Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-100SR Series Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-NM-68-AD; Amendment 39-8983; AD 94-15-12]

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-100SR Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive

(AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 747-100SR series airplanes,

that currently requires that the FAA-approved maintenance inspection

program include inspections which will give no less than the required

damage tolerance rating (DTR) for each Structural Significant Item

(SSI). That AD was prompted by a structural re-evaluation of this

airplane model by the FAA. The actions specified in that AD are

intended to ensure the continued structural integrity of the total

Boeing Model 747-100SR fleet. This amendment revises the applicability

of the rule by removing airplanes and adding others.

DATES: Effective August 10, 1994.

The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in

the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as

of August 10, 1994.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or

before September 26, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-NM-68-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,

Washington 98055-4056.

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 FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office

of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street NW., suite 700,

Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven C. Fox, Aerospace Engineer,

Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate ,

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 227-2777; fax (206) 227-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 8, 1986, the FAA issued AD 86-19-

01, amendment 39-5394 (51 FR 29212, August 15, 1986), which is

applicable to certain Boeing Model 747-100SR (short range operation)

series airplanes. That AD requires that the FAA-approved maintenance

inspection program of affected operators be revised to include

inspections that will give no less than the required damage tolerance

rating (DTR) for each Structural Significant Item (SSI) listed in

Boeing Document No. D6-35655, ``Supplemental Structural Inspection

Document'' (SSID), approved March 22, 1986. That action was prompted by

a structural re-evaluation of this airplane model by the FAA. The

requirements of that AD are intended to ensure the continued structural

integrity of the total Boeing Model 747-100SR fleet.

AD 86-19-01 is applicable only to Model 747-100SR series airplanes

that are listed in the referenced Boeing Document No. D6-35655. These

airplanes represented the ``candidate fleet'' of airplanes selected to

participate in the SSID program. Since the issuance of that AD,

however, the FAA has been advised that the airplanes applicable to AD

86-19-01 are no longer operated as short range airplanes, but have been

converted to long range, high gross weight freighters. Therefore, these

airplanes are no longer representative of the Model 747-100SR candidate

fleet. The FAA has now identified other airplanes to replace the

original airplanes as the candidate fleet.

Further, on December 28, 1993, the FAA issued a notice of proposed

rulemaking, Airworthiness Directive Rules Docket 93-NM-174-AD (59 FR

265, January 4, 1994), applicable to certain Boeing Model 747 series

airplanes (not including Model 747- 100SR's), which would require that

affected operators' revise their FAA-approved maintenance inspection

programs to include inspections that will give no less than the

required DTR for each SSI, as specified in Boeing Document No. D6-

35022, ``Supplemental Structural Inspection Document (SSID) for Model

747 Airplanes,'' Revision E, dated June 17, 1993. The applicability of

that proposed AD includes Model 747 series airplanes that were formerly

operated as Model 747-100SR series airplanes. Consequently, the

airplanes that are currently subject to the requirements of AD 86-19-01

are included in the applicability of Rules Docket 93-NM-174-AD and will

be subject to its requirements. To avoid redundant requirements for

these airplanes, the FAA has determined that AD 86-19-01 must be

revised to remove those airplanes that are currently listed both in its

applicability as well as the applicability of Rules Docket 93-NM-174-

AD.

The FAA has reviewed and approved Boeing Document No. D6-35655,

``Supplemental Structural Inspection Document for 747-100SR,'' dated

April 2, 1986, which specifies supplemental inspections of Boeing Model

747-100SR series airplanes that give no less than the required DTR for

each SSI. This Document is essentially identical to Boeing Document No.

D6-35655, approved March 22, 1986, which was called out in AD 86-19-01

as the appropriate source of service information. Incorporating the

inspections described in this Document will ensure the continuing

structural integrity of the total Model 747-100SR fleet. (It should be

noted, however, that the airplanes listed in this document as the

``candidate fleet'' are no longer operated as short-range airplanes.)

Since the failure of an SSI can compromise the structural integrity

of these airplanes, and since such conditions are likely to exist or

develop on other Model 747-100SR airplanes, this AD is being issued to

supersede AD 86-19-01 with a new AD to require that affected operators

revise their maintenance inspection programs to include inspections

that provide no less than the required DTR for each SSI listed in the

Boeing Document No. D6-35655, dated April 2, 1986. The applicability of

this AD lists six specific airplanes as the candidate fleet.

Additionally, this new AD differs from the superseded AD in certain

other ways:

1. All references to the use of ``later FAA-approved revisions'' of

the applicable Boeing Document have been deleted in order to be

consistent with FAA policy in that regard. Later revisions of the

Document may be approved for use as an alternative method of

compliance, as provided by paragraph (c) of this AD.

2. This AD does not include a specific paragraph similar to

paragraph E. of AD 86-19-01, which stated that, if an operator's

maintenance program has been revised to incorporate the inspections

specified in the Boeing Document, that operator is exempt from the

requirements of the AD. Since the Compliance section of this new AD

indicates that compliance is required ``unless accomplished

previously,'' any additional paragraph, such as one similar to

paragraph E. of AD 86-19-01, would be redundant.

3. The new AD has been reformatted to be in compliance with Federal

Register style.

There currently are no Model 747-100SR series airplanes affected by

this AD on the U.S. Register. All airplanes included in the

applicability of this rule currently are operated by non-U.S. operators

under foreign registry; therefore, they are not directly affected by

this AD action. However, the FAA considers that this rule is necessary

to ensure that the unsafe condition is addressed in the event that any

of these subject airplanes are imported and placed on the U.S. Register

in the future.

Should an affected airplane be imported and placed on the U.S.

Register in the future, it would require approximately 36.25 work hours

to accomplish the required actions, at an average labor charge of $55

per work hour. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD

would be $1,993.75 per airplane.

Since this AD action does not affect any airplane that is currently

on the U.S. register, it has no adverse economic impact and imposes no

additional burden on any person. Therefore, notice and public

procedures hereon are unnecessary and the amendment may be made

effective in less than 30 days after publication in the Federal

Register.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not

preceded by notice and opportunity for public comment, comments are

invited on this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this

rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may

desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number and be

submitted in triplicate to the address specified under the caption

ADDRESSES. All communications received on or before the closing date

for comments will be considered, and this rule may be amended in light

of the comments received. Factual information that supports the

commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating

the effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether additional

rulemaking action would be needed.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might

suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be

available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the

Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that

summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this

AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments

to Docket Number 94-NM-68-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct

effects 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, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final

rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

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, Incorporation by

reference, 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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.

106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing amendment 39-5394 (51 FR

29212, August 15, 1986) and by adding a new airworthiness directive

(AD), amendment 39- , to read as follows:

94-15-12 Boeing: Amendment 39-8983. Docket 94-NM-68-AD. Supersedes

AD 86-19-01, amendment 39-5394.

Applicability: Model 747-100SR series airplanes having line

numbers 346, 351, 420, 426, 427, and 601; certificated in any

category.

Note: The airplanes listed as the ``747-100SR Candidate

Airplanes'' on page 2 of Section 3.0 of Boeing Document D6-35655,

``Supplemental Structural Inspection Document for 747-100SR,'' dated

April 2, 1986, are not subject to the requirements of this AD.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished

previously.

To ensure continued structural integrity of the total fleet of

these airplanes, accomplish the following:

(a) Within one year after the effective date of this AD,

incorporate a revision into the FAA-approved maintenance inspection

program which provides no less than the required damage tolerance

rating (DTR) for each Structural Significant Item (SSI) as listed in

Boeing Document D6-35655, ``Supplemental Structural Inspection

Document for 747-100SR,'' dated April 2, 1986. The revision to the

maintenance program must include and be implemented in accordance

with the procedures specified in sections 5.0 and 6.0 of the

Document.

(b) Cracked structure must be repaired prior to further flight,

in accordance with an FAA-approved method.

(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, Transport Airplane Directorate. 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: Information concerning the existence of approved

alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Seattle ACO.

(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.

(e) The incorporation of the revision to the maintenance program

shall be done in accordance with Boeing Document No. D6-35655,

Supplemental Structural Inspection Document for 747-100SR,'' dated

April 2, 1986, which contains the following list of effective pages:

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Revision

Page No. letter shown

on page

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List of Active Pages:

Section A, Pages 1-11................................... (None)

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This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of

the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR

part 51. Copies may be obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane

Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. Copies may be

inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal

Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(g) This amendment becomes effective on August 10, 1994.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 18, 1994.

S.R. Miller,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 94-17857 Filed 7-25-94; 8:45 am]

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