AD 2005-01-07

This AD becomes effective February 11, 2005.

The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of February 11, 2005.

For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207.

You can examine this information at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

Technical information: Dan Kinney, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6499; fax (425) 917-6590.

Plain language information: Marcia Walters, marcia.walters@faa.gov.

The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any final disposition. You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 with an AD for certain Boeing Model 747-100 and -200B series airplanes. That action, published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2004 (69 FR 47814), proposed to require installing bonding clips and bonding jumpers from the housing of each fuel pump to airplane structure outside the fuel tanks.

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the development of this AD. We have considered the comments submitted on the proposed AD.

The commenters state that there is a discrepancy in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-28A2033, Revision 1, dated December 18, 2003. The discrepancy is the different maximum allowable resistance values for the boost pumps and the override jettison pumps. The resistance value for the boost pumps is 0.0004 ohm. The resistance value for the jettison pumps is 0.0002 ohm. One of the commenters notes that the same bonding jumper is used for each type of pump. We infer that the commenter requests that either of the resistance values be changed so the values are the same for the boost and override jettison pumps. The other commenter requests revising the proposed AD, or contacting the manufacturer so the service bulletin can be revised to correct the discrepancy.

The FAA does not agree that there is an error in the resistance values stated in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-28A2033, Revision 1. The resistance values stated in the service bulletin are correct, and are based upon possible fault current magnitudes, which are different for the two pump types. This AD has not been changed regarding this issue.

We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the comments that have been submitted, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

This AD affects about 158 airplanes worldwide. The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to comply with this AD.

The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the United States Code. 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.

This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, “General requirements.” Under that section, the FAA is charged 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 AD.

We have determined that this AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:

(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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):