[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 250 (Thursday, December 30, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 82337-82340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-33000]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-1271; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-187-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -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 the 
products listed above. This proposed AD would require installing an 
auto shutoff feature for the center override/jettison fuel pumps, and 
installing power control circuitry for the center

[[Page 82338]]

override/jettison and main jettison fuel pumps. This proposed AD would 
also require installing new software in the electrical load management 
system (ELMS) electronics units in certain power management panels; 
installing airplane information management system 2 (AIMS-2) software 
in the AIMS-2 hardware; and making certain wiring changes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by 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 14, 
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: Deliver to Mail address above 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 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 (phone: 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; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-1271; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-187-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 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.
    Results of a safety assessment revealed that there is a small risk 
of an ignition source in a fuel tank if a center override/jettison fuel 
pump or a main jettison fuel pump continues to run when there is no 
fuel at the pump inlet, or when the pumps are commanded to stop running 
(commanded off) and they remain on. When a pump runs after the fuel 
level goes below the pump inlet, there is a small risk that the pump 
can cause an ignition source in the fuel tank from an overheat 
condition, electrical arcs, or frictional sparks. This condition, if 
not corrected, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent 
loss of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0047, Revision 5, dated 
September 20, 2010. That service information describes procedures for 
installing a new P301 panel on the left side of the airplane, 
installing a new P302 panel on the right side of the airplane, and 
changing the wiring; and performing certain bonding resistance 
measurements and reworking the airplane installation to verify that

[[Page 82339]]

certain bonding requirements are met if necessary.
    Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0047, Revision 5, dated September 
20, 2010, specifies prior or concurrent accomplishment of the following 
service bulletins:
     Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0040, Revision 1, dated 
March 18, 2010, which describes procedures for installing new software 
in the ELMS electronics units in the P110, P210, and P310 power 
management panels.
     Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-31-0097, 
Revision 3, dated February 22, 2007, which describes procedures for 
installing AIMS-2 software in the AIMS-2 hardware.
     GE Aviation Service Bulletin 5000ELM-28-456, Revision 1, 
dated January 7, 2010, which describes procedures for changing the 
wiring of the ELMS P110 left power management panel.
     GE Aviation Service Bulletin 6000ELM-28-457, Revision 1, 
dated January 7, 2010, which describes procedures for changing the 
wiring of the ELMS P210 right power management panel.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type 
designs.

Proposed AD Requirements

    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 the Service 
Information.''

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information

    Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-31-0097, Revision 3, 
dated February 22, 2007, specifies a compliance time of 60 months. This 
AD requires a 36-month compliance time to install the AIMS-2 software 
upgrade. This difference has been coordinated with the manufacturer.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 2 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                Cost on U.S.
             Action                  Labor cost        Parts cost      Cost per  product          operators
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Installation: Groups 1 and 2,    149 work-hours x           $15,719  $28,384..............  $56,768.
 Configuration 2.                 $85 per hour =
                                  $12,665.
Installation: Groups 1 and 2,    2 work-hours x $85          15,719  $15,889..............  $31,778.
 Configuration 1.                 per hour = $170.
Concurrent requirement: Install  3 work-hours x $85               0  $255.................  $510.
 ELMS software.                   per hour = $255.
Concurrent requirement: Upgrade  Up to 2 work-hours               0  Up to $170...........  Up to $340.
 AIMS2 software.                  x $85 per hour =
                                  Up to $170.
Concurrent requirement: P110     3 work-hours x $85           1,164  $1,419...............  $2,838.
 wiring changes.                  per hour = $255.
Concurrent requirement: P210     3 work-hours x $85           1,164  $1,419...............  $2,838.
 wiring changes.                  per hour = $255.
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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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

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 
airworthiness directive (AD):

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2010-1271; Directorate Identifier 
2010-NM-187-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by February 14, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -300, and -300ER series 
airplanes; certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing 
Service Bulletin 777-28A0047, Revision 5, dated September 20, 2010.

Subject

    (d) Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport 
Association (ATA) of America Code 28, Fuel.

[[Page 82340]]

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD was prompted by results from fuel system reviews 
conducted by the manufacturer. We are 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) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

Installation

    (g) For airplanes in Groups 1 and 2, Configuration 2, as 
identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0047, Revision 5, dated 
September 20, 2010: Within 36 months after the effective date of 
this AD, install a new P301 panel on the left side of the airplane, 
install a new P302 panel on the right side of the airplane, and 
change the wiring, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0047, Revision 5, 
dated September 20, 2010.
    (h) For airplanes in Groups 1 and 2, Configuration 1, as 
identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0047, Revision 5, dated 
September 20, 2010: Within 36 months after the effective date of 
this AD, perform bonding resistance measurements and rework the 
airplane installation if necessary, depending on airplane 
configuration, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0047, Revision 5, dated September 20, 
2010.

Concurrent Requirements

    (i) Prior to or concurrently with accomplishing the requirements 
of paragraph (g) of this AD, do the actions in paragraphs (i)(1), 
(i)(2), (i)(3), and (i)(4) of this AD.
    (1) Install new software in the electrical load management 
system (ELMS) electronics units in the P110, P210, and P310 power 
management panels, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0040, Revision 1, 
dated March 18, 2010.
    (2) Install airplane information management system 2 (AIMS-2) 
software in the AIMS-2 hardware, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 777-31-0097, Revision 3, dated February 22, 2007.
    (3) Modify the P110 left power management panel by incorporating 
wiring changes, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions 
of GE Aviation Service Bulletin 5000ELM-28-456, Revision 1, dated 
January 7, 2010.
    (4) Modify the P210 right power management panel by 
incorporating wiring changes, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of GE Aviation Service Bulletin 6000ELM-28-457, 
Revision 1, dated January 7, 2010.

Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    (j) Installations done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-28A0040, dated 
April 13, 2007, are acceptable for compliance with the requirements 
of paragraph (i)(1) of this AD.
    (k) Installations done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0047, Revision 3, 
dated June 11, 2009; or Revision 4, dated May 20, 2010; are 
acceptable for compliance with the requirements of paragraphs (g) 
and (h) of this AD.
    (l) Installations done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-31-
0097, dated March 30, 2006; Revision 1, dated August 10, 2006; or 
Revision 2, dated October 26, 2006; are acceptable for compliance 
with the requirements of paragraph (i)(2) of this AD.

Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement

    (m) 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)

    (n)(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. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local 
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in the Related Information 
section of this AD. Information may be e-mailed to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your Principal 
Maintenance Inspector or Principal Avionics Inspector, as 
appropriate, or lacking a principal inspector, your local Flight 
Standards District Office.

Related Information

    (o) For more information about this AD, 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; e-mail: [email protected].
    (p) For Boeing 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. For GE 
Aviation service information identified in this 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, the FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 17, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager,Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-33000 Filed 12-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P