[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40832-40834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16962]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0678; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-285-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 747-400, and -400F series airplanes.
This proposed AD was prompted by multiple reports of integrated display
unit (IDU) malfunctions and mode control panel (MCP) malfunctions. This
proposed AD would require installing new software, replacing the duct
assembly with a new duct assembly, making wiring changes, and routing
certain wire bundles. We are proposing this AD to prevent IDU
malfunctions, which could affect the ability of the flight crew to read
primary displays for airplane attitude, altitude, or airspeed, and
consequently reduce the ability of the flight crew to maintain control
of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 27, 2012.
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, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; 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 (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW.,
Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6592; fax: 425-917-6591; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 40833]]
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-2012-0678;
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-285-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 reports of IDU malfunctions and MCP malfunctions
on Model 747-400, and -400F series airplanes. The reports range from a
single display malfunction to all six primary IDUs going blank with an
MCP malfunction, during various flight phases. Moisture in the flight
deck cooling supply air could cause the IDU to blink, lose focus, or
display in monochrome and the MCP to go blank. This condition, if not
corrected, could affect the ability of the flight crew to read primary
displays for airplane attitude, altitude, or airspeed, and consequently
reduce the ability of the flight crew to maintain control of the
airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-21A2523, Revision 1,
dated October 3, 2011. This service information specifies installing
new integrated display system (IDS) software, replacing the duct
assembly with a new duct assembly, making wiring changes, and routing
certain wire bundles.
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-21A2523, Revision 1, dated
October 3, 2011, refers to Boeing Service Bulletin 747-31-2426, dated
July 29, 2010 (for airplanes with Rolls-Royce engines); Boeing Service
Bulletin 747-31-2427, dated July 29, 2010 (for airplanes with General
Electric engines); and Boeing Service Bulletin 747-31-2428, dated July
29, 2010 (for airplanes with Pratt & Whitney engines); as additional
sources of guidance for installing certain IDS 508 software in each of
the six IDUs and in each of the three EFIS/EICAS interface units (EIUs)
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 accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information described previously.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 33 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Replace duct assembly and do wiring 41 work-hours x $85 per $20,121 $23,606 $778,998
changes. hour = $3,485.
Software change....................... 3 work-hours x $85 per 0 255 8,415
hour = $255.
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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 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 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):
[[Page 40834]]
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2012-0678; Directorate Identifier
2011-NM-285-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by August 27, 2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and -400F
series airplanes; certificated in any category; as identified in
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-21A2523, Revision 1, dated October
3, 2011.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 21, Air Conditioning.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by multiple reports of integrated display
unit (IDU) malfunctions and mode control panel (MCP) malfunctions.
We are issuing this AD to prevent integrated display unit (IDU)
malfunctions, which could affect the ability of the flight crew to
read primary displays for airplane attitude, altitude, or airspeed,
and consequently reduce the ability of the flight crew to maintain
control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Software Update
Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD: Install
integrated display system software, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
21A2523, Revision 1, dated October 3, 2011.
Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD: Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-21A2523, Revision 1, dated October 3, 2011, refers to
Boeing Service Bulletin 747-31-2426, dated July 29, 2010 (for
airplanes with Rolls-Royce engines); Boeing Service Bulletin 747-31-
2427, dated July 29, 2010 (for airplanes with General Electric
engines); and Boeing Service Bulletin 747-31-2428, dated July 29,
2010 (for airplanes with Pratt & Whitney engines); as additional
sources of guidance for the software installation specified by
paragraph (g) of this AD.
(h) Replacement of Duct Assembly and Wiring Changes
Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD: Replace
the duct assembly with a new duct assembly, do wiring changes, and
route certain wire bundles, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-21A2523, Revision
1, dated October 3, 2011.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 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 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.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, Ana Martinez Hueto,
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch,
ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6592; fax:
425-917-6591; 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, Washington 98124-2207; telephone
206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; 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 June 29, 2012.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-16962 Filed 7-10-12; 8:45 am]
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