[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 81508-81512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32657]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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. 75, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 28, 2010 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 81508]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-1205; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-146-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -
200LR, -300, and -300ER 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 Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. This
proposed AD would require, for certain airplanes, replacing certain
boost pump relays with ground fault interrupter (GFI) relays. For
certain other airplanes, this proposed AD would require installing new
panels in the main equipment center, making certain wiring changes,
installing new GFI relays in the new panels, and installing new
electrical load management system (ELMS) software. For certain other
airplanes, this proposed AD would require doing certain bond resistance
measurements, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD
results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are
proposing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside
fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could
result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 11,
2011.
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 Boeing service information identified in this proposed 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.
For Smiths and GE Aviation service information identified in this
proposed AD, contact GE Aviation, Customer Services--Clearwater, P.O.
Box 9013, Clearwater, Florida 33758; telephone 727-539-1631; fax 727-
539-0680; e-mail [email protected].
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: Georgios Roussos, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 917-6482; 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-2010-1205;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-146-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
The FAA has examined the underlying safety issues involved in 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''
(66 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
[[Page 81509]]
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 a latent 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 a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.
As part of the SFAR 88 analysis, Boeing found indications of wiring
deterioration that could cause electrical faults in the main tank boost
pumps, main tank jettison pumps, or center tank override/jettison pumps
could result in an overheat or electrical arc condition that could
provide an ignition source in the fuel tanks. Also, uncommanded dry
operation of the main tank jettison pumps or the center tank override/
jettison pumps could result from electrical faults or a single failure
in the pump switch or the electrical load control unit (ELCU). Extended
dry operation of the pump could cause an overheat condition, electrical
arc, or frictional sparks, providing an ignition source in the fuel
tanks. These ignition sources, in combination with flammable fuel
vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of
the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1,
dated September 20, 2010. That service bulletin describes procedures
for replacing 4 main tank boost pump relays in electrical load
management system (ELMS) panels P110, P210, and P320, with new ground
fault interrupter (GFI) relays.
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated September
20, 2010, references the service bulletins identified in the following
table as additional sources of guidance for replacing the main tank
boost pump relays.
Table--Service Bulletins for Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038
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Service bulletin Revision level Date
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GE Aviation Service Bulletin 1................. January 7, 2010.
4000ELM-28-448.
GE Aviation Service Bulletin 1................. January 7, 2010.
4000ELM-28-451.
GE Aviation Service Bulletin 1................. January 7, 2010.
5000ELM-28-446.
GE Aviation Service Bulletin 1................. January 7, 2010.
5000ELM-28-449.
Smiths Service Bulletin 4000ELM- Original.......... August 8, 2007.
28-445.
Smiths Service Bulletin 4000ELM- Original.......... August 8, 2007.
28-465.
Smiths Service Bulletin 5000ELM- Original.......... August 8, 2007.
28-443.
Smiths Service Bulletin 5000ELM- Original.......... August 8, 2007.
28-463.
Smiths Service Bulletin 6000ELM- Original.......... August 8, 2007.
28-444.
Smiths Service Bulletin 6000ELM- Original.......... August 8, 2007.
28-447.
Smiths Service Bulletin 6000ELM- Original.......... August 8, 2007.
28-450.
Smiths Service Bulletin 6000ELM- Original.......... August 8, 2007.
28-464.
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We have also reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision
2, dated September 20, 2010. That service bulletin describes procedures
for certain airplanes, for installing new panels, P301 and P302, in the
main equipment center; making certain wiring changes; installing new
GFI relays in the P301 and P302 panels; and installing new ELMS
software. For certain airplanes, that service bulletin describes
procedures for measuring the bond resistance between the terminal lugs
on certain studs and a ground bracket assembly, and corrective action
if necessary. The corrective actions include repairing (cleaning of
applicable components with solvent) or replacing (replacing applicable
components with new components) affected components.
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0039, Revision 2, dated September
20, 2010, is an additional source of guidance for installing ELMS
software.
Smiths Service Bulletin 5000ELM-28-454, dated August 13, 2007; and
GE Aviation Service Bulletin 6000ELM-28-455, Revision 1, dated February
1, 2010; are additional sources of guidance for making wiring changes
in the P110 and P210 panels.
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 130 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.
[[Page 81510]]
Table--Estimated Costs
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Average labor rate Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours per hour Parts Cost per product registered airplanes Fleet cost
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Replacements: Group 1 airplanes identified in 3 $85 $25,577 $25,832 126 $3,254,832.
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038.
Replacements: Group 2 airplanes identified in 3 85 52,545 52,800 0 No airplanes currently on U.S.
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038. Register.
Replacements: Group 3 airplanes identified in 4 85 37,257 37,597 4 150,388.
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038.
Replacements: Group 4 airplanes identified in 4 85 17,816 18,156 0 No airplanes currently on U.S.
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038. Register.
Installations and Measurement: Boeing Service 76 85 29,934 36,394 130 4,731,220.
Bulletin 777-28A0037.
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[[Page 81511]]
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:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2010-1205; Directorate Identifier
2010-NM-146-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by February 11, 2011.
Affected ADs
(b) AD 2008-11-13, Amendment 39-15536, affects this AD.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR,
-300, and -300ER series airplanes, certificated in any category; as
identified in the service information specified in paragraphs (c)(1)
and (c)(2) of this AD.
(1) Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated
September 20, 2010.
(2) Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated
September 20, 2010.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 28: Fuel.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the
manufacturer. The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing this AD
to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks,
which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a
fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.
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.
Related Airworthiness Limitation
Note 1: AD 2008-11-13 requires a revision of the Airworthiness
Limitations (AWLs) section of the Instructions for Continued
Airworthiness to include limitations for the fuel tank systems. One
of the limitations, AWL 28-AWL-18, requires a repetitive inspection
of the ground fault interrupter (GFI) functions.
Installations and Software Changes
(g) For Group 1 and 2 airplanes identified as Configuration 2 in
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20,
2010: Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, install
new panels, P301 and P302, in the main equipment center; make
certain wiring changes; install new GFI relays in the P301 and P302
panels; and install new electrical load management system (ELMS)
software; as applicable. Do the applicable actions in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-
28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20, 2010.
Note 2: Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0039, Revision 2, dated
September 20, 2010, is an additional source of guidance for
installing ELMS software.
Note 3: Smiths Service Bulletin 5000ELM-28-454, dated August 13,
2007; and GE Aviation Service Bulletin 6000ELM-28-455, Revision 1,
dated February 1, 2010; are additional sources of guidance for
making a wiring change in the P110 and P210 panels, respectively.
(h) For Group 1 and 2 airplanes identified as Configuration 1 in
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20,
2010: Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, do
bonding resistance measurements to verify bonding requirements as
specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated
September 20, 2010, are met, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2,
dated September 20, 2010.
Replacement of GFI Relays
(i) For airplanes identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-
28A0038, Revision 1, dated September 20, 2010: Within 60 months
after the effective date of this AD, replace 4 main tank boost pump
relays in electrical load management system panels P110, P210, and
P320 with new GFI relays, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1,
dated September 20, 2010.
Note 4: Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated
September 20, 2010, references the service bulletins identified in
Table 1 of this AD as additional sources of guidance for replacing
the main tank boost pump relays.
Table 1--Additional Sources of Guidance for Replacing the Main Tank Boost Pump Relays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group No. of airplanes, as
identified in Boeing Service
Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, Panel No. Service bulletin Revision level Date
dated September 20, 2010
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group 1........................... P110 Smiths Service Original............ August 8, 2007.
Bulletin 5000ELM-28-
443.
[[Page 81512]]
Group 1........................... P210 Smiths Service Original............ August 8, 2007.
Bulletin 6000ELM-28-
444.
Group 1........................... P320 Smiths Service Original............ August 8, 2007.
Bulletin 4000ELM-28-
445.
Group 2........................... P110 GE Aviation Service 1................... January 7, 2010.
Bulletin 5000ELM-28-
446.
Group 2........................... P210 Smiths Service Original............ August 8, 2007.
Bulletin 6000ELM-28-
447.
Group 2........................... P320 GE Aviation Service 1................... January 7, 2010.
Bulletin 4000ELM-28-
448.
Group 3........................... P110 GE Aviation Service 1................... January 7, 2010.
Bulletin 5000ELM-28-
449.
Group 3........................... P210 Smiths Service Original............ August 8, 2007.
Bulletin 6000ELM-28-
450.
Group 3........................... P320 GE Aviation Service 1................... January 7, 2010.
Bulletin 4000ELM-28-
451.
Group 4........................... P110 Smiths Service Original............ August 8, 2007.
Bulletin 5000ELM-28-
463.
Group 4........................... P210 Smiths Service Original............ August 8, 2007.
Bulletin 6000ELM-28-
464.
Group 4........................... P320 Smiths Service Original............ August 8, 2007.
Bulletin 4000ELM-28-
465.
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Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement
(j) A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is
not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the
collection of information. All responses to this collection of
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn:
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(k)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 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:
Georgios Roussos, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch,
ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-
6482; fax (425) 917-6590. Information may be e-mailed 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 December 17, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-32657 Filed 12-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P