[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 168 (Thursday, August 28, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50703-50705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19136]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0523; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-049-AD; 
Amendment 39-15648; AD 2008-17-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 707 Airplanes, and Model 
720 and 720B Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. 
This AD requires 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 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.

DATES: This AD is effective October 2, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 2, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing

[[Page 50704]]

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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is 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 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:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to 
certain Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and Model 720 and 720B series 
airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on May 8, 
2008 (73 FR 26043). That NPRM proposed to 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.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 5 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to 
comply with this AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                           Number of U.S.-
                  Action                      Work hours     Average labor         Cost per product           registered             Fleet cost
                                                             rate per hour                                    airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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

    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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2008-17-10 Boeing: Amendment 39-15648. Docket No. FAA-2008-0523; 
Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-049-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 2, 
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

[[Page 50705]]

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 (ACO), 
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, 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Boeing 707 Special Attention Service Bulletin 
3524, dated July 18, 2007, to do the actions required by this AD, 
unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 
98124-2207.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information 
incorporated by reference at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington; or at the 
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information 
on the availability of this material at NARA, 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 August 6, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-19136 Filed 8-27-08; 8:45 am]
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