[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 24, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52899-52901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21667]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0725; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-065-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 767-200, -300, 
and -300F 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 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. This proposed 
AD would require doing certain wiring changes, installing a new relay 
and necessary wiring in the cabin air conditioning and temperature 
control system (CACTCS), and performing an operational test of the 
cooling pack fire suppression system. This AD results from reports of 
loss of avionics cooling due to an unserviceable relay installed on a 
panel as part of the CACTCS. We are proposing this AD to prevent loss 
of electrical equipment bay cooling and the overheating of flight deck 
instruments, which would result in the eventual loss of primary flight 
displays, an unusually high pilot workload, and depressurization of the 
cabin.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 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: Deliver to Mail address above 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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ana Martinez Hueto, Aerospace 
Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6592; 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-2011-0725; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-065-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 received reports of loss of avionics cooling due to an 
unserviceable relay. This relay was one of six relays installed on a 
panel as part of the CACTCS. The failure of this relay caused a smoke 
mode solenoid to energize, causing the air conditioning system to go 
into a Class E fire suppression mode, the right side of the relay pack 
to turn off, and the left-side relay pack to go into low-flow mode. 
Over time, this caused insufficient equipment cooling and the slow 
depressurization of the cabin. This condition, if not corrected, could 
result in loss of electrical equipment bay cooling and the overheating 
of flight deck instruments, which would result in the eventual loss of 
all primary flight displays, an unusually high pilot workload, and 
depressurization of the cabin.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletins 767-21-0246, 
dated January 7, 2011 (for Model 767-200 and 767-300 series airplanes); 
and 767-21-0234, dated August 6, 2009 (for Model 767-300F series 
airplanes). These service bulletins describe procedures for changing 
the wire bundle route and wiring, installing a new relay and applicable 
wiring in the CACTCS, and doing an operational test of the cooling pack 
fire suppression system.

[[Page 52900]]

FAA's Determination and Proposed AD Requirements

    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. This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions 
specified in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 35 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Parts     Cost per   Cost on U.S.
                   Action                              Labor cost              cost     product      operators
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Change wire bundle, install relay, and       29 work-hours x $85 per hour      $1,240     $3,705        $129,675
 operational test.                            = $2,465 per relay
                                              installation.
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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-2011-0725; Directorate Identifier 
2010-NM-065-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by October 11, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 767-200 and -300 
series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-21-0246, dated January 
7, 2011; and Model 767-300F series airplanes, certificated in any 
category, as identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 
767-21-0234, dated August 6, 2009.

Subject

    (d) Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport 
Association (ATA) of America Code 21: Air conditioning.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from reports of loss of avionics cooling due 
to an unserviceable relay installed on a panel as part of the cabin 
air conditioning and temperature control system (CACTCS). We are 
issuing this AD to prevent loss of electrical equipment bay cooling 
and the overheating of flight deck instruments, which would result 
in the eventual loss of primary flight displays, an unusually high 
pilot workload, and depressurization of the cabin.

Compliance

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

Installation of New Relay and Wiring Bundle

    (g) Within 72 months after the effective date of this AD: Change 
the wire bundle route and wiring, install a new relay and applicable 
wiring in the CACTCS, and do an operational test, in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of the service information specified 
in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, as applicable.
    (1) For Model 767-200 and 767-300 series airplanes: Use Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-21-0246, dated January 7, 
2011.
    (2) For Model 767-300F series airplanes: Use Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 767-21-0234, dated August 6, 2009.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(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 appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

Related Information

    (i) For more information about this AD, contact Ana Martinez 
Hueto, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems 
Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone 425-917-6592; fax 
425-917-6590; e-mail: [email protected].

[[Page 52901]]

    (j) 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 12, 2011.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-21667 Filed 8-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P