Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 32 / Thursday, February 15, 2001 / Rules and Regulations 10359

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February

7, 2001.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–3672 Filed 2–14–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–279–AD; Amendment

39–12117; AD 2001–03–13]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing

Model 707 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain Boeing Model 707

series airplanes, that requires

modification of certain areas of the

upper skin of the wing. This

amendment is necessary to prevent

cracking of the upper skin of the wing,

which could result in reduced structural

integrity of the wing. This action is

intended to address the identified

unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective March 22, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Boeing Commercial Airplane

Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,

Washington 98124–2207. This

information may be examined at the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),

Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules

Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

James Rehrl, Aerospace Engineer,

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA,

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055–4056; telephone

(425) 227–2783; fax (425) 227–1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to certain Boeing

Model 707 series airplanes was

published in the Federal Register on

November 28, 2000 (65 FR 70819). That

action proposed to require modification

of certain areas of the upper skin of the

wing.

Comments

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. No

comments were submitted in response

to the proposal or the FAA’s

determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

The FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

There are approximately 5 airplanes

of the affected design in the worldwide

fleet. The FAA estimates that 1 airplane

of U.S. registry will be affected by this

AD, that it will take approximately 8

work hours to accomplish the required

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Based on these

figures, the cost impact of the AD on the

single U.S. operator is estimated to be

$480.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the requirements of this AD action, and

that no operator would accomplish

those actions in the future if this AD

were not adopted. The cost impact

figures discussed in AD rulemaking

actions represent only the time

necessary to perform the specific actions

actually required by the AD. These

figures typically do not include

incidental costs, such as the time

required to gain access and close up,

planning time, or time necessitated by

other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it is

determined that this final rule does not

have federalism implications under

Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this action (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. A final evaluation has

been prepared for this action and it is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it may be obtained from the Rules

Docket at the location provided under

the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends part 39 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

2001–03–13 Boeing: Amendment 39–12117.

Docket 2000–NM–279–AD.

Applicability: Model 707 series airplanes;

as listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 2378,

Revision 1, dated June 30, 1967; certificated

in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

airplanes that have been modified, altered, or

repaired so that the performance of the

requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent cracking of the upper skin of

the wing, which could result in reduced

structural integrity of the wing, accomplish

the following:

Modification

(a) Prior to the accumulation of 20,000 total

flight hours, or within 24 months after the

effective date of this AD, whichever occurs

later, modify the upper skin of the wing at

wing stringers 10A and 11A on both the leftand right-hand wings of the airplane, in

accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin

2378, Revision 1, dated June 30, 1967.

(b) During the high frequency eddy current

inspection included as part of the

modification required by paragraph (a) of this

AD, if any crack is found, prior to further

flight, repair in accordance with the

applicable section of the Boeing 707

Structural Repair Manual.

10360 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 32 / Thursday, February 15, 2001 / Rules and Regulations

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(c) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Seattle

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA.

Operators shall submit their requests through

an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, Seattle ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Seattle ACO.

Special Flight Permits

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to

a location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

Effective Date

(e) This amendment becomes effective on

March 22, 2001.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February

8, 2001.

Vi L. Lipski,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–3695 Filed 2–14–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA–2000–8460; Notice No. 01–

02]

RIN 2120–AH17

Airworthiness Directives

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM); extension of comment period.

SUMMARY: This action extends the

comment period for an NPRM that was

published on January 12, 2001. In that

document, the FAA proposed to move

several standard provisions currently

found in every airworthiness directive

into its regulations pertaining to

airworthiness directives. This extension

is a result of a request from Helicopter

Association International to extend the

comment period to the proposal.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before March 29, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Address your comments to

the Docket Management System, U.S.

Department of Transportation, Room

Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,

Washington, DC 20590–0001. You must

identify the docket number FAA–2000–

8460 at the beginning of your

comments, and you should submit two

copies of your comments. If you wish to

receive confirmation that FAA received

your comments, include a selfaddressed, stamped postcard.

You may also submit comments

through the Internet to http://

dms.dot.gov. you may review the public

docket containing comments to these

proposed regulations in person in the

Dockets Office between 9 a.m. and 5

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays. The Dockets Office is

on the plaza level of the NASSIF

Building at the Department of

Transportation at the above address.

Also, you may review public dockets on

the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Donald Byrne, Assistant Chief Counsel,

Regulations Division, AGC–200, Federal

Aviation Administration, 800

Independence Ave., SW., Washington,

DC 20591; telephone (202) 267–3073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed action by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Comments relating to

the environmental, energy, federalism,

or economic impact that might result

from adopting the proposals in this

document also are invited. Substantive

comments should be accompanied by

cost estimates. Comments must identify

the regulatory docket or notice number

and be submitted in duplicate to the

DOT Rules Docket address specified

above.

All comments received, as well as a

report summarizing each substantive

public contact with FAA personnel

concerning this proposed rulemaking,

will be filed in the docket. The docket

is available for public inspection before

and after the comment closing date.

All comments received on or before

the closing date will be considered by

the Administrator before taking action

on this proposed rulemaking. Comments

filed late will be considered as far as

possible without incurring expense or

delay. The proposals in this document

may be changed in light of the

comments received.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this document

must include a pre-addressed, stamped

postcard with those comments on which

the following statement is made:

‘‘Comments to Docket No. FAA–2000–

8460.’’ The postcard will be date

stamped and mailed to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

An electronic copy is available on the

Internet by taking the following steps:

(1) Go to the search function of the

Department of Transportation’s

electronic Docket Management System

(DMS) Web page (http://dms.dot.gov/

search).

(2) On the search page type in the last

four digits of the Docket number shown

at the beginning of this notice. Click on

‘‘search.’’

(3) On the next page, which contains

the Docket summary information for the

docket selected, click on the proposed

rule.

An electronic copy is also available

on the Internet through FAA’s web page

at http://www.faa.gov/avr/arm/nprm/

nprm.htm or the Federal Register’s web

page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/

suldocs/aces/aces140.html.

Further, a copy may be obtained by

submitting a written request to the

Federal Aviation Administration, Office

of Rulemaking, ARM–1, 800

Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20591, or by calling

(202) 267–9680. Make sure to identify

the notice number or docket number of

this proposed rule.

Background

On November 29, 2000, the Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA) issued

Notice No. 00–15, Airworthiness

Directives (66 FR 3382, January 12,

2001). Comments to that document were

to be received on or before February 12,

2001.

By letter dated January 31, 2001,

Helicopter Association International

requested that the FAA extend the

comment period for Notice No. 00–15

until March 14, 2001, to allow HAI to

comment on the proposed revisions to

part 39. Although HAI requests only a

30 day extension of the comment

period, the FAA believes a 45 day

extension would be adequate for HAI

and other interested persons to provide

comment to Notice No. 00–15.

Extension of Comment Period

In accordance with § 11.47 of Title 14,

Code of Federal Regulations, the FAA

has reviewed the petition made by HAI

for extension of the comment period to

Notice No. 00–15. HAI has shown an

interest in the proposed rule and good

cause for the extension. The FAA also

has determined that extension of the

comment period is in the public

interest, and that good cause exists for

taking this action.