Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 22, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3620-3621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-926]



[[Page 3620]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-29330; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-199-AD; 
Amendment 39-15338; AD 2008-02-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 
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 
McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. This AD requires electrical 
bonding of the fill valves for the right and left main fuel tanks, the 
fill valve and pipe assembly for the center wing fuel tank, and the 
defuel shutoff valve. This AD results from a fuel system review 
conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
improper bonding of the fill valves and defuel shutoff valve for the 
main fuel tanks and center wing tank, which, in combination with a 
lightning strike, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent 
loss of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective February 26, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 26, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood 
Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and Service 
Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024).

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: Samuel S. Lee, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; 
telephone (562) 627-5262; fax (562) 627-5210.

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 McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. That NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on October 11, 2007 (72 FR 57894). 
That NPRM proposed to require electrical bonding of the fill valves for 
the right and left main fuel tanks, the fill valve and pipe assembly 
for the center wing fuel tank, and the defuel shutoff valve.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the single comment received. AirTran Airways 
supports the NPRM.

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 134 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 104 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The required actions take about 4 work hours per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Required parts cost about $9 
per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD for 
U.S. operators is $34,216, or $329 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:

2008-02-08 McDonnell Douglas: Amendment 39-15338. Docket No. FAA-
2007-29330; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-199-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 26, 
2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing 
Service Bulletin 717-28-0012, Revision 1, dated June 7, 2006.

[[Page 3621]]

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a fuel system review conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent improper bonding of 
the fill valves and defuel shutoff valve for the main fuel tanks and 
center wing tank, which, in combination with a lightning strike, 
could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent 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.

Electrical Bonding

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, 
accomplish the electrical bonding of the fill valves for the right 
and left main fuel tanks, the fill valve and pipe assembly for the 
center wing fuel tank, and the defuel shutoff valve, in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 717-
28-0012, Revision 1, dated June 7, 2006.

Credit for Actions Done Using the Previous Service Information

    (g) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 717-28-0012, dated April 16, 
2004, are considered acceptable for compliance with the 
corresponding actions specified in paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), 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 Service Bulletin 717-28-0012, Revision 
1, dated June 7, 2006, 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, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood 
Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and Service 
Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024).
    (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 January 11, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-926 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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