[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 87 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21284-21285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-10613]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0430; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-148-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777-200 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require installing a new insulation blanket on the latch beam firewall 
of each thrust reverser (T/R) half. This proposed AD results from an 
in-flight shutdown due to an engine fire indication; an under-cowl 
engine fire was extinguished after landing. The cause of the fire was 
uncontained failure of the starter in the engine core compartment; the 
fire progressed into the latch beam cavity and was fueled by oil from a 
damaged integrated drive generator oil line. We are proposing this AD 
to prevent a fire from entering the cowl or strut area, which could 
weaken T/R parts and result in reduced structural integrity of the T/R, 
possible separation of T/R parts during flight, and consequent damage 
to the airplane and injury to people or damage to property on the 
ground.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 22, 2009.

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, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box 
3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000, 
extension 1, fax 206-766-5680; e-mail [email protected]; Internet  
https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221 or 425-227-
1152.

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: Margaret Langsted, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 
(425) 917-6500; 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-2009-0430; 
Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-148-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 of an in-flight shutdown due to an engine 
fire indication; an under-cowl engine fire was extinguished after 
landing. The cause of the fire was uncontained failure of the starter 
in the engine core compartment; the fire progressed into the latch beam 
cavity and was fueled by oil from a damaged integrated drive generator 
oil line. The fire breached the bolt on the aluminum plate on the rear 
of the latch beam firewall and moved inside the translating sleeve. 
Installation of a thermal insulation blanket over the bolt on the 
aluminum plate area at the rear of the latch beam will protect that 
area of the firewall so it is not breached by fire. A fire entering the 
cowl or strut area could weaken thrust reverser (T/R) parts and result 
in reduced structural integrity of the T/R, possible separation of T/R 
parts during flight, and consequent damage to the airplane and injury 
to people or damage to property on the ground.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 777-78A0066, Revision 1, 
dated March 12, 2009. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
installing bonded studs and a new thermal insulation blanket with 
sealant on the latch beam firewall of each T/R half.

[[Page 21285]]

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design. 
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in 
the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 25 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 7 work-hours per 
product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 
per work-hour. Required parts would cost between $3,546 and $5,253 per 
product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed 
AD to the U.S. operators to be between $102,650 and 145,325, or between 
$4,106 and $5,813 per product.

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 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 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. 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.
    You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of 
compliance in the AD Docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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 AD:

Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2009-0430; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-
148-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by June 22, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing Service 
Bulletin 777-78A0066, Revision 1, dated March 12, 2009.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from an in-flight shutdown due to an engine 
fire indication; an under-cowl engine fire was extinguished after 
landing. The cause of the fire was uncontained failure of the 
starter in the engine core compartment; the fire progressed into the 
latch beam cavity and was fueled by oil supplied by a damaged 
integrated drive generator oil line. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent a fire from entering the cowl or strut area, which could 
weaken thrust reverser (T/R) parts and result in reduced structural 
integrity of the T/R, possible separation of T/R parts during 
flight, and consequent damage to the airplane and injury to people 
or damage to property on the ground.

Subject

    (e) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 78: Exhaust.

Compliance

    (f) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

Installation of Insulation Blanket

    (g) Within 60 months or 4,500 flight cycles after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever is first: Install a new insulation 
blanket on the latch beam firewall of each T/R half by doing all the 
applicable actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-78A0066, Revision 1, dated March 12, 
2009.

Credit for Actions Done Using Previous Service Information

    (h) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-78A0066, dated 
June 5, 2008, are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding 
requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to 
ATTN: Margaret Langsted, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-
140S, FAA, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6500; fax (425) 917-6590. Or, e-mail 
information to [email protected].
    (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 principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or 
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a 
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. 
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 1, 2009.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-10613 Filed 5-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P