[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 30, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59549-59551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20676]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-8850; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-031-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company 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 The Boeing Company Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes. 
This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a fire in the bilge area 
of the cargo compartment that burned through the insulation blankets 
that were intended to prevent smoke from migrating behind the cargo 
compartment sidewall liners and upward into the main cabin. This 
proposed AD would require replacing the cargo compartment insulation 
blankets on the left and right sides with new insulation blankets that 
incorporate fire stops. We are proposing this AD to prevent a fire in 
the bilge area of the cargo compartment burning through the insulation 
blankets and consequently allowing smoke to migrate behind the cargo 
compartment sidewall liners and upward into the main cabin.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 14, 
2016.

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 NPRM, contact Boeing 
Commercial

[[Page 59550]]

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. It is also 
available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-8850.

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-2016-
8850; 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: Francis Smith, Aerospace Engineer, 
Cabin Safety & Environmental Control Systems, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; phone: 425-917-6596; 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-2016-8850; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-031-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 a fire in the bilge area of the cargo 
compartment that burned through the insulation blankets that were 
intended to prevent smoke from migrating behind the cargo compartment 
sidewall liners and upward into the main cabin. The airplane was 
delivered with a partial floor configuration in the cargo compartment, 
and later modified into a full floor configuration. This event showed 
that the insulation blankets installed are not adequate to prevent fire 
in the bilge area from migrating past the cargo compartment sidewall 
liners and allowing smoke into the main cabin. We have determined that 
some airplanes with the full floor configuration in the cargo 
compartment did not receive the insulation blankets with fire stops. 
This condition, if not corrected, could result in a fire in the bilge 
area of the cargo compartment burning through the insulation blankets, 
which could result in smoke migrating behind the cargo compartment 
sidewall liners and upward into the main cabin.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0550, 
dated January 30, 2015. The service information describes procedures 
for replacing the cargo compartment insulation blankets on the left and 
right sides between stringers 29 and 33 with new insulation blankets 
that incorporate fire stops. This service information is reasonably 
available because the interested parties have access to it through 
their normal course of business or by the means identified in the 
ADDRESSES section.

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 designs.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously. For information on the 
procedures, see this service information at http://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-8850.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 26 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Cost on U.S.
             Action                  Labor cost         Parts cost     Cost per product          operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement....................  Up to 54 work-               (\1\)   Up to $4,590......  Up to $119,340.
                                  hours x $85 per
                                  hour = $4,590.
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\1\ We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide parts cost estimates for the actions
  specified in this proposed AD.

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all available costs in our 
cost estimate.

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

[[Page 59551]]

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-2016-8850; Directorate Identifier 
2016-NM-031-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by October 14, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    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 767-25-0550, dated January 
30, 2015.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25; Equipment/
furnishings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of a fire in the bilge area of 
the cargo compartment that burned through the insulation blankets 
that were intended to prevent smoke from migrating behind the cargo 
compartment sidewall liners and upward into the main cabin. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent a fire in the bilge area of the cargo 
compartment burning through the insulation blankets and consequently 
allowing smoke to migrate behind the cargo compartment sidewall 
liners and upward into the main cabin.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Insulation Blanket Replacement

    Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD: Replace 
the cargo compartment insulation blankets on the left and right 
sides between stringers 29 and 33 with new insulation blankets that 
incorporate fire stops, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-
0550, dated January 30, 2015. For Groups 1 through 4, Configurations 
1 and 2 airplanes identified in Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 767-25-0550, dated January 30, 2015, no action is required 
by this AD.

(h) 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 (i)(1) 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, modification, or alteration 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. To be approved, the 
repair method, modification deviation, or alteration deviation must 
meet the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must 
specifically refer to this AD.
    (4) For service information that contains steps that are labeled 
as Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraphs 
(h)(4)(i) and (h)(4)(ii) of this AD apply.
    (i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step 
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply 
with the AD. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps, 
including substeps and identified figures.
    (ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted 
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection 
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC 
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done 
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy 
condition.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Francis Smith, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety & Environmental Control Systems, 
ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; phone: 425-917-6596; 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, 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 August 18, 2016.
Dorr M. Anderson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-20676 Filed 8-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P