25278 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 84 / Monday, May 1, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

previously retained earnings or current

net earnings and only if such payment

will not result in a projected

impairment of the par value of the

capital stock of the Bank. Dividends on

such capital stock shall be computed

without preference.

§ 917.10 Bank bylaws.

A Bank’s board of directors shall have

in effect at all times bylaws governing

the manner in which the Bank

administers its affairs and such bylaws

shall be consistent with applicable laws

and regulations as administered by the

Finance Board.

4. In subchapter F, add a new part 940

to read as follows:

PART 940—MISSION OF THE BANKS

Sec.

940.1 Definitions.

940.2 Mission of the Banks.

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1422a(a)(3), 1422b(a),

1430, 1430b, 1431.

§ 940.1 Definitions.

Community lending has the meaning

set forth in § 952.3 of this chapter.

§ 940.2 Mission of the Banks.

The mission of the Banks is to provide

to their members and associates

financial products and services,

including but not limited to advances,

that assist and enhance such members’

and associates’ financing of:

(a) Housing, including single-family

and multi-family housing serving

consumers at all income levels; and

(b) Community lending.

Date: March 22, 2000.

By the Board of Directors of the Federal

Housing Finance Board.

Bruce A. Morrison,

Chairman.

[FR Doc. 00–10427 Filed 4–28–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6725–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98–NM–293–AD; Amendment

39–11705; AD 2000–08–19]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing

Model 727 and 727C Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain Boeing Model 727

and 727C series airplanes, that requires

one-time inspections of the exterior

body skin located at the forward corners

of the mid-galley door hinge cutouts to

detect cracking, and corrective actions,

if necessary. This AD also requires

modification of the body skin of the

mid-galley door hinge cutouts. This

amendment is prompted by a report

indicating that, during fatigue testing on

a Boeing Model 727 series airplane, a

crack was found in the body skin at the

lower forward corners of the mid-galley

door hinge cutouts due to cabin

pressurization cycles. The actions

specified by this AD are intended to

prevent such fatigue cracking of the

body skin, which could result in

reduced structural integrity of the

fuselage and consequent loss of cabin

pressurization.

DATES: Effective June 5, 2000.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of June 5,

2000.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Boeing Commercial Airplane

Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,

Washington 98124–2207. This

information may be examined at the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),

Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules

Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington; or at the Office of

the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Walter Sippel, Aerospace Engineer,

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, Seattle

Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2774;

fax (425) 227–1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to certain Boeing

Model 727 and 727C series airplanes

was published in the Federal Register

on November 22, 1999 (64 FR 63753).

That action proposed to require onetime inspections of the exterior body

skin located at the forward corners of

the mid-galley door hinge cutouts to

detect cracking; corrective actions, if

necessary; and modification of the body

skin of the mid-galley door hinge

cutouts.

Comments

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. Due

consideration has been given to the

comments received.

Airplanes Not Affected

On behalf of two of its members, the

Air Transport Association of America

(ATA) comments that no airplanes

operated by those two members are

affected by this proposal. The ATA

makes no further comment or request.

Request to Remove Airplanes From

Applicability

One commenter, the manufacturer,

requests that the FAA revise the

applicability statement of the proposed

AD to remove two airplanes. The

commenter states that, according to its

records, the airplanes having line

numbers 153 and 339 were determined

to be irreparable on August 8, 1965, and

February 16, 1968, respectively.

The FAA does not concur with the

commenter’s request. Though the

commenter states that the airplanes

were determined to be irreparable, the

FAA considers it possible that the

subject airplanes could be repaired by

an entity other than the manufacturer.

Should one of these airplanes be

repaired and added to the U.S. Register

in the future, the FAA finds that, to

ensure safe operation, the airplane must

be inspected, repaired, and modified, as

applicable, in accordance with the

requirements of this AD. No change to

the final rule is necessary.

Conclusion

After careful review of the available

data, including the comments noted

above, the FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

There are approximately 1,516 Boeing

Model 727 and 727C series airplanes of

the affected design in the worldwide

fleet. The FAA estimates that 3

airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected

by this AD.

The FAA estimates that it will take

approximately 1 work hour per airplane

to accomplish the required inspections

of the body skin at the corners of the

mid-galley door hinge cutouts, and that

the average labor rate is $60 per work

hour. Based on these figures, the cost

impact of the inspections required by

this AD on U.S. operators is estimated

to be $180, or $60 per airplane.

The FAA also estimates that it will

take approximately 28 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the repair and

modification, and that the average labor

rate is $60 per work hour. Required

parts will cost approximately $1,023 per

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 84 / Monday, May 1, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 25279

airplane. Based on these figures, the cost

impact of the repair and modification

required by this AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $8,109, or $2,703 per

airplane.

The cost impact figures discussed

above are based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the requirements of this AD action, and

that no operator would accomplish

those actions in the future if this AD

were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it is

determined that this final rule does not

have federalism implications under

Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has

been prepared for this action and it is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it may be obtained from the Rules

Docket at the location provided under

the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends part 39 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

2000–08–19 Boeing: Amendment 39–11705.

Docket 98–NM–293–AD.

Applicability: Model 727 and 727C series

airplanes, line numbers 153, 290, and 339

inclusive; certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

airplanes that have been modified, altered, or

repaired so that the performance of the

requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent fatigue cracking of the body

skin at the forward corners of the mid-galley

door hinge cutouts, which could result in

reduced structural integrity of the fuselage

and consequent loss of cabin pressurization,

accomplish the following:

One-Time Inspections

(a) Prior to the accumulation of 60,000 total

flight cycles, or within 3,000 flight cycles

after the effective date of this AD, whichever

occurs later, perform a one-time detailed

visual inspection and a high frequency eddy

current inspection of the exterior body skin

located adjacent to the forward corners of the

mid-galley door hinge cutouts for cracking in

accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin

727–53–0054, Revision 1, dated November

16, 1989.

Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a

detailed visual inspection is defined as: ‘‘An

intensive examination of a specific structural

area, system, installation, or assembly to

detect damage, failure, or irregularity.

Available lighting is normally supplemented

with a direct source of good lighting at an

intensity deemed appropriate by the

inspector. Inspection aids such as mirrors,

magnifying lenses, etc. may be used. Surface

cleaning and elaborate access procedures

may be required.’’

Repairs and Modification

(1) If no cracking is found during any

inspection, prior to further flight, modify the

body skin at the forward corners of the midgalley door hinge cutouts, in accordance with

Boeing Service Bulletin 727–53–0054,

Revision 1, dated November 16, 1989. No

further action is required by this AD.

(2) If any cracking is found during any

inspection, prior to further flight, accomplish

the requirements of either paragraph (a)(2)(i)

or (a)(2)(ii) of this AD, as applicable.

(i) If any crack is less than or equal to 1.00

inch, accomplish the repair and modification

in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin

727–53–0054, Revision 1, dated November

16, 1989. No further action is required by this

AD.

(ii) If any crack is greater than 1.00 inch,

accomplish the repair and modification in

accordance with a method approved by the

Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office

(ACO), FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate;

or in accordance with data meeting the type

certification basis of the airplane approved

by a Boeing Company Designated

Engineering Representative who has been

authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to

make such findings. For a repair method to

be approved by the Manager, Seattle ACO, as

required by this paragraph, the Manager’s

approval letter must specifically reference

this AD. No further action is required by this

AD.

Note 3: Accomplishment of the actions

required by AD 90–06–09, amendment 39–

6488, is considered acceptable for

compliance with this AD.

Alternative Method of Compliance

(b) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Seattle

ACO, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate.

Operators shall submit their requests through

an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, Seattle ACO.

Note 4: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Seattle ACO.

Special Flight Permits

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to

a location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

Incorporation by Reference

(d) Except as provided by paragraph

(a)(2)(ii) of this AD, the actions shall be done

in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin

727–53–0054, Revision 1, dated November

16, 1989. This incorporation by reference was

approved by the Director of the Federal

Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a)

and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained

from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group,

P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124–

2207. Copies may be inspected at the FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the

Office of the Federal Register, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,

DC.

Effective Date

(e) This amendment becomes effective on

June 5, 2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 19,

2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–10287 Filed 4–28–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U