46940 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 152 / Tuesday, August 7, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

(1) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57–0249, 

dated May 22, 2007 (for Model A300 B4–2C, 

B4–103, and B4–203 airplanes). 

(2) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57–0249, 

Revision 01, dated December 19, 2007 (for 

Model A300 B4–2C, B4–103, and B4–203 

airplanes). 

(3) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57–6106, 

dated May 22, 2007 (Model A300 B4–601, 

B4–603, B4–605R, B4–620, B4–622, B4– 

622R, F4–605R, F4–622R, and C4–605R 

Variant F airplanes). 

(4) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57–6106, 

Revision 01, dated January 28, 2008 (Model 

A300 B4–601, B4–603, B4–605R, B4–620, 

B4–622, B4–622R, F4–605R, F4–622R, and 

C4–605R Variant F airplanes). 

(5) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57–6106, 

Revision 02, dated June 18, 2010 (Model 

A300 B4–601, B4–603, B4–605R, B4–620, 

B4–622, B4–622R, F4–605R, F4–622R, and 

C4–605R Variant F airplanes). 

(n) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 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 International Branch, send it to Attn: 

Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057– 

3356; telephone (425) 227–2125; fax (425) 

227–1149. Information may be emailed to: 9- 

ANM-116-AMO-REQUESTS@faa.gov. 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. The AMOC approval 

letter must specifically reference this AD. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer or other source, use these 

actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent). You are required 

to assure the product is airworthy before it 

is returned to service. 

(3) Reporting Requirements: A federal 

agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 

person is not required to respond to, nor 

shall a person be subject to a penalty for 

failure to comply with a collection of 

information subject to the requirements of 

the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 

collection of information displays a current 

valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Number for this information 

collection is 2120–0056. Public reporting for 

this collection of information is estimated to 

be approximately 5 minutes per response, 

including the time for reviewing instructions, 

completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. All responses to this collection 

of information are mandatory. Comments 

concerning the accuracy of this burden and 

suggestions for reducing the burden should 

be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence 

Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, 

AES–200. 

(o) Related Information 

Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2010–0250, dated November 29, 

2010, and the service information specified 

in paragraphs (o)(1), (o)(2), (o)(3), and (o)(4) 

of this AD, for related information. 

(1) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A300–57–0249, Revision 02, dated June 18, 

2010. 

(2) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A300–57–0251, including Appendix 01, 

dated August 8, 2007. 

(3) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A300–57–6106, Revision 03, dated January 

26, 2012. 

(4) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A300–57–6107, including Appendix 01, 

August 8, 2007. 

(p) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the following service information 

under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) You must use the following service 

information to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A300–57–0249, Revision 02, dated June 18, 

2010. 

(ii) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A300–57–0251, including Appendix 01, 

dated August 8, 2007. 

(iii) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A300–57–6106, Revision 03, dated January 

26, 2012. 

(iv) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A300–57–6107, including Appendix 01, 

August 8, 2007. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS–EAW 

(Airworthiness Office), 1 Rond Point Maurice 

Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; 

telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 

93 44 51; email: account.airwortheas@airbus.com; Internet http:// 

www.airbus.com. 

(4) You may review copies of the service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

425–227–1221. 

(5) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at an NARA facility, call 202–741– 

6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/ 

federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ 

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 23, 

2012. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–18621 Filed 8–6–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0046; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–CE–040–AD; Amendment 

39–17136; AD 2012–15–07] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Glasflugel 

Gliders 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Glasflugel Models Standard Libelle201B, Club Libelle 205, Mosquito, and 

Kestrel gliders. This AD results from 

mandatory continuing airworthiness 

information (MCAI) issued by an 

aviation authority of another country to 

identify and correct an unsafe condition 

on an aviation product. The MCAI 

describes the unsafe condition as 

corrosion damage to the elevator control 

rod that could lead to failure of the 

elevator control rod, possibly resulting 

in loss of control of the glider. We are 

issuing this AD to require actions to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective September 

11, 2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of September 11, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov or in person at the 

Document Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Glasfaser FlugzeugService Hansjo ̈rg Streifeneder GmbH, D– 

72582 Grabenstetten, Germany; phone: 

+49(0)73821032, fax: +49(0)73821629; 

email: info@streifly.de; Internet: 

www.streifly.de/. You may review 

copies of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Small Airplane 

Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (816) 329–4148. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim 

Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 


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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 152 / Tuesday, August 7, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 46941 

telephone: (816) 329–4165; fax: (816) 

329–4090; email: 

jim.rutherford@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

NPRM was published in the Federal 

Register on January 19, 2012 (77 FR 

2674). That NPRM proposed to correct 

an unsafe condition for the specified 

products. The MCAI states: 

A broken elevator control rod in the 

vertical fin on a Kestrel sailplane has been 

reported. The technical investigation 

revealed that water had soaked into the 

elevator control rod through a control bore 

hole and resulted in corrosion damage. The 

investigation concluded as well that the 

corrosion cannot be detected from outside 

the elevator control rod. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could lead to failure of the elevator 

control rod, possibly resulting in loss of 

control of the sailplane. 

To address this unsafe condition, Glasfaser 

Flugzeug-Service GmbH have developed and 

published Technical Note (TN) TN 201–40, 

TN 205–27, TN 206–26, TN 303–25, TN 304– 

12, TN 401–30, TN 501–10, TN 604–11, 

which provides instructions for elevator 

control rod inspection and replacement. 

For the reasons described above, EASA 

issued AD 2011–0213 to require a one-time 

inspection and replacement of the affected 

elevator control rod with an improved part. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the proposal and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. 

Request FAA Withdraw the Proposed 

AD 

Jack Corneveaux wrote that virtually 

all gliders covered under this proposed 

action are stored in covered trailers or 

hangers and not left out in the weather. 

Therefore, they are not subject to 

problems from moisture. He claims that 

those few gliders that have had the 

elevator control rod replaced were 

found with the original elevator control 

rod in perfect condition. 

The commenter also wrote that this 

rule was generated in Europe due to one 

instance where an elevator control rod 

on a Hornet was defective. He states that 

we do not know if this aircraft was 

mistreated by leaving it out in the 

weather or any other details that might 

have caused the problem. Jack 

Corneveaux concluded that the 

proposed fix is expensive, time 

consuming, and probably unnecessary. 

Although no specific change was 

requested, based on the comments, we 

infer that the commenter requested the 

FAA withdraw the proposed AD. 

We do not agree with the comments. 

The FAA cannot know the storage 

details of every aircraft on the U.S. 

registry. Therefore, we cannot determine 

the actual amount of time that any given 

aircraft is subject to the effects of 

weather, in general, and moisture, in 

particular. The European Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) issued MCAI 

based on a broken elevator control rod 

in the vertical fin on a Kestrel glider 

caused by corrosion damage from water 

soaking into the rod through a control 

bore hole. 

The investigation by EASA and the 

type certificate (TC) holder concluded 

that the corrosion could not be detected 

from outside the elevator control rod 

and, if not detected and corrected, could 

lead to a failure of the elevator control 

rod and resultant loss of control of the 

aircraft. We concur with the findings of 

EASA and the TC holder. While we 

recognize the financial burden that this 

AD places on the gliding community, 

this does not diminish the need to 

accomplish the inspection and 

replacement of the elevator control rod 

to address the unsafe condition. 

We have made no changes to this AD 

action based on these comments. 

Request FAA Allow Certified A&P 

Mechanics To Accomplish AD Actions 

Jack Corneveaux requested that the 

FAA allow the actions of the proposed 

AD be done by any certified A&P 

mechanic since the recommended repair 

stations are hundreds of miles apart in 

the United States. 

Although not directly referenced 

within the comment, the repair station 

requirement comes from Glasfaser 

Flugzeug Service GmbH Technical Note 

TN 201–40, TN 205–27, TN 206–26, TN 

303–25, TN 304–12, TN 401–30, TN 

501–10, and TN 604–11, Revision 1, 

dated July 14, 2011 (EASA translation 

approval dated September 9, 2011), 

referenced in the proposed AD which 

states in the Action section: 

Note: Replacement of control rod (Action 

2 to 4) must be carried out by an authorised 

service facility. 

We agree with the comment because 

within the United States regulatory 

system, there is no need for the actions 

required by the AD to be done solely by 

a repair station. 14 CFR 43.3 defines 

who is authorized to perform 

maintenance, preventative maintenance, 

rebuilding, and alterations. This section 

includes certificated mechanics in 

addition to repair stations. 

We added text to the body of the AD 

that specifies that the actions mandated 

by this AD may be accomplished by 

persons authorized to perform 

maintenance in accordance with 14 CFR 

43.3 and by persons authorized to 

approve aircraft for return to service 

after maintenance in accordance with 14 

CFR 43.7. 

Request FAA Approve Use of 

Endoscope As Alternate Inspection 

Method 

Jack Corneveaux suggested that the 

elevator control rod be inspected using 

an endoscope. He wrote that this 

alternative inspection method has been 

successfully accomplished in Australia. 

We do not agree with the comments. 

The FAA cannot make a determination 

of the acceptability of this alternative 

inspection method based on the 

information provided. The commenter 

may apply for an alternative method of 

compliance (AMOC) using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. The 

commenter should include the AMOC 

application and all associated 

substantiating data for review. 

We have made no changes to this AD 

action based on these comments. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting the AD 

with the change described previously 

and minor editorial changes. We have 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM (77 FR 2674, 

January 19, 2012) for correcting the 

unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM (77 FR 2674, 

January 19, 2012). 

We also determined that these 

changes would not increase the 

economic burden on any operator or 

increase the scope of the AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

54 products of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it would take about 6 

work-hours per product to comply with 

the basic requirements of this AD. The 

average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. 

Required parts would cost about $333 

per product. 

Based on these figures, we estimate 

the cost of the AD on U.S. operators to 

be $45,522, or $843 per product. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 


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46942 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 152 / Tuesday, August 7, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

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 AD will not 

have federalism implications under 

Executive Order 13132. This AD 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. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify this AD: 

(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. 

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 the NPRM, 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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: 

2012–15–07 Glasflugel: Amendment 39– 

17136; Docket No. FAA–2012–0046; 

Directorate Identifier 2011–CE–040–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes 

effective September 11, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the following Glasflugel 

models and serial number (S/N) gliders, 

certificated in any category: 

(1) Club Libelle 205, all S/Ns 

(2) Kestrel, all S/Ns, except S/N 85, 110, 

and 125 

(3) Mosquito, all S/Ns 

(4) Standard Libelle-201B, S/N 169 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association of America 

(ATA) Code 27: Flight Controls. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 

originated by an aviation authority of another 

country to identify and correct an unsafe 

condition on an aviation product. The MCAI 

describes the unsafe condition as corrosion 

damage to the elevator control rod that could 

lead to failure of the elevator control rod, 

possibly resulting in loss of control of the 

glider. We are issuing this AD to require 

actions to address the unsafe condition on 

these products. 

(f) Actions and Compliance 

Unless already done, do the following 

actions: 

(1) Within 30 days after September 11, 

2012 (the effective date of this AD), inspect 

the elevator control rod in the vertical fin 

following Glasfaser Flugzeug-Service GmbH 

Technical Note TN 201–40, TN 205–27, TN 

206–26, TN 303–25, TN 304–12, TN 401–30, 

TN 501–10, and TN 604–11, Revision 1, 

dated July 14, 2011 (EASA translation 

approval dated September 9, 2011), as 

applicable to glider model. 

(2) If you find any discrepancy in the 

inspection required by paragraph (f)(1) of this 

AD, before further flight, replace the elevator 

control rod with an elevator control rod that 

does not have a control bore hole, following 

Glasfaser Flugzeug-Service GmbH Technical 

Note TN 201–40, TN 205–27, TN 206–26, TN 

303–25, TN 304–12, TN 401–30, TN 501–10, 

and TN 604–11, Revision 1, dated July 14, 

2011 (EASA translation approval dated 

September 9, 2011), as applicable to glider 

model. 

(3) Within 9 months after September 11, 

2012 (the effective date of this AD), unless 

already done as required by paragraph (f)(2) 

of this AD, replace the elevator control rod 

in the vertical fin with an elevator control 

rod that does not have a control bore hole, 

following Glasfaser Flugzeug-Service GmbH 

Technical Note TN 201–40, TN 205–27, TN 

206–26, TN 303–25, TN 304–12, TN 401–30, 

TN 501–10, and TN 604–11, Revision 1, 

dated July 14, 2011 (EASA translation 

approval dated September 9, 2011), as 

applicable to glider model. 

(4) As of September 11, 2012 (the effective 

date of this AD), do not install an elevator 

control rod with a control bore hole. 

(5) The actions mandated by this AD may 

be accomplished by persons authorized to 

perform maintenance in accordance with 14 

CFR 43.3 and by persons authorized to 

approve aircraft for return to service after 

maintenance in accordance with 14 CFR 

43.7. 

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested using the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to 

ATTN: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, 

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 

telephone: (816) 329–4165; fax: (816) 329– 

4090; email: jim.rutherford@faa.gov. 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. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer or other source, use these 

actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent). You are required 

to assure the product is airworthy before it 

is returned to service. 

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any 

reporting requirement in this AD, a federal 

agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 

person is not required to respond to, nor 

shall a person be subject to a penalty for 

failure to comply with a collection of 

information subject to the requirements of 

the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 

collection of information displays a current 

valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Number for this information 

collection is 2120–0056. Public reporting for 

this collection of information is estimated to 

be approximately 5 minutes per response, 

including the time for reviewing instructions, 

completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. All responses to this collection 

of information are mandatory. Comments 

concerning the accuracy of this burden and 


erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 152 / Tuesday, August 7, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 46943 

suggestions for reducing the burden should 

be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence 

Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, 

AES–200. 

(h) Related Information 

Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety 

Agency (EASA) AD No.: 2011–0213R1, dated 

November 8, 2011; and Glasfaser FlugzeugService GmbH Technical Note TN 201–40, 

TN 205–27, TN 206–26, TN 303–25, TN 304– 

12, TN 401–30, TN 501–10, and TN 604–11, 

Revision 1, dated July 14, 2011 (EASA 

translation approval dated September 9, 

2011), for related information. For service 

information related to this AD, contact 

Glasfaser Flugzeug-Service Hansjo ̈rg 

Streifeneder GmbH, D–72582 Grabenstetten, 

Germany; phone: +49(0)73821032, fax: 

+49(0)73821629; email: info@streifly.de; 

Internet: www.streifly.de/. You may review 

copies of the referenced service information 

at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 

Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (816) 329–4148. 

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) You must use the following service 

information to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 

Director of the Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference (IBR) under 5 

U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51: 

(i) Glasfaser Flugzeug Service GmbH 

Technical Note TN 201–40, TN 205–27, TN 

206–26, TN 303–25, TN 304–12, TN 401–30, 

TN 501–10, and TN 604–11, Revision 1, 

dated July 14, 2011. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Glasfaser Flugzeug-Service 

Hansjo ̈rg Streifeneder GmbH, D–72582 

Grabenstetten, Germany; phone: 

+49(0)73821032, fax: +49(0)73821629; email: 

info@streifly.de; Internet: www.streifly.de/. 

(3) You may review copies of the 

referenced service information at the FAA, 

Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call (816) 329–4148. 

(4) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at an NARA facility, call 202–741– 

6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/

federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 18, 

2012. 

Earl Lawrence, 

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–19088 Filed 8–6–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2010–0480; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–NM–035–AD; Amendment 

39–17139; AD 2012–15–10] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 747–400 

and 747–400D series airplanes. This AD 

was prompted by a report of an in-flight 

multi-power system loss of the #1, #2, 

and #3 alternating current electrical 

power systems located in the main 

equipment center (MEC). This AD 

requires installing aluminum gutter 

reinforcing brackets to the forward and 

aft drip shield gutters of the MEC; and 

adding a reinforcing fiberglass overcoat 

to the top surface of the MEC drip 

shield, including an inspection for 

cracking and holes in the MEC drip 

shield, and corrective actions if 

necessary. This AD also provides for an 

option to install an MEC drip shield 

drain system, which, if accomplished, 

would extend the compliance time for 

adding the reinforcing fiberglass 

overcoat to the top surface of the MEC 

drip shield. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent water penetration into the MEC, 

which could result in the loss of flight 

critical systems. 

DATES: This AD is effective September 

11, 2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of September 11, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: 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. 

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 AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

Document Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Francis Smith, Aerospace Engineer, 

Cabin Safety and Environmental 

Systems Branch, ANM–150S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6596; fax: 

425–917–6590; email: 

francis.smith@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to 

amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an 

airworthiness directive (AD) that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

SNPRM published in the Federal 

Register on March 5, 2012 (77 FR 

13043). The original NPRM (75 FR 

27966, May 19, 2010) proposed to 

require installing aluminum gutter 

reinforcing brackets to the forward and 

aft drip shield gutters of the MEC; and 

adding a reinforcing fiberglass overcoat 

to the top surface of the MEC drip 

shield, including an inspection for 

cracking and holes in the MEC drip 

shield, and corrective actions if 

necessary. That NPRM also provided for 

an option to install an MEC drip shield 

drain system, which, if accomplished, 

would extend the compliance time for 

adding the reinforcing fiberglass 

overcoat to the top surface of the MEC 

drip shield. The SNPRM proposed to 

revise the locating dimensions of the 

brackets and change the routing of the 

forward drain tubes. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the proposal (77 FR 13043, 

March 5, 2012) and the FAA’s response 

to each comment. 

Concurrence With Supplemental NPRM 

(77 FR 13043, March 5, 2012) 

Boeing concurs with the contents of 

the proposed rule (77 FR 13043, March 

5, 2012). 

Request To Extend Compliance Time 

United Airlines (UAL) requested an 

extension of the compliance time from 

24 months to 48 months to accomplish 

the actions in paragraph (g)(1) of the 

supplemental NPRM (77 FR 13043, 


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