Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 82 / Monday, April 30, 2007 / Proposed Rules 21169 

(2) Before using any AMOC approved in 

accordance with § 39.19 on any airplane to 

which the AMOC applies, notify the 

appropriate principal inspector in the FAA 

Flight Standards Certificate Holding District 

Office. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 17, 

2007. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–8175 Filed 4–27–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2006–24978; Directorate 

Identifier 2006–NM–108–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell 

Douglas Model 717–200 Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM); 

reopening of comment period. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is revising an earlier 

proposed airworthiness directive (AD) 

for certain McDonnell Douglas Model 

717–200 airplanes. The original NPRM 

would have required modifying the fuel 

boost pump container of the center tank. 

The original NPRM resulted from fuel 

system reviews conducted by the 

manufacturer. This action revises the 

original NPRM by adding airplanes to 

the applicability. We are proposing this 

supplemental NPRM to prevent 

exposing the fuel pump container vapor 

area to electrical arcing during a fuel 

pump motor case or connector burn 

through, which could result in a fuel 

tank explosion. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this supplemental NPRM by May 25, 

2007. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

supplemental NPRM. 

• DOT Docket web site: Go to 

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov 

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

Contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 

Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, 

California 90846, Attention: Data and 

Service Management, Dept. C1 L5A 

(D800–0024), for service information 

identified in this proposed AD. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

William Bond, Aerospace Engineer, 

Propulsion Branch, ANM–140L, FAA, 

Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 

Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 

Lakewood, California 90712–4137; 

telephone (562) 627–5253; fax (562) 

627–5210. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any relevant 

written data, views, or arguments 

regarding this supplemental NPRM. 

Send your comments to an address 

listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include 

the docket number ‘‘Docket No. FAA 

2006–24978; Directorate Identifier 

2006–NM–108–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this supplemental NPRM. We 

will consider all comments received by 

the closing date and may amend this 

supplemental NPRM in light of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments submitted, 

without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, 

including any personal information you 

provide. We will also post a report 

summarizing each substantive verbal 

contact with FAA personnel concerning 

this supplemental NPRM. Using the 

search function of that web site, anyone 

can find and read the comments in any 

of our dockets, including the name of 

the individual who sent the comment 

(or signed the comment on behalf of an 

association, business, labor union, etc.). 

You may review the DOT’s complete 

Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 

Register published on April 11, 2000 

(65 FR 19477–78), or you may visit 

http://dms.dot.gov. 

Examining the Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in 

person at the Docket Management 

Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The Docket 

Management Facility office (telephone 

(800) 647–5227) is located on the plaza 

level in the Nassif Building at the DOT 

street address stated in ADDRESSES. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after the Docket 

Management System receives them. 

Discussion 

We proposed to amend 14 CFR part 

39 with a notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM) for an AD (the ‘‘original 

NPRM’’) for certain McDonnell Douglas 

Model 717–200 airplanes. The original 

NPRM was published in the Federal 

Register on June 8, 2006 (71 FR 33262). 

The original NPRM proposed to require 

modifying the fuel boost pump 

container of the center tank. 

Comments 

We have considered the following 

comments on the original NPRM. 

Support for the NPRM 

AirTran Airways supports the 

proposed actions specified in the 

NPRM. 

Request To Refer to Latest Revision of 

Service Bulletin 

AirTran Airways and Boeing request 

that we reference Boeing Service 

Bulletin 717–28–0013, Revision 1, dated 

April 7, 2006, in the NPRM (we referred 

to Boeing Service Bulletin 717–28–0013, 

dated July 28, 2004, as the appropriate 

source of service information for doing 

the actions specified in the NPRM). 

AirTran Airways also requests that we 

give credit for actions done in 

accordance with the original issue. 

Boeing commented that there was 

additional work required by Revision 1, 

but in a subsequent comment Boeing 

states that this was in error and that no 

additional work was needed. Boeing 

also notes that Revision 2 of the service 

bulletin is being drafted. 

We agree to revise this AD to refer to 

the latest revision of the service bulletin 

as the appropriate source of service 

information. We have reviewed Boeing 

Service Bulletin 717–28–0013, Revision 

1, dated April 7, 2006; and Boeing 

Service Bulletin 717–28–0013, Revision 

2, dated September 13, 2006. The 

service bulletins contain essentially the 

same actions as described in the original 

issue of the service bulletin. 

However, Revision 1 of the service 

bulletin adds new airplanes to the 

effectivity (fuselages number 5136 

through 5146), clarifies the 

configuration table, and clarifies the 

installation of the hat and cover 

assembles. Revision 2 of the service 

bulletin revises the parts pricing and 

clarifies the notes in the figures. We 

have revised this AD to refer to Revision 

2 of the service bulletin. 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with PROPOSAL
21170 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 82 / Monday, April 30, 2007 / Proposed Rules 

We have also revised the parts cost 

from $1,145 to $1,180 in the ‘‘Costs of 

Compliance’’ paragraph of this AD. We 

have also added paragraph (g) to this AD 

to allow the original issue and Revision 

1 of the service bulletin to be considered 

acceptable for compliance with the 

modification specified in this 

supplemental NPRM. 

Operators should note that we have 

not revised the 78-month compliance 

time specified in this supplemental 

NPRM to match the ‘‘10 years after 

release date of the service bulletin’’

compliance time specified in Revision 2 

of the service bulletin. In developing an 

appropriate compliance time for this 

action, we considered the urgency 

associated with the subject unsafe 

condition, the manufacturer’s 

recommendation, the availability of 

required parts, and the practical aspect 

of accomplishing the proposed 

modification within a period of time 

that corresponds to the normal 

scheduled maintenance for most 

affected operators. Boeing concurs with 

the 78-month compliance time. 

However, according to the provisions of 

paragraph (h) of the supplemental 

NPRM, we may approve requests to 

adjust the compliance time if the 

request includes data that prove that the 

new compliance time would provide an 

acceptable level of safety 

FAA’s Determination and Proposed 

Requirements of the Supplemental 

NPRM 

Certain changes discussed above 

expand the scope of the original NPRM; 

therefore, we have determined that it is 

necessary to reopen the comment period 

to provide additional opportunity for 

public comment on this supplemental 

NPRM. 

Costs of Compliance 

There are about 145 airplanes of the 

affected design in the worldwide fleet. 

The following table provides the 

estimated costs for U.S. operators to 

comply with this supplemental NPRM. 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Work hours 

Average 

labor rate 

per hour 

Parts Cost per 

airplane 

Number of 

U.S.- 

registered 

airplanes 

Fleet cost 

Modification ...................................................................... 2 $80 $1,180 $1,340 114 $152,760 

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 

We have determined that this 

proposed AD would not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This proposed AD would 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 the 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. 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. 

We prepared a regulatory evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this supplemental NPRM and placed it 

in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES

section for a location to examine the 

regulatory evaluation. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 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 Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13 

by adding the following new 

airworthiness directive (AD): 

McDonnell Douglas: Docket No. FAA 2006–

24978; Directorate Identifier 2006–NM–

108–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) The FAA must receive comments on 

this AD action by May 25, 2007. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas 

Model 717–200 airplanes, certificated in any 

category; as identified in Boeing Service 

Bulletin 717–28–0013, Revision 2, dated 

September 13, 2006. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD results from fuel system 

reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We 

are issuing this AD to prevent exposing the 

fuel pump container vapor area to electrical 

arcing during a fuel pump motor case or 

connector burn through, which could result 

in a fuel tank explosion. 

Compliance 

(e) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Modification 

(f) Within 78 months after the effective 

date of this AD, modify the fuel boost pump 

container of the center tank by doing all the 

actions specified in the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 717–

28–0013, Revision 2, dated September 13, 

2006. 

Actions Accomplished According to 

Previous Issue of Service Bulletin 

(g) Modifications accomplished before the 

effective date of this AD in accordance with 

Boeing Service Bulletin 717–28–0013, dated 

July 28, 2004; or Boeing Service Bulletin 

717–28–0013, Revision 1, dated April 7, 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with PROPOSAL
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 82 / Monday, April 30, 2007 / Proposed Rules 21171 

2006; are considered acceptable for 

compliance with the corresponding action 

specified in this AD. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(h)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the 

authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 

requested in accordance with the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

(2) Before using any AMOC approved in 

accordance with § 39.19 on any airplane to 

which the AMOC applies, notify the 

appropriate principal inspector in the FAA 

Flight Standards Certificate Holding District 

Office. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 23, 

2007. 

Stephen P. Boyd, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–8176 Filed 4–27–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2006–25927; Directorate 

Identifier 2006–CE–52–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; M7 

Aerospace LP SA226 and SA227 Series 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98–19–15 

R1 and AD 2000–03–17, which apply to 

M7 Aerospace LP SA226 and SA227 

series airplanes equipped with certain 

pitch trim actuators. AD 98–19–15 R1 

currently requires you to incorporate 

changes into the Limitations Section of 

the FAA-approved Airplane Flight 

Manual (AFM) if certain part number 

(P/N) pitch trim actuators are installed. 

AD 2000–03–17 requires repetitive 

inspections and repetitive replacements 

of the pitch trim actuator. The repetitive 

inspection and repetitive replacement 

times vary depending on the 

combination of airplane model and 

pitch trim actuator P/N installed. We are 

proposing this AD because we have 

determined that reliance on critical 

repetitive inspections on aging 

commuter-class airplanes carries an 

unnecessary safety risk when a design 

change exists that could eliminate or, in 

certain instances, reduce the number of 

those critical inspections. Consequently, 

this proposed AD would retain all of the 

actions of the previously referenced 

ADs, place life limits on certain P/N 

pitch trim actuators, and require the 

replacement of certain P/N pitch trim 

actuators with one of an improved 

design. Once installed, the improved 

design pitch trim actuator would 

terminate the AFM limitations in this 

proposed AD and reduce the repetitive 

inspection and repetitive replacement 

requirements. We are proposing this AD 

to detect excessive freeplay or rod 

slippage in the pitch trim actuator, 

which, if not detected and corrected, 

could result in pitch trim actuator 

failure. We are also proposing this AD 

to lessen the severity of pitch upset if a 

pitch trim actuator mechanical failure 

occurs. These conditions could lead to 

possible loss of control. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by June 29, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to comment on this proposed 

AD: 

• DOT Docket web site: Go to 

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–

0001. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact M7 

Aerospace LP, P.O. Box 790490, San 

Antonio, Texas 78279–0490; telephone: 

(210) 824–9421, extension 7294. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Werner Koch, Aerospace Engineer, 2601 

Meacham Blvd, Fort Worth, Texas 

76137–4298; telephone: (817) 222–5133; 

fax: (817) 222–5960. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments 

regarding this proposed AD. Send your 

comments to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include the docket 

number ‘‘FAA–2006–25927; Directorate 

Identifier 2006–CE–52–AD’’ at the 

beginning of your comments. We 

specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

the proposed AD. We will consider all 

comments received by the closing date 

and may amend the proposed AD in 

light of those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

dms.dot.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. We will also 

post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

concerning this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

History of AD Actions 

Failure of a Barber-Coleman pitch 

trim actuator, which allowed the 

horizontal stabilizer to move to a full 

aircraft nose up position on an M7 

Aerospace LP Model SA227 airplane, 

caused us to issue AD 98–19–15 R1, 

Amendment 39–11507 (65 FR 1540, 

January 11, 2000). AD 98–19–15 R1 

currently requires you to revise the 

Limitations Section of the FAAapproved AFM to limit the maximum 

indicated airspeed and increase the 

minimum crew size if a Barber-Coleman 

pitch trim actuator P/N 27–19008–001, 

P/N 27–19008–002, P/N 27–19008–004, 

or P/N 27–19008–005 is installed. 

To avoid the above limitations, AD 

98–19–15 R1 allows installation of a 

Barber-Coleman P/N 27–19008–006, 

Barber Coleman P/N 27–19008–007, 

Simmonds-Precision P/N DL5040M5, 

Simmonds-Precision P/N DL5040M6, or 

Simmonds-Precision P/N DL5040M8 

pitch trim actuator. All airplane models 

are eligible for any of these installations. 

The applicable service bulletin depends 

on the airplane model and pitch trim 

actuator. 

The FAA also issued AD 2000–03–17, 

Amendment 39–11576 (65 FR 8037, 

February 17, 2000), to establish 

inspection and replacement intervals for 

the pitch trim actuators. Inspection 

times and replacement times vary 

depending on the model of the airplane 

and the P/N of the pitch trim actuator 

installed. 

Events Since Previous AD Actions 

Since we issued ADs 98–19–15 R1 

and 2000–03–17, the FAA has 

determined that the actions fall within 

the FAA’s aging commuter-class aircraft 

policy, which briefly states that reliance 

on critical repetitive inspections carries 

an unnecessary safety risk when a 

design change exists that could 

eliminate or, in certain instances, 

reduce the number of those critical 

inspections. We also determined that 

the number of repetitive replacements 

could be reduced in these AD actions 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with PROPOSAL