[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6067]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 16, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-NM-01-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Nordskog Water Heaters and Coffee
Makers as Installed in Various Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Nordskog water heaters and
coffee makers. This proposal would require an inspection to determine
whether certain discrepant pressure relief valves have been installed
in certain galley water heaters and coffee makers; and either
replacement of the discrepant valves, or discontinued use and
installation of placards. This proposal is prompted by reports of
injuries to cabin crew members that resulted from explosions of galley
water heaters. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to
prevent explosions of galley water heaters and coffee makers, and
subsequent injuries to passengers or cabin crew members.
DATES: Comments must be received by May 9, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-NM-01-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this location
between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Aircraft Products Company, 12807 Lake Drive, P.O. Box
130, Delray Beach, Florida 33447-0130. This information may be examined
at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW.,
Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office (ACO), 3229 East Spring Street, Long Beach, California.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter Eierman, Systems and Equipment
Branch, ANM-131L, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, Los Angeles ACO,
3229 East Spring Street, Long Beach, California 90806-2425; telephone
(310) 988-5336; fax (310) 988-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 94-NM-01-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 94-NM-01-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
On November 15, 1993, the FAA issued AD 93-23-01, Amendment 39-8735
(58 FR 61618, November 22, 1993), applicable to certain Nordskog water
heaters and coffee makers installed in various airplanes, to require an
inspection to determine whether certain NUPRO pressure relief valves
have been installed in certain Nordskog galley water heaters and coffee
makers. That AD also requires either replacement of those NUPRO
pressure relief valves with new, improved NUPRO pressure relief valves,
or discontinued use of certain Nordskog galley water heaters and coffee
makers and installation of placards stating, ``Not to be used.'' That
action was prompted by reports of injuries to cabin crew members that
resulted from explosions of galley water heaters. The requirements of
that AD are intended to prevent explosions of galley water heaters and
coffee makers, and subsequent injuries to passengers or cabin crew
members.
The incident reports that prompted AD 93-23-01 involved units with
an integral check valve; AD 93-23-01 applies only to units with the
integral check valve. In the preamble to that AD, the FAA indicated
that it was evaluating the need for additional AD action to address
other installations that incorporate the same pressure relief valve
design. The FAA now finds that Nordskog water heaters and coffee makers
without the integral check valve also use the same pressure relief
valve. Therefore, these units could also be subject to the same unsafe
condition as addressed by AD 93-23-01.
The FAA has reviewed and approved Nordskog Industries, Inc.,
Service Bulletin SB-93-35, dated October 21, 1993, that describes
procedures for an inspection to determine whether certain NUPRO
pressure relief valves have been installed in certain Nordskog galley
water heaters and coffee makers; and replacement of those NUPRO
pressure relief valves with new, improved NUPRO pressure relief valves.
The manufacturer has advised that the discrepant pressure relief valve
has been installed in certain Nordskog galley water heaters and coffee
makers that either were manufactured between January 1990 and July
1991, or have been serviced since January 1990. The manufacturer has
also advised the FAA that this problem has been corrected on the new
model number pressure relief valves installed by Nordskog since July
1991. The effectivity listing of this service bulletin includes the
model numbers of Nordskog galley water heaters and coffee makers on
which the discrepant relief valves may be installed.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the
proposed AD would require an inspection to determine whether certain
NUPRO pressure relief valves have been installed in certain Nordskog
galley water heaters and coffee makers. This proposed AD would also
require either replacement of those NUPRO pressure relief valves with
new, improved NUPRO pressure relief valves, or discontinued use of
certain Nordskog galley water heaters and coffee makers and
installation of placards stating, ``Not to be used.'' The actions would
be required to be accomplished in accordance with the service bulletin
described previously.
The FAA is aware that the subject water heaters and coffee makers
are installed in various airplanes. There are approximately 300 of
these airplanes in the worldwide fleet; the FAA estimates that 200
airplanes are of U.S. registry. It would take approximately 2 work
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the
average labor rate is $55 per work hour. (There are approximately 4
water heaters and/or coffee makers installed on each airplane.) The
cost of required parts is expected to be negligible. Based on these
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $22,000, or $110 per airplane.
The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
and (3) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14
CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Nordskog Industries, Inc.: Docket 94-NM-01-AD.
Applicability: Nordskog water heaters and coffee makers, as
listed in Nordskog Industries, Inc., Service Bulletin SB-93-35,
dated October 21, 1993; as installed in, but not limited to Boeing
Model 727, 737, 747, 757, and 767 series airplanes; McDonnell
Douglas Model DC-9, DC-9-80, and DC-10 series airplanes, and MD-11
airplanes; Lockheed Model L-1011 series airplanes; Airbus Industrie
Model A300, A310, and A320 series airplanes; Gulfstream Model G-1159
series airplanes and Model G-IV airplanes; de Havilland, Inc., Model
DHC-8 series airplanes; Dassault-Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 50,
200, and 900 series airplanes; Canadair Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600),
CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A and -3R) and CL-
600-2B19 series airplanes; and Fokker Model F27 and F28 series
airplanes; certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent explosions of galley water heaters and coffee makers,
and subsequent injuries to passengers or cabin crew members,
accomplish the following:
(a) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD,
perform a one-time inspection to determine whether a NUPRO pressure
relief valve having part number (P/N) SS-2C4-65 has been installed,
in accordance with Nordskog Industries, Inc., Service Bulletin SB-
93-35, dated October 21, 1993. If any NUPRO pressure relief valve
having P/N SS-2C4-65 has been installed, prior to further flight,
accomplish either paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this AD.
(1) Remove the NUPRO pressure relief valve having P/N SS-2C4-65
and install a new, improved NUPRO pressure relief valve having P/N
SS-CHF2-65, in accordance with the service bulletin. Or
(2) Deactivate any Nordskog water heater or coffee maker listed
in the service bulletin on which a NUPRO pressure relief valve
having P/N SS-2C4-65 has been installed, and install a placard
stating, ``Not to be used.''
(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install
a NUPRO pressure relief valve having P/N SS-2C4-65 on any airplane
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office (ACO), FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall
submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the
Manager, Los Angeles ACO.
Note: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.
(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the
airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be
accomplished.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 10, 1994.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-6067 Filed 3-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U