(4) Repeat the cleaning task per above Notice of proposed rulemaking
ACTION: Comments Invited
paragraph (e)(3) of this AD, at intervals not (NPRM).
exceeding 2,400 flight hours. We invite you to submit any relevant
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a written data, views, or arguments
FAA AD Differences regarding this proposed AD. Send your
new airworthiness directive (AD) for
(f) None. comments to an address listed in the
certain McDonnell Douglas Model 717–
Other FAA AD Provisions 200 airplanes. This proposed AD would ADDRESSES section. Include the docket
(g) The following provisions also apply to require replacing certain attaching number ‘‘FAA–2006–26048; Directorate
this AD: hardware of the bulkhead nipple Identifier 2006–NM–191–AD’’ at the
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance assemblies of the left and right wing beginning of your comments. We
(AMOCs): The Manager, International vent boxes with new electrical bonding specifically invite comments on the
Branch, ANM–116, FAA, ATTN: Tim Dulin, attaching hardware, doing resistance overall regulatory, economic,
Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, environmental, and energy aspects of
ANM–116, FAA, Transport Airplane
testing of the new electrical bonds, and
doing fuel leakage testing of the the proposed AD. We will consider all
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057–3356; telephone (425) reworked nipple assemblies. This comments received by the closing date
227–2141; fax (425) 227–1149, if requested, proposed AD results from fuel system and may amend the proposed AD in
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. reviews conducted by the manufacturer. light of those comments.
(2) Notification of Principal Inspector: We are proposing this AD to provide a We will post all comments we
Before using any AMOC approved in conductive path, from the bulkhead receive, without change, to http://
accordance with 14 CFR 39.19 on any dms.dot.gov, including any personal
nipple assemblies of the left and right
airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify information you provide. We will also
the appropriate principal inspector in the wing vent boxes to the airframe
structure inside the wing fuel tanks, to post a report summarizing each
FAA Flight Standards Certificate Holding
District Office. dissipate high amperage lightning- substantive verbal contact with FAA
(3) Airworthy Product: For any requirement induced currents which might personnel concerning this proposed AD.
in this AD to obtain corrective actions from otherwise create an ignition source for Using the search function of that Web
a manufacturer or other source, use these fuel vapors inside the wing vent boxes site, anyone can find and read the
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective and lead to an explosion of the fuel comments in any of our dockets,
actions are considered FAA-approved if they including the name of the individual
tanks.
are approved by the State of Design Authority who sent the comment (or signed the
(or their delegated agent). You are required DATES: We must receive comments on
comment on behalf of an association,
to assure the product is airworthy before it this proposed AD by November 27, business, labor union, etc.). You may
is returned to service. 2006.
(4) Reporting Requirements: For any review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
reporting requirement in this AD, under the ADDRESSES: Use one of the following Statement in the Federal Register
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, addresses to submit comments on this published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed AD. 19477–78), or you may visit http://
has approved the information collection • DOT Docket Web site: Go to dms.dot.gov.
requirements and has assigned OMB Control http://dms.dot.gov and follow the
Number 2120–0056. instructions for sending your comments Examining the Docket
Related Information electronically. You may examine the AD docket on
(h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation
• Government-wide rulemaking Web the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in
Safety Agency Airworthiness Directive 2006– site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov person at the Docket Management
0153, dated May 30, 2006, which references and follow the instructions for sending Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5
Airbus Service Bulletin A320–49–1068, your comments electronically. p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Revision 01, dated February 2, 2006, for • Mail: Docket Management Facility, Federal holidays. The Docket
related information. U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Management Facility office (telephone
Issued in Renton, Washington, on October Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, (800) 647–5227) is located on the plaza
4, 2006. Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590. level of the Nassif Building at the DOT
Kalene C. Yanamura, • Fax: (202) 493–2251. street address stated in the ADDRESSES
• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on section. Comments will be available in
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. the plaza level of the Nassif Building, the AD docket shortly after the Docket
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, Management System receives them.
[FR Doc. E6–17006 Filed 10–12–06; 8:45 am]
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P Discussion
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Contact Boeing Commercial The FAA has examined the
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 underlying safety issues involved in fuel
Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, tank explosions on several large
Federal Aviation Administration California 90846, Attention: Data and transport airplanes, including the
Service Management, Dept. C1–L5A adequacy of existing regulations, the
14 CFR Part 39 (D800–0024), for the service information service history of airplanes subject to
identified in this proposed AD. those regulations, and existing
[Docket No. FAA–2006–26048; Directorate
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: maintenance practices for fuel tank
Identifier 2006–NM–191–AD]
Samuel Lee, Aerospace Engineer, systems. As a result of those findings,
RIN 2120–AA64
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 198 / Friday, October 13, 2006 / Proposed Rules 60447
new maintenance requirements, this certain attaching hardware of the nipple air commerce by prescribing regulations
rule included Special Federal Aviation assemblies of the left and right wing for practices, methods, and procedures
Regulation No. 88 (‘‘SFAR 88,’’ vent boxes with new electrical bonding the Administrator finds necessary for
Amendment 21–78, and subsequent attaching hardware; doing resistance safety in air commerce. This regulation
Amendments 21–82 and 21–83). testing of the new electrical bonds; and is within the scope of that authority
Among other actions, SFAR 88 doing fuel leakage testing of the because it addresses an unsafe condition
requires certain type design (i.e., type reworked nipple assemblies. that is likely to exist or develop on
certificate (TC) and supplemental type Accomplishing the actions specified in products identified in this rulemaking
certificate (STC)) holders to substantiate the service information is intended to action.
that their fuel tank systems can prevent adequately address the unsafe
ignition sources in the fuel tanks. This Regulatory Findings
condition.
requirement applies to type design We have determined that this
holders for large turbine-powered FAA’s Determination and Requirements proposed AD would not have federalism
transport airplanes and for subsequent of the Proposed AD implications under Executive Order
modifications to those airplanes. It We have evaluated all pertinent 13132. This proposed AD would not
requires them to perform design reviews information and identified an unsafe have a substantial direct effect on the
and to develop design changes and condition that is likely to exist or States, on the relationship between the
maintenance procedures if their designs develop on other airplanes of this same national Government and the States, or
do not meet the new fuel tank safety type design. For this reason, we are on the distribution of power and
standards. As explained in the preamble proposing this AD, which would require responsibilities among the various
to the rule, we intended to adopt accomplishing the actions specified in levels of government.
airworthiness directives to mandate any the service information described For the reasons discussed above, I
changes found necessary to address previously, except as discussed under certify that the proposed regulation:
unsafe conditions identified as a result ‘‘Difference Between the Proposed AD 1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
of these reviews. and Service Bulletin.’’ action’’ under Executive Order 12866;
In evaluating these design reviews, we 2. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the
have established four criteria intended Difference Between the Proposed AD
and Service Bulletin DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures
to define the unsafe conditions
(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
associated with fuel tank systems that Boeing Service Bulletin 717–28–0011,
3. Will not have a significant
require corrective actions. The Revision 2, recommends a compliance
economic impact, positive or negative,
percentage of operating time during time ‘‘not to exceed 10 years from the
on a substantial number of small entities
which fuel tanks are exposed to release date of Revision 1 of this service
under the criteria of the Regulatory
flammable conditions is one of these bulletin.’’ However, we have
Flexibility Act.
criteria. The other three criteria address determined that, due to the nature of the
the failure types under evaluation: We prepared a regulatory evaluation
unsafe condition, 78 months after the
Single failures, single failures in of the estimated costs to comply with
effective date of this proposed AD is the
combination with a latent condition(s), this proposed AD and placed it in the
appropriate compliance time. We have
and in-service failure experience. For all AD docket. See the ADDRESSES section
coordinated this difference with Boeing.
four criteria, the evaluations included for a location to examine the regulatory
consideration of previous actions taken Costs of Compliance evaluation.
that may mitigate the need for further There are about 138 airplanes of the List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
action. affected design in the worldwide fleet.
We have determined that the actions This proposed AD would affect about Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation
identified in this AD are necessary to 108 airplanes of U.S. registry. The safety, Safety.
reduce the potential of ignition sources proposed actions would take about 6 The Proposed Amendment
inside fuel tanks, which, in combination work hours per airplane, at an average
labor rate of $80 per work hour. The Accordingly, under the authority
with flammable fuel vapors, could result
manufacturer states that it will supply delegated to me by the Administrator,
in fuel tank explosions and consequent
required parts to the operators at no the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part
loss of the airplane.
We have received a report indicating cost. Based on these figures, the 39 as follows:
that a fuel system review of McDonnell estimated cost of the proposed AD for PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS
Douglas Model 717–200 airplanes U.S. operators is $51,840, or $480 per DIRECTIVES
revealed that no electrical bonding airplane.
exists between the nipple assemblies of 1. The authority citation for part 39
the left and right wing vent boxes and Authority for This Rulemaking
continues to read as follows:
the bulkhead. This condition, if not Title 49 of the United States Code
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
corrected, could result in high amperage specifies the FAA’s authority to issue
lightning-induced currents at the rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, § 39.13 [Amended]
bulkhead nipple assemblies of the left Section 106, describes the authority of 2. The Federal Aviation
and right wing vent boxes, which might the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13
create an ignition source for fuel vapors Aviation Programs, describes in more by adding the following new
inside the wing vent boxes and lead to detail the scope of the Agency’s airworthiness directive (AD):
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