Document ID: FAA-2017-0247-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: The Boeing Company Airplanes
Posted Date: 2017-04-11T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 11, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17403-17405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07121]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 68 / Tuesday, April 11, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 17403]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0247; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-180-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-05-
03, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-
100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 
747-400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes. AD 2012-05-03 
currently requires modifying the fluid drain path in the leading edge 
area of the wing. Since we issued AD 2012-05-03, Boeing has informed us 
that it did not provide work instructions to seal two of the drainage 
holes in the wing leading edge area. This proposed AD would require 
additional work to seal those drainage holes in the wing access panels. 
We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 26, 2017.

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 NPRM, contact Boeing 
Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services (C&DS), 
2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-5600; 
telephone 562-797-1717; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may 
view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. It is also 
available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0247.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0247; 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: Tung Tran, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-
917-6505; fax: 425-917-6590; email: Tung.Tran@faa.gov.

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-2017-0247; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-180-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

    On February 27, 2012, we issued AD 2012-05-03, Amendment 39-16975 
(77 FR 16143, March 20, 2012) (``AD 2012-05-03''), for certain The 
Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-
200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and 747SP 
series airplanes. AD 2012-05-03 requires modifying the fluid drain path 
in the leading edge area of the wing. AD 2012-05-03 resulted from a 
design review following a ground fire incident and reports of flammable 
fluid leaks from the wing leading edge area onto the engine exhaust 
area. We issued AD 2012-05-03 to prevent flammable fluid from leaking 
onto the engine exhaust nozzle, which could result in a fire.

Actions Since AD 2012-05-03 Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2012-05-03, Boeing has informed us that it did 
not provide work instructions to seal two of the drainage holes in the 
wing leading edge area.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-2332, 
Revision 2, dated February 22, 2016. This service information divides 
the affected airplanes into 10 groups.
    For all groups, this service information describes procedures for 
modifying the fluid drain path in the leading edge area of the wing. 
The modification consists of changing fluid dam assemblies at wing 
outboard leading edge station (OLES) 1250, and installing seal 
assemblies at OLES 1185. Additionally, this service information 
specifies changing the lower leading edge wing panels through repairs 
and installation of parts.
    For Groups 1 through 6 airplanes, this service information also 
specifies installing fluid dam assemblies at wing inboard leading edge 
station 770.

[[Page 17404]]

    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

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 retain all of the requirements of AD 2012-
05-03. This proposed AD would also require sealing two drainage holes 
in the wing access panels, as specified in the service information 
described previously. For information on the procedures and compliance 
times, see this service information at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0247.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-2332, Revision 2, 
dated February 22, 2016, specifies a compliance time of within 60 
months after April 24, 2012 (the effective date of AD 2012-05-03), to 
accomplish the new proposed actions. We have determined that an 
appropriate compliance time for accomplishing the new proposed actions 
is within 2 years after the effective date of this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 258 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fluid drainage modification (Groups  95 work-hours x $85 per             $33,609         $41,684      $5,960,812
 1-6) (143 airplanes) (actions        hour = $8,075.
 retained from AD
 2012[dash]05[dash]03).
Fluid drainage modification (Groups  90 work-hours x $85 per              29,304          36,954       4,249,710
 7-10) (115 airplanes) (actions       hour = $7,650.
 retained from AD
 2012[dash]05[dash]03).
Drainage hole repair (258            2 work-hours x $85 per hour               9             179          46,182
 airplanes) (new proposed action).    = $170.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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 have 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 that the 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
    (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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2012-05-03, Amendment 39-16975 (77 FR 16143, March 20, 2012), and 
adding the following new AD:

    The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2017-0247; Directorate 
Identifier 2016-NM-180-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by May 26, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2012-05-03, Amendment 39-16975 (77 FR 16143, 
March 20, 2012) (``AD 2012-05-03'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-100B, 
747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-
400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes, certificated in 
any category, as identified in Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 747-57-2332, Revision 2, dated February 22, 2016.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.

[[Page 17405]]

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a design review following a ground fire 
incident and reports of flammable fluid leaks from the wing leading 
edge area onto the engine exhaust area. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent flammable fluid from leaking onto the engine exhaust nozzle, 
which could result in a fire.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Retained Leading Edge Installation, With Revised Service 
Information

    This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 
2012-05-03, with revised service information. Within 60 months after 
April 24, 2012 (the effective date of AD 2012-05-03), modify the 
fluid drain path in the leading edge area of the wing, in accordance 
with all applicable parts of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-2332, Revision 1, 
dated July 25, 2011; or Revision 2, dated February 22, 2016.

(h) Retained Credit for Previous Actions, With No Changes

    This paragraph restates the provisions of paragraph (h) of AD 
2012-05-03, with no changes. This paragraph provides credit for 
modification of the fluid drain path required by paragraph (g) of 
this AD, if the modification was performed before April 24, 2012, 
using Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-2332, dated 
November 9, 2010.

(i) New Addition of Drainage Hole Sealant

    For airplanes on which the actions specified in Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 747-57-2332, dated November 9, 2010; or 
Revision 1, dated July 25, 2011; were done: Within 2 years after the 
effective date of this AD, fill the drainage holes in wing panels 
521EB and 621EB with sealant, in accordance with Part 5 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 747-57-2332, Revision 2, dated February 22, 2016.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (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. 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 paragraph (k)(1) 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, modification, or alteration 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. To be approved, the 
repair method, modification deviation, or alteration deviation must 
meet the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must 
specifically refer to this AD.
    (4) AMOCs approved previously for AD 2012-05-03 are approved as 
AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of paragraph (g) of this AD.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Tung Tran, 
Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, Seattle ACO, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6505; 
fax: 425-917-6590; email: Tung.Tran@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services 
(C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-
5600; telephone 562-797-1717; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 3, 2017.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-07121 Filed 4-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P