[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 20, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 75428-75430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-24243]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-23357; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-207-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777-200 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (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 777-200 series airplanes. This proposed AD 
would require installing a new washer between the lower wing surface 
and the jam nut of the sump drain valve assembly. This proposed AD 
results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent energy from a lightning strike on the 
bushing for the sump drain valve from arcing to the inside of the 
center fuel tank wall, which could create an ignition source in the 
fuel tank and result in a fuel tank explosion.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 3, 
2006.

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

[[Page 75429]]

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.
     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.
    Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207, for the service information identified in this 
proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Langsted, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone 
(425) 917-6500; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2005-
23357; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-207-AD'' at the beginning 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 received 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 may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may 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 Docket Management System 
receives them.

Discussion

    The FAA has examined the underlying safety issues involved in 
recent fuel tank explosions on several large transport airplanes, 
including the adequacy of existing regulations, the service history of 
airplanes subject to those regulations, and existing maintenance 
practices for fuel tank systems. As a result of those findings, we 
issued a regulation titled ``Transport Airplane Fuel Tank System Design 
Review, Flammability Reduction and Maintenance and Inspection 
Requirements'' (67 FR 23086, May 7, 2001). In addition to new 
airworthiness standards for transport airplanes and new maintenance 
requirements, this rule included Special Federal Aviation Regulation 
No. 88 (``SFAR 88,'' Amendment 21-78, and subsequent Amendments 21-82 
and 21-83).
    Among other actions, SFAR 88 requires certain type design (i.e., 
type certificate (TC) and supplemental type certificate (STC)) holders 
to substantiate that their fuel tank systems can prevent ignition 
sources in the fuel tanks. This requirement applies to type design 
holders for large turbine-powered transport airplanes and for 
subsequent modifications to those airplanes. It requires them to 
perform design reviews and to develop design changes and maintenance 
procedures if their designs do not meet the new fuel tank safety 
standards. As explained in the preamble to the rule, we intended to 
adopt airworthiness directives to mandate any changes found necessary 
to address unsafe conditions identified as a result of these reviews.
    In evaluating these design reviews, we have established four 
criteria intended to define the unsafe conditions associated with fuel 
tank systems that require corrective actions. The percentage of 
operating time during which fuel tanks are exposed to flammable 
conditions is one of these criteria. The other three criteria address 
the failure types under evaluation: Single failures, single failures in 
combination with another latent failure condition(s), and in-service 
failure experience. For all four criteria, the evaluations included 
consideration of previous actions taken that may mitigate the need for 
further action.
    We have determined that the actions identified in this AD are 
necessary to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel 
tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result 
in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.
    We have received a report indicating that small gaps may be present 
between the bushing of the sump drain valve and the lower wing surface 
in the center fuel tank, on certain Boeing Model 777-200 series 
airplanes. If a lightning strike occurs on the bushing, arcs can go 
across the small gaps between the bushing and the lower wing surface, 
and into the inside of the fuel tank wall. The bushing does not have an 
engineered bond path to the wing surface. In addition, the layer of 
sealant between the bushing and the inner surface of the fuel tank 
could be too thin to contain the energy in the arcs. This condition, if 
not corrected, could create an ignition source in the center fuel tank 
and result in a fuel tank explosion.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-28-
0045, dated September 1, 2005. The service bulletin describes 
procedures for installing a new washer between the lower wing surface 
and the jam nut of the sump drain valve assembly. 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. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, 
which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 88 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 22 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The proposed actions would take about 4 work hours per 
airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts 
would cost about $360 per airplane. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $13,640, or 
$620 per airplane.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue

[[Page 75430]]

rules on aviation safety. 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.
    We are issuing this rulemaking 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 
rulemaking action.

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 and placed it in the AD docket. 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

    Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2005-23357; Directorate Identifier 2005-
NM-207-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by February 
3, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 777-28-0045, dated September 1, 2005.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent energy from a 
lightning strike on the bushing for the sump drain valve from arcing 
to the inside of the center fuel tank wall, which could create an 
ignition source in the fuel tank and result in a fuel tank 
explosion.

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.

Installation

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install a new washer between the lower wing surface and the jam nut 
of the sump drain valve assembly in both wings, in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 777-28-0045, dated September 1, 2005.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 13, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-24243 Filed 12-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P