E8-24130. Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F Series Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series airplanes. This AD requires installing an extension tube to the existing pump discharge port of the scavenge pump on the outboard side of the center fuel tank in the main fuel tank #2. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent a fire or explosion in the fuel tank and consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES:

This AD is effective November 20, 2008.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 20, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207.

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 [phone]) 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:

Sulmo Mariano, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

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 Boeing Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on June 18, 2008 (73 FR 34663). That NPRM proposed to require installing an extension tube to the existing pump discharge port of the scavenge pump on the outboard side of the center fuel tank in the main fuel tank #2.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We considered the comments received.

Support for the NPRM

Boeing concurs with the contents of the NPRM. Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), supports the intent of the NPRM.

Request To Reduce the Compliance Time

ALPA feels that the 60-month compliance time should be reduced to 24 months. ALPA states that a shorter compliance time should be imposed given the number of affected aircraft and the time required for installation of tubing.

We disagree. In developing the compliance time for this NPRM, we considered not only the safety implications of the identified unsafe condition, but the average utilization rate of the affected fleet, the practical aspects of an orderly modification of the fleet during regular maintenance periods, the availability of required parts, and the time necessary for the rulemaking process. The compliance time is determined to be appropriate. Therefore, we have not changed 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 the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 31 airplanes of U.S. registry. It takes about 16 work-hours per product to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts cost about $900 per product. Based on these figures, the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators is $67,580, or $2,180 per product.

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

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 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.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2008-21-06 Boeing: Amendment 39-15690. Docket No. FAA-2008-0640; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-070-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective November 20, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2260, dated March 13, 2008.

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent a fire or explosion in the fuel tank and consequent loss of the airplane.

Compliance

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

Installation

(f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, install an extension tube to the existing pump discharge port of the scavenge pump on the outboard side of the center fuel tank in the main fuel tank #2, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2260, dated March 13, 2008.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(g)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (SACO), FAA, ATTN: Sulmo Mariano, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, SACO, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; 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

(h) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-28-2260, dated March 13, 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, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207.

(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 October 2, 2008.

Ali Bahrami,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.