[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 12, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73908-73910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29707]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0678; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-285-AD;
Amendment 39-17280; AD 2012-24-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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[[Page 73909]]
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and -400F series airplanes. This AD
was prompted by multiple reports of integrated display unit (IDU)
malfunctions and mode control panel (MCP) malfunctions. This AD
requires installing new software, replacing the duct assembly with a
new duct assembly, making wiring changes, and routing certain wire
bundles. We are issuing this AD to prevent IDU malfunctions, which
could affect the ability of the flightcrew to read primary displays for
airplane attitude, altitude, or airspeed, and consequently reduce the
ability of the flightcrew to maintain control of the airplane.
DATES: This AD is effective January 16, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of January 16,
2013.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.
O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000,
extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-
227-1221.
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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is 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: Ana Martinez Hueto, Aerospace
Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA,
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW.,
Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6592; fax: 425-917-6591; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products.
That NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 11, 2012 (77 FR
40832). That NPRM proposed to require installing new software,
replacing the duct assembly with a new duct assembly, making wiring
changes, and routing certain wire bundles.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the proposal
(77 FR 40832, July 11, 2012), and the FAA's response to each comment.
Request To Use Unissued Service Information
Boeing requested that we refer to Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
747-21A2523, Revision 2, which has not been issued, instead of Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 747-21A2523, Revision 1, dated October 3, 2011,
as the appropriate source of service information in the NPRM (77 FR
40832, July 11, 2012). Boeing stated that Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
747-21A2523, Revision 2, describes additional wire changes for Model
747-400 airplanes, and that one additional airplane is added to the
effectivity of that service bulletin.
We disagree to refer to Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-21A2523,
Revision 2, in this AD. That service bulletin has not been issued.
Referring to a document that has not been issued violates the Federal
Register regulations for materials incorporated by reference rules. See
1 CFR 51.1(f). We do not consider that delaying this action until after
the release of a planned service bulletin is warranted. Additionally,
increasing the AD applicability would require issuing a supplemental
NPRM for public comment. We find that delaying this action would be
inappropriate in light of the identified unsafe condition. Once Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 747-21A2523, Revision 2, is issued and we have
reviewed that service bulletin, we might consider further AD
rulemaking. We have not changed this final rule regarding this issue.
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, except for minor editorial changes. We have determined
that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM (77 FR 40832, July 11, 2012) for correcting the unsafe condition;
and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (77 FR 40832, July 11, 2012).
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 33 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Duct assembly and replacement wiring 41 work-hours x $85 per $20,121 $23,606 $778,998
changes. hour = $3,485.
Software change....................... 3 work-hours x $85 per 0 255 8,415
hour = $255.
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According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.
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,
[[Page 73910]]
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),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
2012-24-10 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17280; Docket No. FAA-
2012-0678; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-285-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective January 16, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and -400F
series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-21A2523, Revision 1, dated October
3, 2011.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 21, Air Conditioning.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by multiple reports of integrated display
unit (IDU) malfunctions and mode control panel (MCP) malfunctions.
We are issuing this AD to prevent IDU malfunctions, which could
affect the ability of the flightcrew to read primary displays for
airplane attitude, altitude, or airspeed, and consequently reduce
the ability of the flightcrew to maintain control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Software Update
Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD: Install
integrated display system software, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
21A2523, Revision 1, dated October 3, 2011.
Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD: Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-21A2523, Revision 1, dated October 3, 2011, refers to
the service bulletins specified in paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), and
(g)(3) of this AD as additional sources of guidance for the software
installation specified by paragraph (g) of this AD, which are not
incorporated by reference in this AD.
(1) Boeing Service Bulletin 747-31-2426, dated July 29, 2010
(for airplanes with Rolls-Royce engines).
(2) Boeing Service Bulletin 747-31-2427, dated July 29, 2010
(for airplanes with General Electric engines).
(3) Boeing Service Bulletin 747-31-2428, dated July 29, 2010
(for airplanes with Pratt & Whitney engines).
(h) Duct Assembly Replacement and Wiring Changes
Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD: Replace
the duct assembly with a new duct assembly, do wiring changes, and
route certain wire bundles, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-21A2523, Revision
1, dated October 3, 2011.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the
attention of the person identified in the Related Information
section of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Ana Martinez
Hueto, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems
Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6592;
fax: 425-917-6591; email: [email protected].
(2) For Boeing service information identified in this AD,
contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services
Management, P. O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207;
telephone 206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet
https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-21A2523, Revision 1, dated
October 3, 2011.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For Boeing service information identified in this AD,
contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services
Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207;
telephone 206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet
https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
425-227-1221.
(5) You may view this 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 30, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-29707 Filed 12-11-12; 8:45 am]
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