[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 725-727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-165]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 3 / Wednesday, January 5, 2005 / 
Proposed Rules  

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19989; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-151-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-300 and -400ER Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Boeing Model 767-300 and -400ER series airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require replacing the in-flight entertainment cooling 
card, located in the P50 card file in the main equipment center, with a 
new, improved cooling card. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of 
an improperly designed component on the in-flight entertainment (IFE) 
cooling card, which may cause the IFE cooling system to incorrectly 
interpret signals from airplane system interfaces. We are proposing 
this AD to prevent failure of the IFE cooling card to configure itself 
correctly in response to input signals from airplane system interfaces 
during a forward cargo fire, which could result in the IFE cooling fan 
causing smoke to penetrate occupied areas of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 22, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, 
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This docket 
number is FAA-2004-19989; the directorate identifier for this docket is 
2004-NM-151-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Technical information: Clint Jones, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin 
Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6471; fax (425) 917-6590.
    Plain language information: Marcia Walters, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Docket Management System (DMS)

    The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets 
electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS 
and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a 
corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in 
the form ``Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.'' The Transport Airplane 
Directorate identifier is in the form ``Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
999-AD.'' Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier 
(``Old Docket Number'') as a cross-reference for searching purposes.

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-19989; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-151-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of 
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You can review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You can get more information about 
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    We have received a report that on a Boeing Model 767-400ER series 
airplane, the field programmable gate array component on the in-flight 
entertainment (IFE) cooling card was improperly designed. During 
flight, this improperly designed component may cause failure of the 
cooling card to correctly configure itself in response to input signals 
from airplane system

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interfaces. The report also indicates that, during functional testing 
or other ground operations, the improperly designed component may cause 
nuisance failure indications for components in the IFE cooling system 
that are monitored by the IFE cooling card. If the IFE cooling card is 
configured correctly, the IFE cooling fan will shut down during an in-
flight event such as a cargo fire, smoke in the flight deck, electronic 
equipment override selection, or IFE equipment smoke. Failure of the 
IFE cooling card to configure itself correctly in response to input 
signals from airplane system interfaces during a forward cargo fire, if 
not corrected, could result in the IFE cooling fan causing smoke to 
penetrate occupied areas of the airplane.
    Boeing Model 767-300 series airplanes use the same IFE cooling card 
as that on the Boeing Model 767-400ER series airplanes. Therefore, the 
Boeing Model 767-300 series airplanes are subject to the same unsafe 
condition.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletins 767-21-
0188 (for Model 767-300 series airplanes) and 767-21-0189 (for Model 
767-400ER series airplanes), both dated May 27, 2004. The service 
bulletins describe procedures for replacing the IFE cooling card with a 
new, improved cooling card. The service bulletins state that the 
replacement and associated functional test may be accomplished by 
following the procedures in the applicable Boeing 767 Airplane 
Maintenance Manual, or an ``operator's equivalent procedure.'' 
Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is 
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes 
of this same type design. Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which 
would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously, except as discussed under 
``Difference Between the Proposed AD and Service Information.''

Difference Between the Proposed AD and Service Information

    Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletins 767-21-0188 and 767-21-
0189 both specify that an operator's equivalent procedure may be used 
for replacing the IFE cooling card, and for accomplishing the 
associated functional test. However, this proposed AD specifies that 
replacement of the IFE cooling card must be done according to the 
procedures in the chapter/subject of the applicable Boeing 767 Airplane 
Maintenance Manual specified in the service bulletins. This proposed AD 
would allow operator's equivalent procedures to be used for the 
functional test.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 32 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                        Average                          Number of
                                               Work      labor                Cost per     U.S.-
                  Action                      hours     rate per    Parts     airplane   registered   Fleet cost
                                                          hour                           airplanes
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Replacement...............................          1        $65     $9,500     $9,565           16     $153,040
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Authority for This Rulemaking

    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is 
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106 
describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, 
Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's 
authority.
    This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this AD.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2004-19989; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
151-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this AD action by February 22, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

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Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 767-300 series airplanes as 
listed in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-21-0188, 
dated May 27, 2004; and Boeing Model 767-400ER series airplanes, as 
listed in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-21-0189, 
dated May 27, 2004; certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report of an improperly designed 
component on the in-flight entertainment (IFE) cooling card, which 
may cause the IFE cooling system to incorrectly interpret signals 
from airplane system interfaces. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the IFE cooling card to configure correctly in response 
to input signals from airplane system interfaces during a forward 
cargo fire, which could result in the IFE cooling fan causing smoke 
to penetrate occupied areas of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Replacement of IFE Cooling Card

    (f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD: 
Replace the IFE cooling card, part number (P/N) 285T1198-101, 
located in the P50 card file in the main equipment center, with a 
new, improved cooling card, P/N 285T1198-102. Do the replacement by 
accomplishing all of the actions specified in the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-21-
0188 (for Boeing Model 767-300 series airplanes); or 767-21-0189 
(for Boeing Model 767-400ER series airplanes); both dated May 27, 
2004; as applicable. Where the service bulletins state that the 
replacement may be done using an ``operator's equivalent 
procedure,'' the replacement must be done according to the 
procedures in the chapter/subject of the applicable Boeing 767 
Airplane Maintenance Manual specified in the service bulletins.

Parts Installation

    (g) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install 
an IFE cooling card, P/N 285T1198-101, on any airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has 
the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 27, 2004.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-165 Filed 1-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P