[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14094-14096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5808]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-268-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-300 Series 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 Boeing Model 767-300 
series airplanes. This proposal would require a one-time general visual 
inspection to find chafing and determine adequate clearance of certain 
wire bundles in the ceiling panel near the main passenger door, and 
corrective actions. This action is necessary to prevent damage to the 
wires in the bundles due to contact between the bundles and the 
adjacent ceiling support bracket.
    Such damage could result in electrical arcing, smoke, or fire in 
the cabin, and failure of certain systems essential to safe flight and 
landing of the airplane. This action is intended to address the 
identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 23, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-268-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056.
    Comments may be inspected at this location between 9:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Comments may 
be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232. Comments may also be sent via 
the Internet using the following address: [email protected]. 
Comments sent via fax or the Internet must contain ``Docket No. 2000-
NM-268-AD'' in the subject line and need not be submitted in 
triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached electronic files 
must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or ASCII text.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington.

[[Page 14095]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elias Natsiopoulos, Aerospace 
Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-
4056; telephone (425) 227-1279; fax (425) 227-1181.

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 action may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Submit comments using the following format:
     Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a 
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the 
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
     For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed 
AD is being requested.
     Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each 
request.
    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 action must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2000-NM-268-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-114, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 2000-NM-268-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The FAA has received reports indicating two incidents, on a Boeing 
Model 767-300 series airplane, of wire bundle chafing and subsequent 
arcing against a ceiling support bracket attached to the F-4/G-2 galley 
at body station 355. In the first incident, approximately 20 wire 
segments were burnt and severed, which resulted in smoke in the cabin, 
release of oxygen masks, tripping of various circuit breakers, loss of 
flight-essential systems, and an air turnback. In the second incident, 
there was a flash and static noise followed by a shower of sparks and 
ash. During an inspection on a recently delivered Model 767-300 series 
airplane, a potential chafing condition was found between the same wire 
bundles and support bracket described above.
    Because these wires are connected to such flight-essential systems 
as the fuel shutoff valves for the engines, oxygen deployment for 
passengers, emergency lighting, passenger signs, and the signal for 
emergency evacuation, worn or broken wires can cause one or more of 
these systems to fail. Failure of the fuel shutoff valves, for example, 
would prevent the flight crew from stopping the flow of fuel to the 
engines in the event of a fire. This action is necessary to prevent 
damage to the wires in the bundles due to contact between the bundles 
and the adjacent ceiling support bracket, which could result in 
electrical arcing, smoke, or fire in the cabin, and failure of certain 
systems essential to safe flight and landing of the airplane.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    The FAA has reviewed and approved Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
767-33A0085, Revision 2, dated December 7, 2000, which describes, among 
other things, procedures for a one-time inspection to find chafing and 
determine adequate clearance of certain wire bundles in the ceiling 
panel near the main passenger door, and corrective actions. The 
corrective actions include, but are not limited to, repair or 
replacement of worn wires in the wire bundles with new wires; 
installation of a bracket assembly on the wire bundle support bracket 
for certain airplanes, installation of nut spacer plates for certain 
other airplanes, and re-routing of the wire bundles to provide adequate 
clearance between the bundles and the adjacent structure. 
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin is 
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    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 accomplishment of the actions specified in 
the service bulletin described previously, except as discussed below.

Difference Between Service Bulletin and This Proposed AD

    Operators should note that, although the service bulletin specifies 
accomplishment of the actions as soon as manpower and facilities are 
available, the FAA has determined that a six-month compliance time for 
accomplishment of the actions would address the identified unsafe 
condition in a timely manner. In developing an appropriate compliance 
time for this AD, the FAA considered not only the manufacturer's 
recommendation, but the degree of urgency associated with addressing 
the subject unsafe condition, the average utilization of the affected 
fleet, and the time necessary to perform the actions. In light of all 
of these factors, the FAA finds a six-month compliance time for 
completion of the actions to be warranted, in that it represents an 
appropriate interval of time allowable for affected airplanes to 
continue to operate without compromising safety.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 135 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 53 airplanes of U.S. registry 
would be affected by this proposed AD.
    It would take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish 
the proposed inspection, at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. 
Based on these figures, the cost impact of the inspection proposed by 
this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $3,180, or $60 per 
airplane.
    It would take approximately 2 work hours per airplane to accomplish 
the proposed repair or replacement, at an average labor rate of $60 per 
work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the repair or 
replacement proposed by this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$6,360, or $120 per airplane.
    The cost impact figures discussed above are 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 proposed AD were not adopted. The

[[Page 14096]]

cost impact figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only 
the time necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by 
the AD. These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such 
as the time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or 
time necessitated by other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    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 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

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

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Boeing: Docket 2000-NM-268-AD.

    Applicability: Model 767-300 series airplanes, as listed in 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-33A0085, Revision 2, dated 
December 7, 2000, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent damage to the wires in certain wire bundles due to 
contact between the bundles and the adjacent ceiling support 
bracket, which could result in electrical arcing, smoke, or fire in 
the cabin, and failure of certain systems essential to safe flight 
and landing of the airplane, accomplish the following:

One-Time Inspection/Corrective Actions

    (a) Accomplish the requirements in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) 
of this AD, as applicable, at the times specified.
    (1) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD: Do a 
one-time general visual inspection to find chafing and determine 
adequate clearance of the wire bundles above the F4/G2 galley, per 
Figure 1 or Figure 3, as applicable, of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-33A0085, Revision 
2, dated December 7, 2000.

    Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is defined as: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior 
area, installation, or assembly to find obvious damage, failure, or 
irregularity. This level of inspection is made under normally 
available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, 
flashlight, or drop-light and may require removal or opening of 
access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be 
required to gain proximity to the area being checked.''

    (2) If chafing and/or inadequate clearance is found: Before 
further flight, repair or replace damaged wires in the wire bundles; 
install a bracket assembly on the wire bundle support bracket; 
install nut spacer plates; and re-route the wire bundles away from 
the ceiling support bracket, as applicable, as specified by and per 
Figure 2 or Figure 3, as applicable, of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the alert service bulletin.

    Note 3: Accomplishment of the one-time inspection and corrective 
actions before the effective date of this AD per Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 767-33A0085, dated May 11, 2000, or Revision 1, 
dated August 31, 2000, is considered acceptable for compliance with 
paragraph (a) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (b) 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, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an 
appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add 
comments and then send it to the Manager, Seattle ACO.

    Note 4: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Seattle ACO.

Special Flight Permit

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued per sections 21.197 and 
21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 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 5, 2001.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-5808 Filed 3-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P