AD 2007-05-06 Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 Airplanes

Models named: 717-200. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 717-28-0011, Revision 2, dated July 19, 2006.

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done. Installing Electrical Bonding, and Resistance and Fuel Leakage Testing (f) Within 78 months after the effective date of this AD, replace certain attaching hardware of the bulkhead nipple assemblies of the left and right wing vent boxes with new electrical bonding attaching hardware, do resistance testing of the new electrical bonds, and do fuel leakage testing of the reworked nipple assemblies; in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 717-28-0011, Revision 2, dated July 19, 2006. Note 1: Note (e) of Figure 1 of the service bulletin refers to a class ‘L’ resistance test. However, we have determined that the term “class ‘L’ ” is not important in this context and the directions of note (e) of Figure 1 of the service bulletin are otherwise acceptable as written. Actions Accomplished According to Previous Issue of Service Bulletin (g) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 717-28-0011, dated April 16, 2004; or Revision 1, dated January 24, 2006; are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions specified in this AD. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (h)(1) The Manager, ANM-116, International Branch, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with § 39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards Certificate Holding District Office. Material Incorporated by Reference (i) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 717-28-0011, Revision 2, dated July 19, 2006, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Data and Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024), for a copy of this service information. You may review copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; or 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html. Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 21, 2007. Ali Bahrami, Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E7-3560 Filed 3-2-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to provide a conductive path, from the bulkhead nipple assemblies of the left and right wing vent boxes to the airframe structure inside the wing fuel tanks, to dissipate high-amperage lightning-induced currents, which might otherwise create an ignition source for fuel vapors inside the wing vent boxes and lead to an explosion of the fuel tanks.