[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36680-36683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15247]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0347; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-173-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; the Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain The Boeing Company Model 767-200 and -300 series airplane 
equipped with Pratt & Whitney Model JT9D or PW4000 engines. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report of several cases of low hydraulic 
pressure or loss of electrical power to the alternating current motor 
pump (ACMP) on the left engine. This proposed AD would require 
inspecting for damage of the wiring bundles in the left engine's strut 
and corrective actions if necessary, and installing new wire support 
brackets and bundle clamp. We are proposing this AD to detect and 
correct chafed wire bundles due to rubbing against structure or a 
hydraulic piping elbow, which could result in electrical arcing in a 
flammable fluid leakage zone, and would provide a possible ignition 
source for fuel vapors and hydraulic fluids. Ignited fuel vapors or 
hydraulic fluid in an area without a fire detection or suppression 
system could result in an uncontained engine strut fire and structural 
damage to the engine strut.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 14, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-
5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service information 
at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, WA. 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0347; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday,

[[Page 36681]]

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, WA 98057-3356; 
phone: 425-917-6482; fax: 425-917-6590; email: 
[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-2014-0347; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-173-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 received a report of several cases of low hydraulic 
pressure or loss of electrical power to the ACMP on the left engine. 
These cases were found to be caused by a damaged power feeder wire 
bundle in the outboard aft fairing area of the left engine strut. In 
most of the cases, the wire bundle had chafed against the fuse pin 
washer at the midspar fitting and signs of arcing were found. In one 
case, the wire bundle was found to have chafed against a hydraulic 
piping elbow near the fuse pin washer, which resulted in a severed wire 
bundle and a hole in the hydraulic piping elbow. That hole in the 
hydraulic piping elbow, if not found, could result in a hydraulic fluid 
leak. Wire bundles that are chafed due to rubbing against structure or 
the hydraulic piping elbow, if not detected and corrected, could result 
in electrical arcing in a flammable fluid leakage zone, and would 
provide a possible ignition source for fuel vapors and hydraulic 
fluids. Ignited fuel vapors or hydraulic fluid in an area without a 
fire detection or suppression system could result in an uncontained 
engine strut fire and structural damage to the engine strut.

Related Rulemaking

    AD 2004-16-12, Amendment 39-13768 (69 FR 51002, August 17, 2004), 
also applies to certain Model 767 airplanes that are powered by Pratt & 
Whitney engines. AD 2004-16-12 required actions to prevent fatigue 
cracking in primary strut structure, which could result in separation 
of the strut and engine from the airplane. One of those actions is the 
prior or concurrent accomplishment of Boeing Service Bulletin 767-29-
0057, dated December 16, 1993; or Revision 1, dated August 14, 2003.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-29A0115, dated May 
22, 2013. For information on the procedures and compliance times, see 
this service information at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
Docket No. FAA-2014-0347.
    Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-29A0115, dated May 22, 2013, 
specifies concurrent or prior accomplishment of Boeing Service Bulletin 
767-29-0057, Revision 3, dated June 9, 2011, for modification of 
certain wire bundles.

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 the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require inspecting for damage of the wiring 
bundles in the left engine's strut, and corrective actions if 
necessary; and installing new wiring support brackets and bundle clamp.
    The phrase ``corrective actions'' is used in this proposed AD. 
``Corrective actions'' are actions that correct or address any 
condition found. Corrective actions in an AD could include, for 
example, repairs.
    The FAA worked in conjunction with industry, under the 
Airworthiness Directives Implementation Aviation Rulemaking Committee, 
to enhance the AD system. One enhancement was a new process for 
annotating which steps in the service information are required for 
compliance with an AD. Differentiating these steps from other tasks in 
the service information is expected to improve an owner's/operator's 
understanding of crucial AD requirements and help provide consistent 
judgment in AD compliance. The actions specified in Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 767-29A0115, dated May 22, 2013, described previously 
include steps that are labeled as RC (required for compliance) because 
these steps have a direct effect on detecting, preventing, resolving, 
or eliminating an identified unsafe condition.
    As noted in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-29A0115, dated May 
22, 2013, steps labeled as RC must be done to comply with the proposed 
AD. However, steps that are not labeled as RC are recommended. Those 
steps that are not labeled as RC may be deviated from, done as part of 
other actions, or done using accepted methods different from those 
identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-29A0115, dated May 22, 
2013, without obtaining approval of an alternative method of compliance 
(AMOC), provided the steps labeled as RC can be done and the airplane 
can be put back in a serviceable condition. Any substitutions or 
changes to steps labeled as RC will require approval of an AMOC.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 126 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection and installation.........  13 work-hours x $85 per            $349           $1,454         $183,204
                                       hour = $1,105.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 36682]]

    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this proposed 
AD.

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 proposed 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

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2014-0347; Directorate Identifier 
2013-NM-173-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 14, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the Boeing Company Model 767-200 and -300 
series airplanes, certificated in any category, equipped with Pratt 
& Whitney Model JT9D or PW4000 engines, as identified in Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 767-29A0115, dated May 22, 2013.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 29, Hydraulic 
Power.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of several cases of low 
hydraulic pressure or loss of electrical power to the alternating 
current motor pump (ACMP) on the left engine. We are issuing this AD 
to detect and correct chafed wire bundles due to rubbing against 
structure or a hydraulic piping elbow, which could result in 
electrical arcing in a flammable fluid leakage zone, and would 
provide a possible ignition source for fuel vapors and hydraulic 
fluids. Ignited fuel vapors or hydraulic fluid in an area without a 
fire detection or suppression system could result in an uncontained 
engine strut fire and structural damage to the engine strut.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection and Corrective Actions

    Within 48 months after the effective date of this AD, do a 
detailed inspection for damage of the wiring bundles in the left 
engine's strut, and all applicable corrective actions; and install 
new wire support brackets and bundle clamps; in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-
29A0115, dated May 22, 2013. Do all applicable corrective actions 
before further flight.

(h) Prior or Concurrent Action

    For airplanes identified as Group 1 airplanes in Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 767-29A0115, dated May 22, 2013: Prior to or 
concurrently with doing the actions required by paragraph (g) of 
this AD, do a modification of the wire bundles, in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 767-29-
0057, Revision 3, dated June 9, 2011.

    Note 1 to paragraph (h) of this AD:  For certain airplanes, 
paragraph (b) of AD 2004-16-12, Amendment 39-13768 (69 FR 51002, 
August 17, 2004), references Boeing Service Bulletin 767-29-0057, 
dated December 16, 2003; and Boeing Service Bulletin 767-29-0057, 
Revision 1, dated August 14, 2003; as concurrent requirements.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (h) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using any of the service information 
identified in paragraphs (i)(1), (i)(2), and (i)(3) of this AD, 
which are not incorporated by reference in this AD.
    (1) Boeing Service Bulletin 767-29-0057, dated December 16, 
1993.
    (2) Boeing Service Bulletin 767-29-0057, Revision 1, dated 
August 14, 2003.
    (3) Boeing Service Bulletin 767-29-0057, Revision 2, dated 
September 24, 2009.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (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 paragraph (k) of this AD. 
Information may be emailed 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.
    (3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any repair required by this AD if it is approved by the 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization 
(ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make 
those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the repair must 
meet the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must 
specifically refer to this AD.
    (4) If the service information contains steps that are labeled 
as RC (Required for Compliance), those steps must be done to comply 
with this AD; any steps that are not labeled as RC are recommended. 
Those steps that are not labeled as RC may be deviated from, done as 
part of other actions, or done using accepted methods different from 
those identified in the specified service information without 
obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the steps labeled as RC can 
be done and the airplane can be put back in a serviceable condition. 
Any substitutions or changes to steps labeled as RC require approval 
of an AMOC.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Georgios 
Roussos, Aerospace

[[Page 36683]]

Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 
98057-3356; phone: (425) 917-6482; fax: (425) 917-6590; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-
5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 19, 2014.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-15247 Filed 6-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P