[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 184 (Tuesday, September 23, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56682-56684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22622]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 184 / Tuesday, September 23, 2014 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 56682]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2014-0649; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-132-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 787-8 airplanes. This proposed AD was
prompted by reports of missing bonded plugs found prior to airplane
delivery, during manufacturing inspections, at various locations in
certain stringers of the forward electrical equipment (EE) bay of the
lower lobe cargo compartments. This proposed AD would require drilling
a hole and installing and bonding plugs in certain stringers of the
forward EE bay of the lower lobe cargo compartments. We are proposing
this AD to detect and correct missing or misaligned bonded plugs which,
in the event of a fire, could cause an increased rate of loss of Halon
in the lower cargo compartments, and result in the inability to
extinguish a fire and consequent loss of control of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 7,
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-
0649; 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 and Environmental Systems Branch, 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-2014-0649;
Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-132-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 missing bonded plugs found prior to
airplane delivery, during manufacturing inspections, at various
locations in certain stringers of the forward electrical equipment (EE)
bay of the lower lobe cargo compartments. The cause was determined to
be miscalculated pressure exposures during design. This condition, if
not corrected, could result in missing or misaligned bonded plugs
which, in the event of a fire, could cause an increased rate of loss of
Halon in the lower cargo compartments, and result in the inability to
extinguish a fire and consequent loss of control of the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB530024-00,
Issue 001, dated May 15, 2014. For information on the procedures and
compliance times, see this service information at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. FAA-2014-0649.
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, except as discussed
under ``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Service
Information.''
Explanation of ``RC'' Steps in Service Information
The FAA worked in conjunction with industry, under the
Airworthiness Directives Implementation Aviation Rulemaking Committee,
to enhance the AD system. One enhancement was a
[[Page 56683]]
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
the service information 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 the specified service information, 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 the service
information 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.
Difference Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information
Although Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB530024-00,
Issue 001, dated May 15, 2014, recommends installing and bonding the
plugs within 24 months, we and Boeing have determined a 12-month
compliance time is appropriate. We have advised Boeing to correct the
compliance time statement in the next revision of the service
information to specify a 12-month compliance time. In developing an
appropriate compliance time for this AD, we considered the degree of
urgency associated with the subject unsafe condition, and the average
utilization of the affected fleet and time necessary to perform the
installation. In light of these factors, we find that a 12-month
compliance time represents an appropriate interval of time for affected
airplanes to continue to operate without compromising safety.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 3 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
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Bonded plug installations......... 100 work-hours x $85 $3,466 $11,966 Up to $35,898.
per hour = $8,500.
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According to the manufacturer, all 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-2014-0649; Directorate Identifier
2014-NM-132-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by November 7, 2014.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes,
certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin B787-81205-SB530024-00, Issue 001, dated May 15, 2014.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage
Structure (General).
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of missing bonded plugs found
prior to airplane delivery, during manufacturing inspections, at
various locations in certain stringers of the forward electrical
equipment (EE) bay of the lower lobe cargo compartments. We are
issuing this AD to detect and correct missing or misaligned bonded
plugs which, in the event of a fire, could cause an increased rate
of loss of Halon in the lower cargo compartments, and result in the
inability to extinguish a fire and consequent loss of control of the
airplane.
[[Page 56684]]
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Bonded Plug Installation
Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD: Drill a
hole in stringers S-34L and S-35L, remove the plugs, and install and
bond new plugs, in the forward EE bay of the lower lobe cargo
compartments, as applicable, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB530024-
00, Issue 001, dated May 15, 2014.
(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 (k)(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) 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.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Francis Smith,
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch,
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].
(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 September 12, 2014.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-22622 Filed 9-22-14; 8:45 am]
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