AD 2008-10-06 Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 747-400, -400D, and -400F Series Airplanes

Models named: 747-400, -400D, -400F series. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400, -400D, and -400F series airplanes, certificated in any category; with an original standard airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued before April 12, 2006. Note 1: Airplanes with an original standard airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or after April 12, 2006, must be already in compliance with the airworthiness limitations specified in this AD because those limitations were applicable as part of the airworthiness certification of those airplanes. Note 2: This AD requires revisions to certain operator maintenance documents to include new inspections. Compliance with these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able to accomplish the inspections described in the revisions. In this situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) according to paragraph (l) of this AD. The request should include a description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure the continued operational safety of the airplane.

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done. Service Information Reference (f) The term “Revision March 2008 of the MPD,” as used in this AD, means Boeing Temporary Revision (TR) 09-010, dated March 2008. Boeing TR 09-010 is published as Section 9 of the Boeing 747-400 Maintenance Planning Data (MPD) Document, D621U400-9, Revision March 2008. Restatement of AD 2008-10-06, With Revised Compliance Method Maintenance Program Revision (g) Before December 16, 2008, revise the FAA-approved maintenance program by incorporating the information in the subsections specified in paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), and (g)(3) of this AD; except that the initial inspections specified in Table 1 of this AD must be done at the compliance times specified in Table 1. (1) Subsection B, “AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS (AWLs)—SYSTEMS,” of Boeing TR 09-010, dated March 2008; or Section 9, Revision April 2008, or March 2009, of the Boeing 747-400 Maintenance Planning Data (MPD) Document, D621U400-9. (2) Subsection C, “PAGE FORMAT: FUEL SYSTEMS AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS,” of Boeing TR 09-010, dated March 2008; or Section 9, Revision April 2008, or March 2009, of the Boeing 747-400 MPD, Document, D621U400-9. (3) Subsection D, “AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS—FUEL SYSTEMS,” AWLs No. 28-AWL-01 through No. 28-AWL-23 inclusive, of Boeing TR 09-010, dated March 2008; or Section 9, Revision April 2008, or March 2009, of the Boeing 747-400 MPD Document, D621U400-9. As an optional action, AWLs No. 28-AWL-24 through No. 28-AWL-29 inclusive, as identified in Subsection D of Boeing TR 09-010, Revision March 2008; or Section 9, Revision April 2008, or March 2009, of the Boeing 747-400 MPD Document, D621U400-9; also may be incorporated into the FAA-approved maintenance program. Initial Inspections and Repair if Necessary (h) Do the inspections specified in Table 1 of this AD at the compliance time specified in Table 1 of this AD, and repair any discrepancy, in accordance with Subsection D of Boeing TR 09-010 dated March 2008; or Section 9, Revision April 2008, or March 2009, of the Boeing 747-400 MPD Document, D621U400-9. The repair must be done before further flight. Accomplishing the inspections identified in Table 1 of this AD as part of an FAA-approved maintenance program before the applicable compliance time specified in Table 1 of this AD constitutes compliance with the requirements of this paragraph. Note 3: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: “An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning and elaborate procedures may be required.” Note 4: For the purposes of this AD, a special detailed inspection is: “An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. The examination is likely to make extensive use of specialized inspection techniques and/or equipment. Intricate cleaning and substantial access or disassembly procedure may be required.” Table 1—Initial Inspections AWL No. Description Compliance time (whichever occurs later) Threshold Grace period 28-AWL-01 A detailed inspection of external wires over the center fuel tank for damaged or loose clamps, wire chafing, and wire bundles in contact with the surface of the center fuel tank. Within 144 months since the date of issuance of the original standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original export certificate of airworthiness. Within 72 months after June 12, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008-10-06). 28-AWL-03 A special detailed inspection of the lightning shield to ground termination on the out-of-tank fuel quantity indicating system to verify functional integrity. Within 144 months since the date of issuance of the original standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original export certificate of airworthiness. Within 24 months after June 12, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008-10-06). 28-AWL-10 A special detailed inspection of the fault current bond of the fueling shutoff valve actuator of the center wing tank to verify electrical bond. Within 144 months since the date of issuance of the original standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original export certificate of airworthiness. Within 60 months after June 12, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008-10-06). Incorporation of Additional AWLs for Certain Airplanes (i) For Model 747-400 series airplanes equipped with an auxiliary fuel tank: Before December 16, 2008, revise the FAA-approved maintenance program by incorporating AWLs No. 28-AWL-30, No. 28-AWL-31, and No. 28-AWL-32 of Subsection D of Boeing TR 09-010, dated March 2008; or Section 9, Revision April 2008, or March 2009, of the Boeing 747-400 MPD Document, D621U400-9. No Alternative Inspections, Inspection Intervals, or Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCLs) (j) After accomplishing the applicable actions specified in paragraphs (g), (h), and (i) of this AD, no alternative inspections, inspection intervals, or CDCCLs may be used unless the inspections, intervals, or CDCCLs are approved as an AMOC in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (l) of this AD. Credit for Actions Done According to Previous Revisions of the MPD (k) Actions done before June 12, 2008, in accordance with Section 9 of the Boeing 747-400 MPD Document, D621U400-9, Revision 23, dated March 2006; Revision 24, dated June 2006; Revision November 2006; Revision December 2006; Revision December 2006 R1; Revision May 2007; Revision October 2007; or Revision November 2007; are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding requirements of paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD. New Information Explanation of CDCCL Requirements Note 5: Notwithstanding any other maintenance or operational requirements, components that have been identified as airworthy or installed on the affected airplanes before the revision of the FAA-approved maintenance program, as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, do not need to be reworked in accordance with the CDCCLs. However, once the FAA-approved maintenance program has been revised, future maintenance actions on these components must be done in accordance with the CDCCLs. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (l)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Judy Coyle, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6497; fax (425) 917-6590. Or, e-mail information to 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov . (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD. (3) AMOCs approved previously in accordance with AD 2008-10-06, are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of this AD. Material Incorporated by Reference (m) You must use Boeing Temporary Revision 09-010, dated March 2008, to the Boeing 747-400 Maintenance Planning Data (MPD) Document D621U400-9; Section 9, Revision April 2008, of the Boeing 747-400 Maintenance Planning Data (MPD) Document, D621U400-9; or Section 9, Revision March 2009, of the Boeing 747-400 Maintenance Planning Data (MPD) Document, D621U400-9; to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Section 9, Revision April 2008, of the Boeing 747-400 Maintenance Planning Data (MPD) Document D62U400-9; and Section 9, Revision March 2009, of the Boeing 747-400 Maintenance Planning Data (MPD) Document, D621U400-9; under 5 U.S.C. 522(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) The Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of Boeing Temporary Revision 09-010, dated March 2008, to the Boeing 747-400 MPD Document D621U400-9, on June 12, 2008 (73 FR 25990, May 8, 2008). (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. (4) You may review copies of the 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 or 425-227-1152. (5) You may also review copies of the service information that is incorporated by reference 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. Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 21, 2009. Ali Bahrami, Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E9-31070 Filed 1-6-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD results from a design review of the fuel tank systems. 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.