[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50941-50942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20486]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0797; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-141-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; B/E Aerospace Protective Breathing 
Equipment Part Number 119003-11 Installed on Various Transport 
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 
various transport airplanes equipped with certain B/E Aerospace 
protective breathing equipment (PBE) units. This proposed AD would 
require removing affected PBE units. This proposed AD results from 
reports of potentially defective potassium superoxide canisters used in 
PBE units, which could result in an exothermic reaction and ignition. 
We are proposing this AD to prevent PBE units from igniting, which 
could result in a fire and possible injury to the flightcrew or other 
persons.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 4, 2010.

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 proposed AD, contact B/E 
Aerospace, Inc., Commercial Aircraft Products Group, RGA Department, 
10800 Pflumm Road, Lenexa, KS 66215, phone: (913) 338-7378, fax: (913) 
469-8419. 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.

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: David Fairback, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4154; fax (316) 
946-4107.

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-2010-0797; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-141-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 been notified that potassium superoxide canisters used in 
119003-11 protective breathing equipment ignited on a vendor's test 
stand during quality assurance testing. Subsequent investigation 
revealed that potassium superoxide contained a high percentage of small 
particles that ignited. B/E Aerospace manufactured units with this 
chemical lot between February 15, 2010 and March 6, 2010. B/E Aerospace 
shipped 600 canisters with this lot of chemicals to part distributers, 
airplane manufacturers (including Airbus, ATR, Boeing, Bombardier, 
Embraer, Fokker, and Hawker Beechcraft), and airlines (including 
Emirates, Korean Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines). This condition, if 
not corrected, could result in potentially defective canisters being 
used in on-board PBE units.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 119003-35-5, dated 
April 19, 2010. This service bulletin describes procedures for doing an 
inspection to determine the serial number of the protective breathing 
equipment having part number 119003-11, and returning affected parts to 
B/E Aerospace.

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, except as discussed under 
``Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Information.''

Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Information

    B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 119003-35-5, dated April 19, 2010, 
specifies a compliance time of within 30 days for PBE units in stock or 
stored as spares, and within the next maintenance check for in-service 
PBE units. This proposed AD would require compliance within 120 days 
after the effective date of this AD. B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 
119003-35-5, dated April 19, 2010, specifies to return any faulty PBE 
units to B/E Aerospace; this proposed AD would not include that 
requirement.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect up to 600 aircraft 
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would

[[Page 50942]]

take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $0 per product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of 
this proposed AD to the U.S. operators to be up to $51,000, or $85 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:

B/E Aerospace: Docket No. FAA-2010-0797; Directorate Identifier 
2010-NM-141-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by October 4, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to B/E Aerospace protective breathing 
equipment (PBE) units having part number (P/N) 119003-11. These PBE 
units may be installed on (or carried or stowed on board), but not 
limited to, various transport category airplanes, certificated in 
any category, identified in but not limited to the airplanes of the 
manufacturers specified in Table 1 of this AD.

                     Table 1--Affected Manufacturers
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                              Manufacturers
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Airbus
ATR
Boeing
Bombardier
Embraer
Fokker
Hawker Beechcraft
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Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 35: Oxygen.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from reports of potentially defective 
potassium superoxide canisters used in PBE units, which could result 
in an exothermic reaction and ignition. The Federal Aviation 
Administration is issuing this AD to prevent PBE units from 
igniting, which could result in a fire and possible injury to the 
flightcrew or other persons.

Compliance

    (f) 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

    (g) Within 120 days after the effective date of this AD, inspect 
to determine the serial number of the of the PBE units installed in 
the aircraft, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 119003-35-5, dated April 19, 2010. A 
review of airplane records is acceptable in lieu of this inspection 
if the serial numbers of the PBE can be conclusively determined from 
that review.
    (1) For any PBE that has a serial number from 003-50730M to 003-
51329M inclusive: Before further flight, replace the PBE with a 
serviceable PBE, except as provided by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD.
    (2) For any PBE that has a label showing that it has been 
restored in accordance with B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 119003-
35-6: The replacement has been done, and no further action is 
required.

Parts Installation

    (h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
PBE unit having P/N 119003-11 with a serial number ranging from 003-
50730M to 003-51329M inclusive, unless it has a label showing it has 
been restored in accordance with B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 
119003-35-6, dated May 21, 2010.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, Wichita 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: David Fairback, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Propulsion 
Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 
67209; telephone (316) 946-4154; fax (316) 946-4107.
    (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 August 10, 2010.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-20486 Filed 8-17-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P