[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48833-48835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20836]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-296-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 777-200 and -
300 series airplanes. This proposal would require replacing existing 
ceiling and sidewall light connectors in the passenger cabin with new 
connectors, and follow-on actions. This action is necessary to prevent 
overheating of the light connectors, which could result in smoke and a 
possible fire in the passenger cabin. This action is intended to 
address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 29, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-296-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. 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. 2001-NM-296-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 or 2000 or 
ASCII text.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, PO Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Binh V. Tran, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-
4056; telephone (425) 917-6485; fax (425) 917-6590.

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:
    [sbull] 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.
    [sbull] For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed 
AD is being requested.
    [sbull] 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 2001-NM-296-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. 2001-NM-296-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The FAA has received several reports that ceiling and sidewall 
light connectors have overheated on several Boeing Model 777-200 and -
300 series airplanes. Investigation following failure

[[Page 48834]]

of ceiling and sidewall lights and, in two cases, tripped circuit 
breakers, revealed burned and charred light connectors. This damage has 
been attributed to moisture contamination within light connectors in 
which 115-volt power is present, which caused arcing within the 
connectors, and consequent melting, burning, and charring of the 
connectors. This condition, if not corrected, could result in smoke and 
a possible fire in the passenger cabin.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    The FAA has reviewed and approved Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 777-33-0019, dated July 19, 2001, which describes procedures 
for replacing existing ceiling and sidewall light connectors with new 
connectors in the forward, middle, and aft passenger cabin. The 
procedures in the service bulletin include replacing ceiling and 
sidewall light assemblies with improved assemblies, replacing jumper 
bundles on ceiling lights (if installed) with new bundles, replacing 
connectors on certain wire bundles with new improved connectors, and 
performing functional tests. Accomplishment of the applicable actions 
specified in the service bulletin is intended to adequately address the 
identified unsafe condition.
    Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-33-0019 refers to 
Diehl Service Bulletin 3352-33-01, dated June 20, 2001, as an 
additional source of service information for accomplishment of the 
connector replacements.

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 Boeing service bulletin described previously.
    In developing an appropriate compliance time for this AD, we 
considered the manufacturer's recommendation, the degree of urgency 
associated with the subject unsafe condition, the average utilization 
of the affected fleet, and the time necessary to perform the proposed 
actions. In light of all of these factors, we find that an 18-month 
compliance time represents an appropriate interval of time for affected 
airplanes to continue to operate without compromising safety.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39/Effect on the Proposed AD

    On July 10, 2002, we issued a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 
47997, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's airworthiness directives 
system. The regulation now includes material that relates to altered 
products, special flight permits, and alternative methods of compliance 
(AMOCs). Because we have now included this material in part 39, only 
the office authorized to approve AMOCs is identified in each individual 
AD.

Change to Labor Rate Estimate

    We have reviewed the figures we have used over the past several 
years to calculate AD costs to operators. To account for various 
inflationary costs in the airline industry, we find it necessary to 
increase the labor rate used in these calculations from $60 per work 
hour to $65 per work hour. The cost impact information, below, has been 
revised to reflect this increase in the specified hourly labor rate.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 341 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 108 airplanes of U.S. registry, 
22 Model 777-200 series airplanes and 86 Model 777-300 series 
airplanes, would be affected by this proposed AD.
    For those Model 777-200 series airplanes, it would take 
approximately 72 work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed 
actions, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts 
would cost approximately $4,631 per airplane. Based on these figures, 
the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators of Model 777-200 
series airplanes is estimated to be $204,842, or $9,311 per airplane.
    For those Model 777-300 series airplanes, it would take 
approximately 82 work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed 
actions, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts 
would cost approximately $5,488 per airplane. Based on these figures, 
the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators of Model 777-300 
series airplanes is estimated to be $930,348, or $10,818 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 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 2001-NM-296-AD.

    Applicability: Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category, line numbers 001 through 341 
inclusive.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent overheating of ceiling and sidewall light connectors, 
which could result in smoke and a possible fire in the passenger 
cabin, accomplish the following:

[[Page 48835]]

Service Bulletin References

    (a) The following information pertains to the service bulletin 
referenced in this AD:
    (1) The term ``service bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 777-33-0019, dated July 19, 2001.
    (2) Although the service bulletin referenced in this AD 
specifies to submit information to the manufacturer, this AD does 
not include such a requirement.

Replacement of Light Connectors

    (b) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD: 
Replace, with improved parts, the existing ceiling and sidewall 
light connectors and wire bundle connectors in the areas specified 
in the service bulletin; by accomplishing all actions in steps A. 
through S. in Work Packages 1, 2, and 3, of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the service bulletin.

    Note: Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-33-0019 
refers to Diehl Service Bulletin 3352-33-01, dated June 20, 2001, as 
an additional source of service information for accomplishment of 
the connector replacements.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (c) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, is authorized to approve 
alternative methods of compliance for this AD.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 11, 2003.
Neil D. Schalekamp,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-20836 Filed 8-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P