[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 26, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53370-53372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13943]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-1698; Project Identifier AD-2024-00005-T]
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: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-300F series airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a determination that certain cargo 
compartment insulation blankets do not adequately fit some locations 
and allow smoke to migrate past the cargo compartment sidewall liners 
and upward into the main cabin. This proposed AD would require 
replacing cargo compartment insulation blankets. The FAA is proposing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 12, 
2024.

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 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-1698; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this NPRM, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For service information identified in this NPRM, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services 
(C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-5600; 
telephone 562-797-1717; website myboeingfleet.com.
     You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 
216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-1698.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Linn, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3684; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-1698; Project Identifier 
AD-2024-00005-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this

[[Page 53371]]

NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Julie Linn, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
phone: 206-231-3684; email: [email protected]. Any commentary that the 
FAA receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed 
in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA issued AD 2021-12-11, Amendment 39-21598 (86 FR 33112, June 
24, 2021) (AD 2021-12-11), for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-
200, -300, -300F, and -400ER series airplanes. AD 2021-12-11 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. AD 2021-12-11 requires 
replacing the cargo compartment insulation blankets with new insulation 
blankets that incorporate fire stops by complying with Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0550, Revision 1, dated December 4, 
2019. The FAA issued AD 2021-12-11 to address fire in the bilge area of 
the cargo compartment, which if not contained could lead to a smoke and 
fire event in the passenger compartment.
    Since the FAA issued AD 2021-12-11, the agency determined that for 
Model 767-300F series airplanes, certain cargo compartment insulation 
blankets installed by complying with Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 767-25-0550, dated January 30, 2015, and Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0550, Revision 1, dated December 4, 
2019, do not adequately fit some locations and allow smoke to migrate 
past the cargo compartment. Boeing issued Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 767-25-0550, Revision 2, dated December 18, 2023, which 
reduced the affected airplanes and changed the design of the cargo 
compartment blankets. The FAA is issuing this NPRM to require replacing 
the cargo compartment insulation blankets with newly designed blankets.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-
0550, Revision 2, dated December 18, 2023. This service information 
specifies procedures for replacing insulation blankets in the cargo 
compartment with insulation blankets with integrated 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 ADDRESSES.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions identified 
as ``RC'' (required for compliance) in the Accomplishment Instructions 
of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0550, Revision 2, 
dated December 18, 2023, already described, except for any differences 
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. 
For information on the procedures, see this service information at 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-1698.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 32 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
              Action                        Labor cost            Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement.......................  270 work-hours x $85 per          $35,900          $58,850       $1,883,200
                                     hour = $22,950.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all the costs of this 
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected operators.

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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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.

[[Page 53372]]

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

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

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2024-1698; Project Identifier AD-
2024-00005-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by August 12, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 767-300F series 
airplanes, certificated in any category, identified as Group 7, 11 
through 15, and 18 in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-
25-0550, Revision 2, dated December 18, 2023.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
Furnishings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a determination that certain cargo 
compartment insulation blankets do not adequately fit some locations 
and allow smoke to migrate past the cargo compartment. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to require replacing these cargo compartment 
insulation blankets. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in a fire in the bilge area of the cargo compartment, which 
if not contained could lead to a smoke and fire event in the 
passenger compartment.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, do all 
applicable actions identified as ``RC'' (required for compliance) 
in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0550, Revision 2, 
dated December 18, 2023.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, 
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 
responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the certification office, 
send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i) 
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 responsible Flight Standards 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 Company Organization Designation 
Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, AIR-
520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 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 (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. If a step or substep is labeled ``RC Exempt,'' then the 
RC requirement is removed from that step or substep. 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

    For more information about this AD, contact Julie Linn, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
phone: 206-231-3684; email: [email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0550, 
Revision 2, dated December 18, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Boeing material, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, 
Attention: Contractual & Data Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster 
Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-5600; telephone 562-797-
1717; website myboeingfleet.com.
    (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on June 20, 2024.
Suzanne Masterson,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-13943 Filed 6-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P