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

14750 

Vol. 74, No. 61 

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2009–0293; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–NM–221–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing 

Model 747–100, –100B, –100B SUD, 

–200B, –200C, –200F, –300, –400, 

–400D, –400F, and 747SR 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 747 airplanes identified 

above. This proposed AD would require 

replacing the inboard trailing edge (TE) 

flap transmission carbon disk no-back 

brakes with skewed roller no-back 

brakes at the TE flap transmission, 

positions 4 and 5. This proposed AD 

results from reports of the inboard TE 

flaps blowing back due to the failure of 

a transmission carbon disk no-back 

brake. The no-back brake did not hold 

the TE flaps in the commanded 

position. We are proposing this AD to 

prevent a decrease of the aerodynamic 

controllability of the airplane, which 

could adversely affect the airplane’s 

continued safe flight and landing. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by May 18, 2009. 

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 proposed AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, Washington 98124– 

2207; telephone 206–544–5000, 

extension 1; fax 206–766–5680; e-mail 

me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

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 or 425–227–1152. 

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: 

Douglas Tsuji, Aerospace Engineer, 

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM– 

130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 

Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 917–6487; 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–2009–0293; Directorate Identifier 

2008–NM–221–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 the 

inboard trailing edge (TE) flaps blowing 

back due to the failure of a transmission 

carbon disk no-back brake. The no-back 

brake did not hold the TE flaps in the 

commanded position. On approach, 

with landing flaps 25 or 30 selected, the 

inboard TE flaps failed to hold the 

commanded position and blew back to 

approximately flaps 10/15. This failure 

can cause an asymmetric flap blow-back 

if a torque tube becomes disconnected 

in combination with a failed no-back 

brake, or cause a symmetric flap blowback if the hydraulic motor torque is 

lost in combination with two failed noback brakes. 

This condition, if not corrected, could 

result in a decrease of the aerodynamic 

controllability of the airplane, which 

could adversely affect the airplane’s 

continued safe flight and landing. 

Relevant Service Information 

We have reviewed Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 747–27– 

2422, dated October 30, 2008. The 

service bulletin describes procedures to 

replace the inboard TE flap transmission 

carbon disk no-back brakes with skewed 

roller no-back brakes at the TE flap 

transmission, positions 4 and 5. 

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 these same 

type designs. This proposed AD would 

require accomplishing the actions 

specified in the service information 

described previously. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 249 airplanes of U.S. 

registry. The following table provides 

the estimated costs for U.S. operators to 

comply with this proposed AD. 

Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 61 / Wednesday, April 1, 2009 / Proposed Rules 14751 

TABLE—ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Work hours Average labor 

rate per hour Parts Cost 

Number of 

U.S.-registered 

airplanes 

Fleet cost 

Replacement ............................................ 25 $80 $60,670 $62,670 249 $15,604,830 

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, 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: 

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–2009–0293; 

Directorate Identifier 2008–NM–221–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) We must receive comments by May 18, 

2009. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747– 

100, –100B, –100B SUD, –200B, –200C, 

–200F, –300, –400, –400D, –400F, and 747SR 

series airplanes, certificated in any category; 

as identified in Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 747–27–2422, dated October 

30, 2008. 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 27: Flight controls. 

Unsafe Condition 

(e) This AD results from reports of the 

inboard trailing edge (TE) flaps blowing back 

due to the failure of a transmission carbon 

disk no-back brake. The no-back brake did 

not hold the flaps in the commanded 

position. The Federal Aviation 

Administration is issuing this AD to prevent 

a decrease of the aerodynamic controllability 

of the airplane, which could adversely affect 

the airplane’s continued safe flight and 

landing. 

Compliance 

(f) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Corrective Action 

(g) Within 5 years after the effective date 

of this AD, replace the trailing edge flap 

transmission no-back brakes with skewed 

roller no-back brakes at the trailing edge flap 

transmission, positions 4 and 5, in 

accordance with Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 747–27–2422, dated October 

30, 2008. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(h)(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. Send information to ATTN: 

Douglas Tsuji, Aerospace Engineer, Systems 

and Equipment Branch, ANM–130S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 

98057–3356; telephone (425) 917–6487; fax 

(425) 917–6590. 

(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 principal maintenance inspector 

(PMI) or principal avionics inspector (PAI), 

as appropriate, or lacking a principal 

inspector, your local Flight Standards District 

Office. The AMOC approval letter must 

specifically reference this AD. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 

18, 2009. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–7273 Filed 3–31–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2009–0292; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–NM–011–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 

A300, A310, and A300–600 Series 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede an existing airworthiness 

directive (AD) that applies to certain 

Airbus Model A300 and A310 series 

airplanes. The existing AD currently 

requires replacement of the nose 

landing gear drag strut upper 

attachment pin. This proposed AD 

would require revising the 

Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS)