[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 7 (Thursday, January 10, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1844-1846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-271]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0393; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-183-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777 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 airplanes. This proposed AD would require 
an inspection to determine the manufacturer and manufacture date of the 
oxygen masks in the center and outboard passenger service units (PSUs), 
crew rests, and lavatory and flight attendant oxygen boxes, as 
applicable. This proposed AD would also require related investigative/
corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report 
that several passenger masks with broken in-line flow indicators were 
found following a mask deployment. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
the in-line flow indicators of the passenger oxygen masks from 
fracturing and separating, which could inhibit oxygen flow to the masks 
and consequently result in exposure of the passengers and cabin 
attendants to hypoxia following a depressurization event.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 25, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing 
Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Letcher, Aerospace Engineer, 
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6474; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0393; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-183-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We have received a report indicating that several passenger masks 
with broken in-line flow indicators were found following a mask 
deployment on a Boeing Model 777-200 series airplane. Operators 
subsequently found several more broken in-line flow indicators after 
examining the oxygen mask assemblies on other Model 777 series 
airplanes and on Model 747-400 series airplanes.

[[Page 1845]]

Investigation revealed that certain flow indicators are weaker and can 
fracture because of internal residual stresses caused by the flow 
indicator joint design and manufacturing processes. Fractures cause the 
in-line flow indicator to separate and consequently prevent oxygen flow 
to the mask during an emergency. This condition, if not corrected, 
could result in exposure of the passengers and cabin attendants to 
hypoxia following a depressurization event.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-35-
0019, dated March 9, 2006. The service bulletin describes procedures 
for doing a general visual inspection to determine the manufacturer and 
manufacture date of the oxygen masks in the center and outboard 
passenger service units (PSUs), crew rests, and lavatory and flight 
attendant oxygen boxes, as applicable. The service bulletin also 
describes procedures for doing related investigative and corrective 
actions. The related investigative action is a general visual 
inspection of the flow indicator to determine the color of the flow 
direction mark and the word ``flow'' on the flow indicator, if the 
identification (ID) label shows that the manufacturer is B/E Aerospace 
and the manufacture date is between January 1, 2002, and March 1, 2006. 
The corrective action is the installation of a new oxygen mask assembly 
having an improved flow indicator, if the existing oxygen mask is found 
to be one of the discrepant masks.
    Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-35-0019 refers to B/E 
Aerospace Service Bulletin 174080-35-01, dated February 6, 2006; and 
Revision 1, dated May 1, 2006; as additional sources of service 
information for getting a new oxygen mask having an improved flow 
indicator. B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 174080-35-01 describes 
procedures for modifying the oxygen mask assembly by replacing the flow 
indicator, part number (P/N) 118023-02, with an improved flow 
indicator, P/N 118023-12. B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 174080-35-01 
also specifies that, as an alternative to modifying the oxygen mask, 
operators may replace the oxygen mask with a new oxygen mask having the 
improved flow indicator.
    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.

Clarification Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin

    Although Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-35-0019 
specifies to install a new oxygen mask having an improved flow 
indicator, the intent of the service bulletin is to replace it with 
either a new or modified oxygen mask having an improved flow indicator. 
Therefore, this proposed AD would require replacing the oxygen mask 
assembly with a new or modified oxygen mask assembly having an improved 
flow indicator.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 433 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 123 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The proposed actions would take about 70 work hours per 
airplane, with an average of 480 oxygen masks per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $688,800, or 
$5,600 per airplane.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue 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-2007-0393; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
183-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by February 
25, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and -
300ER series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified 
in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-35-0019, dated 
March 9, 2006.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report that several passenger masks 
with broken in-line flow indicators were found following a mask 
deployment. We are issuing this AD to

[[Page 1846]]

prevent the in-line flow indicators of the passenger oxygen masks 
from fracturing and separating, which could inhibit oxygen flow to 
the masks and consequently result in exposure of the passengers and 
cabin attendants to hypoxia following a depressurization event.

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.

Inspection and Related Investigative/Corrective Actions if Necessary

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, do a 
general visual inspection to determine the manufacturer and 
manufacture date of the oxygen masks in the center and outboard 
passenger service units (PSUs), crew rests, and lavatory and flight 
attendant oxygen boxes, as applicable, and do the applicable related 
investigative and corrective actions, by accomplishing all of the 
applicable actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-35-0019, dated March 
9, 2006; except where the service bulletin specifies installing a 
new oxygen mask, replace the oxygen mask with a new or modified 
oxygen mask having an improved flow indicator. The related 
investigative and corrective actions must be done before further 
flight.

    Note 1: The service bulletin refers to B/E Aerospace Service 
Bulletin 174080-35-01, dated February 6, 2006; and Revision 1, dated 
May 1, 2006; as additional sources of service information for 
modifying the oxygen mask assembly by replacing the flow indicator 
with an improved flow indicator.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) 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.
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 26, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-271 Filed 1-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P