[July 15, 2011] Airworthiness Directives; Lockheed Martin Corporation/Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Model 382, 382B, 382E, 382F, and 382G Airplanes Tweet Jul 15, 2011 (Transportation Department Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) -- SUMMARY: We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Model 382, 382B, 382E, 382F, and 382G airplanes. That AD currently requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitations for fuel tank systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88 requirements. That AD also requires the accomplishment of certain fuel system modifications, the initial inspections of certain repetitive fuel system limitations to phase in those inspections, and repair if necessary. This new AD corrects certain part number references, adds an additional inspection area, and for certain airplanes, requires certain actions to be re-accomplished according to revised service information. This AD was prompted by a report of incorrect accomplishment information in the service information cited by the existing AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane. EFFECTIVE DATE: This AD is effective August 19, 2011. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of August 19, 2011. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of November 3, 2008 (73 FR 56464, dated September 29, 2008). ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Lockheed Martin Corporation/Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Airworthiness Office, Dept. 6A0M, Zone 0252, Column P-58, 86 S. Cobb Drive, Marietta, Georgia 30063; telephone 770-494-5444; fax 770-494-5445; e-mail [email protected]; Internet http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ams/tools/TechPubs.html. 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neil Duggan, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion and Services Branch, ACE-118A, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5576; fax: (404) 474-5606; e-mail: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2008-20-01, amendment 39-15680 (73 FR 56464, September 29, 2008). That AD applies to the specified products. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on January 5, 2011 (76 FR 485). That NPRM proposed to continue to require revising the maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitations for fuel tank systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88 requirements. That NPRM also proposed to continue to require the accomplishment of certain fuel system modifications, the initial inspections of certain repetitive fuel system limitations to phase in those inspections, and repair if necessary. That NPRM also proposed to correct certain part number references, add an additional inspection area, and for certain airplanes, require certain actions to be re-accomplished according to revised service information. Comments We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal and the FAA's response to the comment. Request To Revise Cost Estimate Lynden Air Cargo requested that the cost for revising the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness be included in the Costs of Compliance estimate. Lynden Air Cargo stated that there is a significant amount of work-hours associated with revising "company manuals, job cards, maintenance programs, computerized tracking programs and record keeping documents" so that the operator can comply with the requirements of a new AD. Lynden Air Cargo estimated that these actions will take at least 80 work-hours for its office staff, and estimated that this cost would affect other operators. Lynden Air Cargo also pointed out that this work load for the office staff will have a greater impact on smaller fleet operators with smaller staff. We agree that a requirement of the new AD will require an update of the maintenance program to incorporate references to revised service information. This action is estimated to take approximately 1 work-hour per airplane. However, we disagree with increasing the estimated work-hours for the time that it takes for writing job cards, tracking programs, or record-keeping, since those actions are not directly required by this AD. The costs specified by Lynden Air Cargo will not be the same for all operators. The Costs of Compliance estimate has been revised accordingly. Conclusion We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed. Costs of Compliance There are about 62 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to comply with this AD. The average labor rate per hour is $85. The costs of the new requirements of this AD are as follows: .... Estimated Costs for New Actions Action............ Work......Parts.... Cost per.... Number of....Fleet cost .................. hours.............. airplane.... U.S.- ....................................................registered ....................................................airplanes Inspection of fuel 24........None...... $2,040, per 24............$48,960, probes................................ inspection................per ...................................... cycle.................... inspection ................................................................ cycle. Maintenance........1........ None...... $85........ 24............$2,040. program revision Actions necessary..24........None...... $2,040......24............$48,960. for airplanes on which Lockheed Service Bulletin 382-28-19, Revision 3, dated November 30, 2006, has been done The current costs for AD 2008-20-01 are repeated for the convenience of affected operators, as follows: .... Estimated Costs for Actions Required by AD 2008-20-01 Action............ Work......Parts.... Cost per.... Number of....Fleet cost .................. hours.............. product......U.S.- ....................................................registered ....................................................airplanes Maintenance........1........ None...... $85........ 24............$2,040 program revision Installation of....12........ $10,288.. $11,308.... 24............$271,392 new, improved fuel dump masts Dry bay zonal......952...... None...... $80,920.... 24............$1,942,080 inspection, inspection and repair of static ground terminals, marking the wiring for the fuel quantity indicating system, initial inspection of lightning and static bonding jumpers Installation of....120........$115,000..$125,200....24............$3,004,800 GFIs and flame arrestors Initial inspection 8........ None...... $680........24............$16,320 of GFIs and flame arrestors Installation of....910........$10,000.. $87,350.... 24............$2,096,400 lightning bonding jumpers Sealant............320...... None...... $27,200.... 24............$652,800 application 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 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), (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. --This is a summary of a Federal Register article originally published on the page number listed below-- Final rule. CFR Part: "14 CFR Part 39" RIN Number: "RIN 2120-AA64" Citation: "76 FR 41647" Document Number: "Docket No. FAA-2010-1305; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-074-AD; Amendment 39-16749; AD 2011-15-02" Federal Register Page Number: "41647" "Rules and Regulations" [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]