747-400 series airplanes) in the worldwide fleet. 
None of the airplanes added to the applicability statement of this AD 
are on the U.S. Register, so the figures in the estimated costs table 
remain unchanged.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 130 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.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                                        Number of U.S.-
                      Action                           Work hours     Average labor        Parts           Cost per        registered       Fleet cost
                                                                      rate per hour                        airplane        airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation......................................               8              $80             $822           $1,462               21          $30,702
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 21242]]

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:

2008-08-25 Boeing: Amendment 39-15479. Docket No. FAA-2006-26726; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-205-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 27, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-400F airplanes as 
identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3370, Revision 1, 
dated April 27, 2006; and Model 747-400 series airplanes as 
identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3526, dated 
November 13, 2007; certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report that water from the dripshield 
entered the card file and damaged a circuit card, causing the AFT 
CARGO FIRE MSG message to be illuminated and resulting in an air 
turn back. We are issuing this AD to prevent water from entering the 
card file and damaging a circuit card. Failure of one or more of the 
15 fuel system circuit cards in the card file could cause loss of 
fuel management, which could cause unavailability of fuel. Failure 
of one or more of the 35 fire detection circuit cards could cause a 
false message of a fire, or no message of a fire when there is a 
fire.

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.

Installation

    (f) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install two drains and drain tubes in the dripshield above the M826 
Card File over the nose wheel left side in the main equipment center 
at station 400, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions 
of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3370, Revision 1, dated 
April 27, 2006 (for Model 747-400F series airplanes); or Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3526, dated November 13, 2007 (for 
Model 747-400 series airplanes).

Installation According to Previous Issue of Service Bulletin

    (g) Installing the drains and drain tubes is also acceptable for 
compliance with the requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD if done 
before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 747-25A3370, dated September 8, 2005.

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) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3370, 
Revision 1, dated April 27, 2006; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
747-25A3526, dated November 13, 2007; as applicable; 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 April 7, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-8327 Filed 4-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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