[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 3, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22826-22828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8761]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 3, 2005 / Proposed
Rules
[[Page 22826]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-21088; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-267-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series airplanes. This
proposed AD would require an inspection for corrosion and cracks of the
station 980 upper deck floor beam, and repair and related investigative
actions if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of
corrosion under the cart lift threshold at the station 980 upper deck
floor beam. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct such
corrosion, which could result in a cracked or broken floor beam,
extensive damage to adjacent structure, and possible rapid
decompression of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 17, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
By fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401,
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This docket
number is FAA-2005-21088; the directorate identifier for this docket is
2004-NM-267-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ivan Li, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe
Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6437;
fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-21088;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-267-AD'' in the subject line of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union,
etc.). You can review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.
Related Rulemaking
Corrosion of the station 980 upper deck floor beam was addressed in
AD 97-09-13, amendment 39-10009 (62 FR 24022, May 2, 1997). That AD
requires inspecting the station 980 upper deck floor beam and
installing sealant under the threshold in accordance with Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 747-53A2400, dated December 21, 1995. AD 97-09-13
applies to certain Model 747 series airplanes.
Discussion
Beginning with line number 844, a production change was made at the
cart lift cutout in the upper deck floor to increase the durability of
the station 980 floor beam and to add sealant between the floor beam
and the threshold. Recent reports have shown that a corrosion problem
also exists in the new configuration under the cart lift threshold.
Corrosion of the floor structure occurred where the stainless steel
threshold contacts the aluminum floor structure. Such corrosion could
result in a cracked or broken floor beam, extensive damage to adjacent
structure, and possible rapid decompression of the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2503, dated
November 11, 2004. The service bulletin describes procedures for
inspecting the station 980 upper deck floor beam for corrosion and
cracks, and repairing corrosion. The service bulletin specifies
contacting Boeing for repair instructions for any cracks and for
corrosion that exceeds the specified limits. Accomplishing the actions
specified in the service information is intended to
[[Page 22827]]
adequately address the unsafe condition.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes
of this same type design. Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which
would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information described previously, except as discussed under
``Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletin.''
Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletin
The service bulletin specifies that you may contact the
manufacturer for instructions on how to repair certain conditions, but
this proposed AD would require you to repair those conditions by using
either a method that we approve or data that meet the certification
basis of the airplane and have been approved by an Authorized
Representative for the Boeing Delegation Option Authorization
Organization whom we have authorized to make those findings.
The service bulletin specifies an inspection threshold of 10 years
after the initial date of delivery of the airplane. However, paragraph
(f)(1) of this proposed AD specifies an inspection threshold of 120
months after the date of issuance of the original Airworthiness
Certificate or the date of issuance of the original Export Certificate
of Airworthiness. This decision is based on our determination that
``date of delivery'' may be interpreted differently by different
operators. We find that our proposed terminology is generally
understood within the industry and records will always exist that
establish these dates with certainty.
The service bulletin specifies a ``detailed visual inspection.'' We
have determined that the proposed inspection should be considered a
``detailed inspection.'' However, we consider the inspection definition
in the service bulletin to be adequate.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 363 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.
Estimated Costs
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Number of
Average Cost per U.S.-
Action Work hours labor rate Parts airplane registered Fleet cost
per hour airplanes
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Inspection..................................... 3 $65 None required.................... $195 46 $8,970
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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 proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 the proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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 proposed AD. 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, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new
airworthiness directive (AD):
Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2005-21088; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
267-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive
comments on this AD action by June 17, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series
airplanes, certificated in any category, as listed in Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 747-53A2503, dated November 11, 2004.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by reports of corrosion under the cart
lift threshold at the station 980 upper deck floor beam. We are
issuing this AD to detect and correct such corrosion, which could
result in a cracked or broken floor beam, extensive damage to
adjacent structure, and possible rapid decompression 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.
Inspection
(f) At the later of the times specified in paragraphs (f)(1) and
(f)(2) of this AD: Do a
[[Page 22828]]
detailed inspection for corrosion and cracks of the station 980
upper deck floor beam, in accordance with Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-53A2503, dated November 11, 2004.
(1) Inspect within 120 months since the date of issuance of the
original Airworthiness Certificate or the date of issuance of the
original Export Certificate of Airworthiness; or
(2) Inspect at the time specified in paragraph (f)(2)(i),
(f)(2)(ii), or (f)(3)(iii) of this AD for the applicable airplane
group as identified in the service bulletin.
(i) For Group 1 airplanes: Within 18 months after the effective
date of this AD.
(ii) For Group 2 airplanes: Within 36 months after the effective
date of this AD.
(iii) For Group 3 airplanes: Within 120 months after the
airplane has been modified in accordance with Boeing Service
Bulletin 747-25-3107, or within 36 months after the effective date
of this AD, whichever occurs later.
Repair
(g) If any cracking or corrosion is found during any inspection
required by this AD, do all related investigative and corrective
actions before further flight in accordance with Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 747-53A2503, dated November 11, 2004. If the
bulletin specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate action, repair
before further flight according to a method approved by the Manager,
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA; or according to
data meeting the certification basis of the airplane approved by an
Authorized Representative for the Boeing Delegation Option
Authorization Organization who has been authorized by the Manager,
Seattle ACO, to make those findings. For a repair method to be
approved, the approval must specifically reference this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Seattle 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) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair required by this AD, if it is approved by an
Authorized Representative for the Boeing Delegation Option
Authorization Organization who has been authorized by the Manager,
Seattle ACO, to make those findings. For a repair method to be
approved, the approval must specifically refer to this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 21, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-8761 Filed 5-2-05; 8:45 am]
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