This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

26043 

Vol. 73, No. 90 

Thursday, May 8, 2008 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2008–0523; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–NM–049–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing 

Model 707 Airplanes, and Model 720 

and 720B Series Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and Model 

720 and 720B series airplanes. This 

proposed AD would require repetitive 

detailed inspections to detect cracks and 

corrosion on any existing repairs and at 

certain body stations of the visible 

surfaces of the wing to body terminal 

fittings including the web, flanges, and 

ribs; and applicable related investigative 

and corrective actions. This proposed 

AD results from reports of cracks found 

in the wing to body terminal fittings 

during routine inspections. We are 

proposing this AD to prevent cracks and 

corrosion in the body terminal fittings, 

which could cause loss of support for 

the wing and could adversely affect the 

structural integrity of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by June 23, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

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

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

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 proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Office 

(telephone 800–647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 917–6577; fax (425) 917–6590. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2008–0523; Directorate Identifier 

2008–NM–049–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

We have received reports of cracks 

found in the wing to body terminal 

fittings during routine inspections of 

certain Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and 

Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. 

The cause of the cracks has been 

attributed to stress corrosion. The body 

terminal fittings are forgings made from 

7079–T6 material. Cracks and corrosion 

in the body terminal fittings, if not 

corrected, could cause loss of support 

for the wing and could adversely affect 

the structural integrity of the airplane. 

Relevant Service Information 

We have reviewed Boeing 707 Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 3524, dated 

July 18, 2007. The service bulletin 

describes procedures for repetitive 

detailed inspections to detect cracks and 

corrosion on any existing repairs and at 

certain body stations of the visible 

surfaces of the wing to body terminal 

fittings including the web, flanges, and 

ribs; and applicable related investigative 

and corrective actions. The related 

investigative actions include removing 

the repair and doing a detailed 

inspection to detect cracks and 

corrosion of the fitting in the area 

covered by the repair. The corrective 

action includes contacting Boeing for 

repair instructions. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of this Proposed AD 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all relevant information and 

determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the(se) 

same type design(s). This proposed AD 

would require accomplishing the 

actions specified in the service 

information described previously, 

except as discussed under ‘‘Difference 

Between the Proposed AD and 

Referenced Service Bulletin.’’ 

Difference Between the Proposed AD 

and Referenced Service Bulletin 

Operators should note that, although 

the Accomplishment Instructions of the 

referenced Boeing service bulletin 

describe procedures for submitting 

information to the manufacturer, this 

proposed AD would not require that 

action. 

Costs of Compliance 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS
26044 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 90 / Thursday, May 8, 2008 / Proposed Rules 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Work 

hours 

Average 

labor rate 

per hour 

Cost per product 

Number of 

U.S.-registered 

airplanes 

Fleet cost 

Inspections ................................... 20 $80 $1,600, per inspection cycle ....... 5 $8,000 per inspection cycle. 

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 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 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. 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, 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 FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new AD: 

Boeing: Docket No. FAA–2008–0523; 

Directorate Identifier 2008–NM–049–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) We must receive comments by June 23, 

2008. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Model 707–100 long 

body, –200, –100B long body, and –100B 

short body series airplanes; Model 707–300, 

–300B, –300C, and –400 series airplanes; and 

Model 720 and 720B series airplanes, 

certificated in any category; as identified in 

Boeing 707 Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 3524, dated July 18, 2007. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD results from reports of cracks 

found in the wing to body terminal fittings 

during routine inspections. We are issuing 

this AD to prevent cracks and corrosion in 

the body terminal fittings, which could cause 

loss of support for the wing and could 

adversely affect the structural integrity of the 

airplane. 

Compliance 

(e) Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

Inspections and Corrective Actions 

(f) Within 24 months after the effective 

date of this AD, do detailed inspections and 

applicable related investigative and 

corrective actions, by accomplishing all the 

actions specified in the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing 707 Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 3524, dated July 18, 2007, 

except as provided by paragraph (g) of this 

AD. Repeat the detailed inspections 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 24 

months. Do all applicable related 

investigative and corrective actions before 

further flight. 

(g) If any crack or corrosion is found during 

any inspection required by paragraph (f) of 

this AD, and Boeing 707 Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 3524, dated July 18, 2007, 

specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate 

action: Before further flight, repair the 

terminal fittings using a method approved in 

accordance with the procedures specified in 

paragraph (i) of this AD. 

No Information Submission 

(h) Although Boeing 707 Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 3524, dated July 18, 2007, 

specifies to submit information to the 

manufacturer, this AD does not include that 

requirement. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office (SACO), FAA, ATTN: 

Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, 1601 Lind 

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057–

3356; telephone (425) 917–6577; fax (425) 

917–6590; 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. 

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair 

required by this AD, if it is approved by an 

Authorized Representative for the Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes Delegation Option 

Authorization Organization who has been 

authorized by the Manager, SACO, to make 

those findings. For a repair method to be 

approved, the repair must meet the 

certification basis of the airplane, and the 

approval must specifically refer to this AD. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 25, 

2008. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–10217 Filed 5–7–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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