Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 707 Airplanes and Model 720 and 720B Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 21, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35788-35789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16935]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0645; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-358-AD; 
Amendment 39-15969; AD 2009-15-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 707 Airplanes and Model 
720 and 720B Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Boeing Model 707 airplanes and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. 
This AD requires performing an operational test of the engine fuel 
suction feed of the fuel system, and other related testing and 
corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from a report of in-
service occurrences of loss of fuel system suction feed capability, 
followed by total loss of pressure of the fuel feed system. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct failure of the engine fuel 
suction feed capability of the fuel system, which could result in 
multi-engine flameout, inability to restart the engines, and consequent 
forced landing of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 25, 2009.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of August 25, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-
544-5000, extension 1, fax 206-766-5680; e-mail [email protected]; 
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.

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: Sue Lucier, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 
(425) 917-6438; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to all Boeing 
Model 707 airplanes and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. That 
supplemental NPRM was published in the Federal Register on December 10, 
2008 (73 FR 75007). That supplemental NPRM proposed to require 
performing an operational test of the engine fuel suction feed of the 
fuel system, and other related testing and corrective actions if 
necessary.

Explanation of Revised Service Information

    Boeing has published Revision 1 of Boeing 707 Service Bulletin 
A3527, dated August 6, 2008. In the supplemental NPRM, we referred to 
the original issue of Boeing Alert 707 Service Bulletin A3527, dated 
November 7, 2007, as the appropriate source of service information for 
accomplishing the proposed actions. The procedures in Revision 1 of 
this service bulletin are essentially the same as those in the original 
issue of this service bulletin. Revision 1 of this service bulletin 
clarifies certain work instructions and specifies that no further work 
is necessary for airplanes on which the actions in the original issue 
were performed. Therefore, we have revised this AD to refer to Revision 
1 of this service bulletin as the appropriate source of service 
information. We have also added a new paragraph (g) to this AD that 
specifies that actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with the original issue of this service bulletin are 
acceptable for compliance with the requirements of this AD.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment received. Boeing 
concurs with the content of the supplemental NPRM.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the change described previously. 
We have determined that this change will neither increase the economic 
burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 21 airplanes of U.S. registry. We 
also estimate that it takes 1 work-hour per product, per test, to 
comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Based 
on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators 
to be $1,680, or $80 per product, per test.

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;

[[Page 35789]]

    (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 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2009-15-06 Boeing: Amendment 39-15969. Docket No. FAA-2008-0645; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-358-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective August 25, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Boeing Model 707-100 long body, -200, 
-100B long body, and -100B short body series airplanes; Model 707-
300, -300B, -300C, and -400 series airplanes; and Model 720 and 720B 
series airplanes; certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of in-service occurrences of 
loss of fuel system suction feed capability, followed by total loss 
of pressure of the fuel feed system. We are issuing this AD to 
detect and correct failure of the engine fuel suction feed of the 
fuel system, which could result in multi-engine flameout, inability 
to restart the engines, and consequent forced landing of the 
airplane.

Compliance

    (e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

Operational Test/Other Specified and Corrective Actions

    (f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD: 
Perform an operational test of the engine fuel suction feed of the 
fuel system, and perform all other related testing and corrective 
actions, as applicable, before further flight, in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 707 Service Bulletin 
A3527, Revision 1, dated August 6, 2008. Repeat the operational test 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 6,000 flight hours or 36 
months, whichever occurs first.

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 Alert 707 Service Bulletin A3527, dated 
November 7, 2007, are acceptable for compliance with the initial 
test and related testing and corrective actions required by 
paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, ATTN: Sue Lucier, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-
140S, FAA, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6438; fax (425) 917-6590, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 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 707 Service Bulletin A3527, Revision 1, 
dated August 6, 2008, 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, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 
206-544-5000, extension 1, fax 206-766-5680; e-mail 
[email protected]; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call 425-227-1221 or 425-227-1152.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference 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 July 2, 2009.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-16935 Filed 7-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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