[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12617-12619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5158]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0153; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-022-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -
300 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 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require removing the electrical system control panel, changing the 
wiring, installing a new electrical power control panel, and installing 
new operational software for the electrical load management system and 
configuration database. This proposed AD results from an in-flight 
entertainment (IFE) systems review. We are proposing this AD to ensure 
that the flightcrew is able to turn off electrical power to the IFE 
system and other non-essential electrical systems through a switch in 
the flight compartment in the event of smoke or flames. In the event of 
smoke or flames in the airplane flight deck or passenger cabin, the 
flightcrew's inability to turn off electrical power to the IFE system 
and other non-essential electrical systems could result in the 
inability to control smoke or flames in the airplane flight deck or 
passenger cabin during a non-normal or emergency situation.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 22, 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 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. 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: Joe Salameh, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 917-6454; 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-2011-0153; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-022-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

    In response to numerous reports of smoke or flames in the passenger 
cabin of various models of transport category airplanes, we conducted a 
comprehensive in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems review. Earlier 
investigation of the reports had revealed that the source of the smoke 
and flames was from cabin IFE system components, including electronic 
seat boxes mounted under passenger seats, IFE wirings, IFE monitors, 
cabin lighting, wall outlets, and other non-essential cabin electrical 
systems.
    The systems review disclosed that in order to minimize the risk of 
smoke or flames in the passenger cabin, a switch is needed in the 
flight compartment to enable the flightcrew to turn off electrical 
power to the IFE system and other non-essential electrical systems. In 
the event of smoke or flames in the airplane flight deck or passenger 
cabin, the flightcrew's inability to turn off power to the IFE system 
and other non-essential electrical systems, if not corrected, could 
result in the inability to control smoke or flames in the airplane 
flight deck or passenger cabin during a non-normal or emergency 
situation.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 777-24-0074, Revision 1, 
dated October 5, 2006. This service bulletin describes procedures for 
removing the electrical power control panel, changing the wiring, and 
installing a new electrical power control panel having the two new 
cabin power control switches.
    Boeing Service Bulletin 777-24-0074, Revision 1, dated October 5, 
2006, also specifies prior or concurrent accomplishment of Boeing 
Service Bulletin 777-24-0070, dated April 4, 2002, which describes 
procedures for installing new operational software (OPS) for the 
electrical load management system and new configuration database 
software.
    Boeing Service Bulletin 777-24-0074, Revision 1, dated October 5, 
2006, refers to Boeing Component Service Bulletin 233W3202-24-04, 
Revision 1, dated September 25, 2003, as an additional source of 
guidance for installing the passenger compartment electrical power 
isolation switches.

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 these same

[[Page 12618]]

type designs. 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 42 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. 
operators to comply with this proposed AD.

                                             Table--Estimated Costs
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                                                          Average                          Number of
                                                 Work      labor                Cost per     U.S.-       Fleet
                   Action                       hours     rate per    Parts     product    registered     cost
                                                            hour                           airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification................................          4        $85       $751     $1,091           42    $45,822
Concurrent modification (Boeing Service               2         85          0        170           42      7,140
 Bulletin 777-24-0070)......................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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-2011-0153; Directorate Identifier 
2010-NM-022-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by April 22, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300 
series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in 
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-24-0074, Revision 1, dated October 5, 
2006.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 24: 
Electrical power.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from an in-flight entertainment (IFE) 
systems review. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew 
is able to turn off electrical power to the IFE system and other 
non-essential electrical systems through a switch in the flight 
compartment in the event of smoke or flames. In the event of smoke 
or flames in the airplane flight deck or passenger cabin, the 
flightcrew's inability to turn off electrical power to the IFE 
system and other non-essential electrical systems could result in 
the inability to control smoke or flames in the airplane flight deck 
or passenger cabin during a non-normal or emergency situation.

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.

Modification

    (g) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, remove 
the electrical power control panel, change the wiring, and install a 
new electrical power control panel, in accordance with Boeing 
Service Bulletin 777-24-0074, Revision 1, dated October 5, 2006.

    Note 1:  Boeing Service Bulletin 777-24-0074, Revision 1, dated 
October 5, 2006, refers to Boeing Component Service Bulletin 
233W3202-24-04, Revision 1, dated September 25, 2003, as an 
additional source of guidance for installing the passenger 
compartment electrical power isolation switches.

Concurrent Requirements

    (h) Prior to or concurrently with accomplishing the requirements 
of paragraph (g) of this AD, install the electrical load management 
system operational software and configuration database software, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service 
Bulletin 777-24-0070, dated April 4, 2002.

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: Joe Salameh, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, 
ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-
6454; 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, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the 
local flight standards district office/certificate holding district 
office. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this 
AD.


[[Page 12619]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington on February 22, 2011.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-5158 Filed 3-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P