Document ID: FAA-2013-0304-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: The Boeing Company Airplanes
Posted Date: 2013-04-11T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 70 (Thursday, April 11, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21571-21573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08451]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0304; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-005-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400, -400D, and -400F series 
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of water leakage 
into the main deck cargo wire integration unit (WIU). The water flowed 
from the drip shield through disbonded floor seams into the aft main 
equipment center (MEC) drip shield gutter, then onto the WIU. This 
proposed AD would require removing the cargo liner support; cleaning 
the aft MEC drip shield gutter; and doing a one-time general visual 
inspection for disbonded seams, and repair if necessary. This proposed 
AD would also require installing a fiberglass reinforcement overcoat to 
the top surface of the aft MEC drip shield gutters and installing the 
cargo liner support. We are proposing this AD to prevent water 
penetration into the MEC, which could result in the loss of flight 
critical systems.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 28, 2013.

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, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet

[[Page 21572]]

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.

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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

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, Washington 
98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6596; fax (425) 917-6590; email 
francis.smith@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-2013-0304; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-005-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 received a report indicating that water leakage into the main 
deck cargo WIU was found. The water flowed from the drip shield through 
disbonded floor seams into the aft MEC drip shield gutter, then onto 
the WIU. Liquids can leak through the MEC drip shield due to disbonded 
aft MEC drip shield gutters, resulting in water intrusion into the WIU 
of the MEC. Disbonding can occur due to improper preparation of the 
drip shield/gutter material and aging of materials. This condition, if 
not corrected, could result in water penetration into the MEC, and loss 
of flight critical systems.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3613, dated June 
22, 2012. For information on the procedures and compliance times, see 
this service information at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
Docket No. FAA-2013-0304.

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.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.
    The phrase ``related investigative actions'' might be 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.
    In addition, the phrase ``corrective actions'' might be 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 79 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove cargo liner support, clean       6 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $510         $40,290
 gutter, inspection.                     hour = $510.
Install fiberglass reinforcement and    6 work-hours x $85 per               100             610          48,190
 cargo liner support.                    hour = $510.
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    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
a cost estimate for the on-condition actions specified in this proposed 
AD.

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

[[Page 21573]]

    (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:

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD): Docket No. FAA-2013-0304; Directorate Identifier 2013-
NM-005-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by May 28, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400, -400D, and -
400F series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-25A3613, dated June 22, 2012.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 25: Equipment/Furnishings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report indicating that water leakage into 
the main deck cargo wire integration unit (WIU) was found. The water 
flowed from the drip shield through disbonded floor seams into the aft 
main equipment center (MEC) drip shield gutter, then onto the WIU. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent water penetration into the MEC, which 
could result in the loss of flight critical systems.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless 
already done.

(g) Removal/Cleaning/Inspection/Repair if Necessary/Installations

    Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD: Do the 
actions specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 747-25A3613, dated June 22, 2012.
    (1) Remove the cargo liner support, clean the aft MEC drip shield 
gutter, and do a general visual inspection for disbonded seams; repair 
before further flight if any seam disbonding is found.
    (2) Install a fiberglass reinforcement overcoat to the top surface 
of the aft MEC drip shield gutters, and install a cargo liner support.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle ACO, 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 the Related Information section 
of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Francis Smith, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-
150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6596; fax (425) 917-
6590; email francis.smith@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, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000, 
extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 29, 2013.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-08451 Filed 4-10-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P