[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 27, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52836-52838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20718]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0615; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-352-AD;
Amendment 39-17529; AD 2013-15-13]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The
Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. This AD was prompted by two in-
service occurrences on Model 737-400 airplanes of total loss of boost
pump pressure of the fuel feed system, followed by loss of fuel system
suction feed capability on one engine, and in-flight shutdown of the
engine. This AD requires repetitive operational tests of the engine
fuel suction feed of the fuel system, and corrective actions if
necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct loss of the
engine fuel suction feed capability of the fuel system, which, in the
event of total loss of the fuel boost pumps, could result in dual
engine flameout, inability to restart the engines, and consequent
forced landing of the airplane.
DATES: This AD is effective October 1, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of October 1,
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, Washington. 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: Sue Lucier, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone: 425-
917-6438; fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to
amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that
would apply to the specified products. The SNPRM published in the
Federal Register on October 30, 2012 (77 FR 65642). We preceded the
SNPRM with a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that published in the
Federal Register on June 6, 2008 (73 FR 32256). The NPRM proposed to
require repetitive operational tests of the engine fuel suction feed of
the fuel system, and other related testing if necessary, according to a
method approved by the FAA. The SNPRM proposed to require repetitive
operational tests of the engine fuel suction feed of the fuel system,
and corrective actions if necessary.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the SNPRM (77
FR 65642, October 30, 2012) and the FAA's response to each comment.
Support for the SNPRM (77 FR 65642, October 30, 2012)
One commenter, Mara Essick, submitted support for the actions
specified in the SNPRM (77 FR 65642, October 30, 2012).
[[Page 52837]]
Request To Provide Credit for Actions Done Before Service Bulletin
Issued
American Airlines (AA) asked that we give credit for operators that
accomplished the specified actions before issuance of Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 757-28A0131, dated May 4, 2012. AA stated that it
accomplished the operational tests proposed in the original NPRM (73 FR
32256, June 6, 2008) in 2008, using the Boeing task cards or airplane
maintenance manual (AMM). AA added that it continues to do the
repetitive operational tests at intervals not to exceed 7,500 flight
hours.
We do not agree with the commenter's request. Although we normally
support granting credit for accomplishing actions prior to the
effective date of the AD, the credit is generally given using a
previous issue of the required service bulletin, not for an AMM or task
cards. Under the provisions of paragraph (h) of this final rule,
however, we may consider individual requests for credit for
accomplishing actions prior to the effective date of the AD if data are
submitted to substantiate that it provides an acceptable level of
safety. We have made no change to the AD in this regard.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 673 airplanes of U.S. registry. We
estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Labor cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators
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Operational Test..................... Up to 6 work hours x Up to $2,040, per test. Up to $343,230, per
$85 per hour = $510 test
per engine, per test.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide
a cost estimate for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.
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),
(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):
2013-15-13 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17529; Docket No. FAA-
2008-0615; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-352-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective October 1, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200PF,
-200CB, and -300 series airplanes, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 2800, Aircraft Fuel System.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of two in-service occurrences on
Model 737-400 airplanes of total loss of boost pump pressure of the
fuel feed system, followed by loss of fuel system suction feed
capability on one engine, and in-flight shutdown of the engine. We
are issuing this AD to detect and correct loss of the engine fuel
suction feed capability of the fuel system, which in the event of
total loss of the fuel boost pumps could result in dual engine
flameout, inability to restart the engines, and consequent forced
landing of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Operational Test and Corrective Actions
Within 7,500 flight hours or 36 months after the effective date
of this AD, whichever occurs first: Perform an operational test of
the engine fuel suction feed of the fuel system, and do all
applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-28A0131, dated May
4, 2012. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight.
Repeat the operational test thereafter at intervals not to exceed
7,500 flight hours or 36 months, whichever occurs first. Thereafter,
except as provided in paragraph
[[Page 52838]]
(h) of this AD, no alternative procedures or repeat test intervals
will be allowed.
(h) 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.
(i) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Sue Lucier,
Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington
98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6438; fax: 425-917-6590; email:
[email protected].
(j) 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 757-28A0131, dated May 4,
2012.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) 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.
(4) You may review copies of the referenced 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.
(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 July 21, 2013.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20718 Filed 8-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P