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

55273 

Vol. 80, No. 178 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–3630; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–NM–253–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all The 

Boeing Company Model 747–400F 

series airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by an analysis of the 

production methods used to increase 

fatigue resistance of the upper closure 

fittings at the nose cargo door portal’s 

C–3 frame, which indicated that 

cracking could start too early to be 

caught in a timely manner by the 

inspection or maintenance program. 

This proposed AD would require 

inspections of the upper closure fitting 

and connected strap and doubler at the 

nose cargo door portal for cracking, and 

related investigative and corrective 

actions if necessary. We are proposing 

this AD to detect and correct such 

cracking, which could result in sudden 

decompression and loss of the airplane’s 

structural integrity. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by October 30, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 

5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, WA 98124–2207; 

telephone 206–544–5000, extension 1; 

fax 206–766–5680; Internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view 

this referenced service information at 

the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 

Renton, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 425–227–1221. It is also available 

on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

3630. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

3630; 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 

(phone: 800–647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill 

Ashforth, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe 

Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 

Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057– 

3356; phone: 425–917–6432; fax: 425– 

917–6590; email: bill.ashforth@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2015–3630; Directorate Identifier 2014– 

NM–253–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 a report indicating 

that an analysis of the production 

methods used to increase fatigue 

resistance of the upper closure fittings at 

the nose cargo door portal’s C–3 frame 

showed that cracking could start too 

early to be caught in a timely manner by 

the inspection or maintenance program. 

The upper closure fittings used in the 

nose cargo door portal C–3 frame were 

shot peened to increase fatigue 

resistance. However, an analysis 

showed that the increase in fatigue 

resistance was still not enough to ensure 

that cracking would be caught by the 

inspection program specified in the 

Boeing 747–400 maintenance planning 

data (MPD) document. This condition, if 

not detected and corrected, could result 

in sudden decompression and loss of 

the airplane’s structural integrity. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–53A2880, dated December 

3, 2014. This service information 

describes procedures for a detailed 

inspection of the upper closure fitting 

and connected strap and doubler, a 

surface high frequency eddy current 

(HFEC) inspection of the upper closure 

fitting for cracking, and related 

investigative and corrective actions. 

This service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

course of business or by the means 

identified in the ADDRESSES section of 

this NPRM. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. 

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55274 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Proposed Rules 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

the service information described 

previously, except as discussed under 

‘‘Differences Between this Proposed AD 

and the Service Information.’’ Refer to 

this service information for information 

on the procedures and compliance 

times. For information on the 

procedures and compliance times, see 

this service information at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

3630. 

The phrase ‘‘related investigative 

actions’’ is used in this proposed AD. 

‘‘Related investigative actions’’ are 

follow-on actions that (1) are related to 

the primary actions, and (2) further 

investigate the nature of any condition 

found. Related investigative actions in 

an AD could include, for example, 

inspections. 

The phrase ‘‘corrective actions’’ is 

used in this proposed AD. ‘‘Corrective 

actions’’ are actions that correct or 

address any condition found. Corrective 

actions in an AD could include, for 

example, repairs. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the Service Information 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747– 

53A2880, dated December 3, 2014, 

specifies to contact the manufacturer for 

instructions on how to repair certain 

conditions, but this proposed AD would 

require repairing those conditions in 

one of the following ways: 

• In accordance with a method that 

we approve; or 

• Using data that meet the 

certification basis of the airplane, and 

that have been approved by the Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) whom 

we have authorized to make those 

findings. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 38 airplanes of U.S. registry. We 

estimate the following costs to comply 

with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators 

Inspections .................... 9 work-hours × $85 per hour = $765 per inspection cycle.$0 $765 per inspection 

cycle.

$29,070 per inspection 

cycle. 

We estimate the following costs to do 

any necessary repairs or replacements 

that would be required based on the 

results of the proposed inspection. Parts 

costs could be up to $42,930 per 

airplane. We have no way of 

determining the number of work hours 

(because the type of repair will vary 

depending on findings) or the number of 

aircraft that might need the repairs or 

replacements. 

Explanation of ‘‘RC’’ Steps in Service 

Information 

The FAA worked in conjunction with 

industry, under the Airworthiness 

Directive Implementation Aviation 

Rulemaking Committee (ARC), to 

enhance the AD system. One 

enhancement was a new process for 

annotating which steps in the service 

information are required for compliance 

with an AD. Differentiating these steps 

from other tasks in the service 

information is expected to improve an 

owner’s/operator’s understanding of 

crucial AD requirements and help 

provide consistent judgment in AD 

compliance. The steps identified as 

Required for Compliance (RC) in any 

service information identified 

previously have a direct effect on 

detecting, preventing, resolving, or 

eliminating an identified unsafe 

condition. 

For service information that contains 

steps that are labeled as RC, the 

following provisions apply: (1) The 

steps labeled as RC, including substeps 

under an RC step and any figures 

identified in an RC step, must be done 

to comply with the AD, and an AMOC 

is required for any deviations to RC 

steps, including substeps and identified 

figures; and (2) steps not labeled as RC 

may be deviated from using accepted 

methods in accordance with the 

operator’s maintenance or inspection 

program without obtaining approval of 

an AMOC, provided the RC steps, 

including substeps and identified 

figures, can still be done as specified, 

and the airplane can be put back in an 

airworthy condition. 

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), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(4) 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

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: 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Proposed Rules 55275 

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 airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA– 

2015–3630; Directorate Identifier 2014– 

NM–253–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by October 30, 

2015. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all The Boeing 

Company Model 747–400F series airplanes, 

certificated in any category, as identified in 

paragraph 1.A., ‘‘Effectivity,’’ of Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 747–53A2880, dated 

December 3, 2014. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53, Fuselage. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report that an 

analysis of the production methods used to 

increase fatigue resistance of the upper 

closure fittings at the nose cargo door portal’s 

C–3 frame showed that cracking could still 

start too early to be caught in a timely 

manner by the inspection or maintenance 

program. We are issuing this AD to detect 

and correct such cracking, which could result 

in sudden decompression and loss of the 

airplane’s structural integrity. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Inspections and Corrective Actions 

Except as required by paragraph (h) of this 

AD, at the applicable time specified in 

paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing 

Alert Service Bulletin 747–53A2880, dated 

December 3, 2014: Do a detailed inspection 

of the upper closure fitting, strap, and 

doubler and a surface high frequency eddy 

current (HFEC) inspection of the upper 

closure fitting at the nose cargo door portal 

for cracking, and do all applicable related 

investigative and corrective actions, in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

747–53A2880, dated December 3, 2014. 

Repeat the inspections at the time specified 

in paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing 

Alert Service Bulletin 747–53A2880, dated 

December 3, 2014. Do the applicable 

investigative and corrective actions at the 

times specified in paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–53A2880, dated December 3, 

2014. 

(h) Exceptions to the Service Information 

(1) Where paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747–53A2880, 

dated December 3, 2014, refers to a 

compliance time ‘‘after the original issue date 

of this service bulletin,’’ this AD requires 

compliance within the specific compliance 

time after the effective date of this AD. 

(2) If any crack is found during any 

inspection required by this AD, and Boeing 

Alert Service Bulletin 747–53A2880, dated 

December 3, 2014, specifies to contact Boeing 

for appropriate action: Before further flight, 

repair the cracking using a method approved 

in accordance with the procedures specified 

in paragraph (i) of this AD. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the 

authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 

requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 

send your request to your principal inspector 

or local Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. Information may 

be emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOCRequests@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/

certificate holding district office. 

(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 the 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that has 

been authorized by the Manager, Seattle 

ACO, 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. 

(4) Except as required by paragraph (h)(2) 

of this AD: For service information that 

contains steps that are labeled as Required 

for Compliance (RC), the provisions of 

paragraphs (i)(4)(i) and (i)(4)(ii) apply. 

(i) The steps labeled as RC, including 

substeps under an RC step and any figures 

identified in an RC step, must be done to 

comply with the AD. An AMOC is required 

for any deviations to RC steps, including 

substeps and identified figures. 

(ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be 

deviated from using accepted methods in 

accordance with the operator’s maintenance 

or inspection program without obtaining 

approval of an AMOC, provided the RC steps, 

including substeps and identified figures, can 

still be done as specified, and the airplane 

can be put back in an airworthy condition. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Bill Ashforth, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; 

phone: 425–917–6432; fax: 425–917–6590; 

email: bill.ashforth@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 

Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65, 

Seattle, WA 98124–2207; telephone 206– 

544–5000, extension 1; fax 206–766–5680; 

Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may view this referenced service information 

at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 2, 2015. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–22926 Filed 9–14–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–1834; Airspace 

Docket No. 15–AGL–8] 

Proposed Revocation and 

Establishment of Class E Airspace; 

Bowman, ND 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

establish Class E airspace at Bowman, 

ND. Controlled airspace is necessary to 

accommodate new Standard Instrument 

Approach Procedures at Bowman 

Regional Airport, for the safety and 

management of Instrument Flight Rules 

(IFR) operations. Class E airspace would 

be removed at Bowman Municipal 

Airport, Bowman, ND, due to closure of 

the air traffic control tower. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before October 30, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this 

proposal to the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590–0001, telephone 

(202) 366–9826. You must identify the 

docket number FAA–2015–1834; 

Airspace Docket No. 15–AGL–8, at the 

beginning of your comments. You may 

also submit comments through the 

Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. 

You may review the public docket 

containing the proposal, any comments 

received, and any final disposition in 

person in the Dockets Office between 

9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The Docket Office (telephone 1–800– 

647–5527), is on the ground floor of the 

building at the above address. 

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