[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63130-63132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24794]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0864; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-108-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 777F series airplanes. This proposed
AD was prompted by a report of a fire that originated near the first
officer's seat and caused extensive damage to the flight deck. This
proposed AD would require replacing the low-pressure oxygen hoses with
non-conductive low-pressure oxygen hoses in the stowage box and
supernumerary ceiling area. We are proposing this AD to prevent
electrical current from passing through an internal, anti-collapse
spring of the low-pressure oxygen hose, which can cause the low-
pressure oxygen hose to melt or burn and lead to an oxygen-fed fire on
the flight deck.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 9,
2013.
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 review copies of the 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; 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: Susan L. Monroe, Aerospace Engineer,
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6457; 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-2013-0864;
Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-108-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.
[[Page 63131]]
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 that originated near the first
officer's seat and caused extensive damage to the flight deck.
Electrical current passing through an internal, anti-collapse spring of
the low-pressure oxygen hose can cause the low-pressure oxygen hose to
melt or burn and lead to an oxygen-fed fire on the flight deck.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-35A0029, Revision 1,
dated April 29, 2013. For information on the procedures, see this
service information at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for
Docket No. FAA-2013-0864.
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 identified previously.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 18 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 oxygen hoses.............. 7 work-hours x $85 per $1,450 $2,045 $36,810
hour = $595.
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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
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-2013-0864; Directorate Identifier
2013-NM-108-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by December 9, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777F series
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 777-35A0029, Revision 1, dated April 29,
2013.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 35, Oxygen.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of a fire that originated near
the first officer's seat and caused extensive damage to the flight
deck. We are issuing this AD to prevent electrical current from
passing through an internal, anti-collapse spring of the low-
pressure oxygen hose, which can cause the low-pressure oxygen hose
to melt or burn and lead to an oxygen-fed fire on the flight deck.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Oxygen Hose Replacement
Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD: Replace
the low-pressure oxygen hoses in the stowage box and supernumerary
ceiling area with new non-conductive low-pressure oxygen hoses, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 777-35A0029, Revision 1, dated April 29, 2013.
(h) Parts Installation Prohibition
As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a
low-pressure oxygen hose, part number (P/N) 57034-08A050140,
[[Page 63132]]
P/N 57034-08A050215, or P/N 57034-09A050270, on any airplane.
(i) Credit for Previous Actions
This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the
effective date of this AD using Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
35A0029, dated June 6, 2012, provided that the low-pressure oxygen
hoses described in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-35A0029,
Revision 1, dated April 29, 2013, were replaced with new non-
conductive low-pressure oxygen hoses. Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
777-35A0029, dated June 6, 2012, is not incorporated by reference in
this AD.
(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 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.
(k) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, Susan L. Monroe,
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch,
ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6457;
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 review copies of the 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 September 30, 2013.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-24794 Filed 10-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P