Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 3 / Wednesday, January 5, 2000 / Proposed Rules 401

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99–NM–335–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing

Model 747 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

certain Boeing Model 747 series

airplanes. This proposal would require

replacement of any brake system

accumulator that has aluminum end

caps with an accumulator that has

stainless steel end caps. This proposal is

prompted by reports of fractures of

aluminum end caps on brake system

accumulators. The actions specified by

the proposed AD are intended to

prevent high-velocity separation of a

brake system accumulator barrel, piston,

or end cap, which could result in injury

to personnel in the wheel well area, loss

of cabin pressurization, loss of certain

hydraulic systems, or damage to the fuel

line of the auxiliary power unit.

DATES: Comments must be received by

February 22, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 99–NM–

335–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Boeing Commercial Airplane Group,

P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington

98124–2207. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Barbara Mudrovich, Aerospace

Engineer, Systems and Equipment

Branch, ANM–130S, FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, Seattle Aircraft

Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056;

telephone (425) 227–2983; fax (425)

227–1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications shall

identify the Rules Docket number and

be submitted in triplicate to the address

specified above. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments, specified above, will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 99–NM–335–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–114, Attention: Rules Docket No.

99–NM–335–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The FAA has received reports

indicating that fracture of aluminum

end caps has occurred on brake system

accumulators installed on Boeing Model

747 series airplanes. One event resulted

in an injury to a maintenance worker.

Fracture of the aluminum end caps has

been attributed to fatigue cracking

caused by stress corrosion or tooling

marks. Fracture of an end cap could

lead to a rupture of a brake system

accumulator, which could result in high

velocity separation of the accumulator

barrel, piston, or end cap. Such

separation could result in injury to

personnel in the wheel well area, loss of

cabin pressurization, loss of certain

hydraulic systems, or damage to the fuel

line of the auxiliary power unit.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

The FAA has reviewed and approved

Boeing Service Bulletin 747–32–2461,

dated August 19, 1999, which describes

procedures for replacement of any brake

system accumulator that has aluminum

end caps with an accumulator that has

stainless steel end caps. Stainless steel

end caps provide added strength and

corrosion resistance over aluminum end

caps, thereby reducing the potential for

separation of the end caps.

Accomplishment of the actions

specified in the service bulletin is

intended to adequately address the

identified unsafe condition.

Explanation of Requirements of

Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other products of this same

type design, the proposed AD would

require accomplishment of the actions

specified in the service bulletin

described previously.

Cost Impact

There are approximately 1,217

airplanes of the affected design in the

worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that

324 airplanes of U.S. registry would be

affected by this proposed AD, that it

would take approximately 1 work hour

per accumulator (airplanes may have

three, four, or five accumulators of

various types) to accomplish the

proposed replacement, and that the

average labor rate is $60 per work hour.

Required parts would cost

approximately between $7,650 and

$13,418 per airplane (depending on the

number and type of affected

accumulators). Based on these figures,

the cost impact of the proposed AD on

U.S. operators is estimated to be

between $7,830 and $13,718 per

airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the proposed 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 proposed herein

would not have substantial direct effects

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,

in accordance with Executive Order

12612, it is determined that this

proposal would not have sufficient

402 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 3 / Wednesday, January 5, 2000 / Proposed Rules

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this 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) if

promulgated, 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 copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting the Rules Docket at the

location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend 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:

Boeing: Docket 99–NM–335–AD.

Applicability: Model 747 series airplanes;

as listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 747–32–

2461, dated August 19, 1999; 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 (c) 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 high velocity separation of a

brake system accumulator barrel, piston, or

end cap; which could result in injury to

personnel in the wheel well area, loss of

cabin pressurization, loss of certain hydraulic

systems, or damage to the fuel line of the

auxiliary power unit; accomplish the

following:

Replacement

(a) Within 3,000 flight hours after the

effective date of this AD, replace any brake

system accumulator that has aluminum end

caps with an accumulator that has stainless

steel end caps in accordance with Boeing

Service Bulletin 747–32–2461, dated August

19, 1999.

Spares

(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no

person shall install a brake system

accumulator having part number BACA11E1

or BACA11E5 on any airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(c) 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

Aircraft Certification Office (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 2: 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

(d) 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.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

December 29, 1999.

D.L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–135 Filed 1–4–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 99–ASO–28]

Proposed Establishment of Class D

Airspace, Amendment to Class D

Airspace; Key West, FL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: This action proposes to

amend Class D airspace at Key West

International Airport, FL, and establish

Class D airspace at Key West NAS.

Presently, Key West NAS is contained

within the Key West International

Airport D airspace area. As a result of

this proposed action, the Key West

International Airport, Class D airspace

would be reduced concurrent with the

establishment of the Class D airspace at

Key West NAS.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before February 4, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the

proposal in triplicate to: Federal

Aviation Administration, Docket No.

99–ASO–28, Manager, Airspace Branch,

ASO–520, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta,

Georgia 30320.

The official docket may be examined

in the Office of the Regional Counsel for

Southern Region, Room 550, 1701

Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia

30337, telephone (404) 305–5586.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nancy B. Shelton, Manager, Airspace

Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal

Aviation Administration, P.O. Box

20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320;

telephone (404) 305–5586.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested parties are invited to

participate in this proposed rulemaking

by submitting such written data, views

or arguments as they may desire.

Comments that provide the factual basis

supporting the views and suggestions

presented are particularly helpful in

developing reasoned regulatory

decisions on the proposal. Comments

are specifically invited on the overall

regulatory, aeronautical, economic,

environmental, and energy-related

aspects of the proposal.

Communications should identify the

airspace docket number and be

submitted in triplicate to the address

listed above. Commenters wishing the

FAA to acknowledge receipt of their

comments on this action must submit

with those comments a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the

following statement is made:

‘‘Comments to Airspace Docket No. 99–

ASO–28.’’ The postcard will be date/

time stamped and returned to the

commenter. All communications

received before the specified closing

date for comments will be considered

before taking action on the proposed

rule. The proposal contained in this

action may be changed in light of the

comments received. All comments

submitted will be available for

examination in the Office of the

Regional Counsel for Southern Region,

Room 550, 1701 Columbia Avenue,

College Park, Georgia 30337, both before

and after the closing date for comments.

A report summarizing each substantive

public contact with FAA personnel