[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 382-384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-ANE-31]
Airworthiness Directives; Aerospace Lighting Corporation Power
Units and Power Supplies
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the supersedure of an existing
airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Aerospace Lighting
Corporation (ALC) lamp connectors and fluorescent lamps, that currently
requires an inspection, and adjustment or replacement of improperly
installed, damaged, or improperly configured lamp connectors and
fluorescent lamps used in cabin fluorescent lighting systems. This
action would add an optional replacement of certain power units and
power supplies with improved design parts as terminating action to the
repetitive inspections. This proposal is prompted by the availability
of improved design components. The actions specified by the proposed AD
are intended to prevent smoke, fire, electrical shock, and possible
electromagnetic interference caused by high voltage arcing in the cabin
which, if undetected, could result in personal hazard or loss of the
aircraft.
DATES: Comments must be received by March 6, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-ANE-31, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299. Comments may be inspected at
this location between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Aerospace Lighting Corporation, 101-8 Colin Drive,
Holbrook, NY 11741; telephone (516) 563-6400, fax (516) 563-8781. This
information may be examined at the FAA, New England Region, Office of
the Assistant Chief Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington,
MA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bradford Chin, Electronics Engineer,
New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller
Directorate, 181 South Franklin Ave., Room 202, Valley Stream, NY
11581; telephone (516) 791-6427, fax (516) 791-9024.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 94-ANE-31.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-ANE-31, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA 01803-5299.
Discussion
On June 14, 1990, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued
airworthiness directive (AD) 90-14-06, [[Page 383]] Amendment 39-6640
(55 FR 27457, July 3, 1990), applicable to Aerospace Lighting
Corporation (ALC) lamp connectors, Part Number (P/N) 31.85.1.A, and
Series 66 fluorescent lamps. That AD requires initial and repetitive
inspections, and adjustment or replacement of improperly installed,
damaged, or improperly configured lamp connectors and fluorescent lamps
used in cabin fluorescent lighting systems. That action was prompted by
reports of cabin lighting systems that are not properly installed, are
damaged, or are improperly configured. That condition, if not
corrected, could result in smoke, fire, electrical shock, and possible
electromagnetic interference caused by high voltage arcing in the cabin
which, if undetected, could result in personal hazard or loss of the
aircraft.
Since the issuance of that AD, the manufacturer has developed
improved design protected power units that have an internal safety
circuit which monitors output voltage produced. If the output voltage
increases as a result of a fault condition, the safety circuit will
activate and cause the input power to the protected power unit to be
disconnected. In addition, the manufacturer has developed improved
design protected power supplies that have system output faults which
react by preventing output power production. The protected power
supplies are equipped with circuit output protection circuitry that
monitors the protected power supply's output circuit and will
immediately shut down the protected power supply if a fault condition
occurs.
The FAA has reviewed and approved the technical contents of the
following ALC Installation Instructions (II): AL-11023M, Revision A,
dated May 20, 1994; AL-11024M, dated March 15, 1992; and AL-11025M,
dated March 15, 1992. These II's describe procedures for installing
improved design protected power units, and protected power supplies, as
applicable. In addition, ALC has issued Information Bulletin No. IB 90-
001, which describes procedures for initial and repetitive inspections
of the cabin fluorescent lighting system.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the
proposed AD would supersede AD 90-14-06 to continue to require an
inspection, and adjustment or replacement of improperly installed,
damaged, or improperly configured lamp connectors and fluorescent lamps
used in cabin fluorescent lighting systems. This proposed AD adds an
optional replacement of power units, and power supplies and dimmers,
with improved design protected power units, and protected power
supplies, as applicable. Installation of these protected power units
and protected power supplies constitutes terminating action to the
repetitive inspections.
The FAA estimates that it would take approximately 3 work hours per
power unit or power supply to accomplish the proposed actions, and that
the average labor rate is $55 per work hour. Required parts would cost
approximately $5000 per power unit or power supply. Based on these
figures, the impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated
to be $5,165 per power unit or power supply.
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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);
and (3) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.
Sec. 39.13 [AMENDED]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing amendment 39-6640 (55 FR
27457, July 3, 1990) and by adding a new airworthiness directive to
read as follows:
Aerospace Lighting Corporation: Docket No. 94-ANE-31. Supersedes AD
90-14-06, Amendment 39-6640.
Applicability: Aerospace Lighting Corporation (ALC) lamp
connectors, Part Number (P/N) 31.85.1.A; Series 66 fluorescent
lamps; power units, P/N's TR-991, TR-992, AL-0546, and AL-0514; and
power supplies, P/N's 1895D and AL-0598. These products are utilized
in cabin fluorescent lighting systems, and are installed on, but not
limited to, the following aircraft: Airbus Industrie Model A310;
Avion Marcel Dassault Breguet Aviation Model Falcon 10; Beech
Aircraft Corporation Model 400A; Boeing Airplane Company Models 727,
737, 747, and 757; British Aerospace Model HS.125-600A and -700A;
Canadair Ltd. Models CL-600-1A11, CL-600-2A12, and CL-600-2B16;
Cessna Aircraft Company Models 550 and 560; Dassault Aviation Models
Mystere-Falcon 20 and 50; Empresa Brasileira de Aeronauctica S/A
Model Embraer EMB-120; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Models G-
159, G-1159, G-1159A, and G-IV; Israel Aircraft Industrie, Ltd.
Models 1124 and 1125; Jetstream Aircraft, Ltd. Jetstream Model 310;
Learjet Corporation Models Learjet 35 and 36; Saab Aircraft AB Model
Saab 340A; and Sikorsky Aircraft Division Model S-76A.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent smoke, fire, electrical shock, and possible
electromagnetic interference caused by high voltage arcing in the
cabin which, if undetected, could result in personal hazard or loss
of the aircraft, accomplish the following:
(a) Within 30 calendar days of the effective date of this
airworthiness directive (AD), accomplish the following:
(1) Inspect the cabin fluorescent lighting system in accordance
with ALC Information Bulletin No. IB 90-001, paragraph IV.
``Fluorescent Lighting System Components Identification and
Inspection Procedure,'' subparagraphs B.1, 2., 3., 5., 6., and 7.
(2) After completing the inspection above in paragraph (a)(1) of
this AD, any part(s) found to be damaged or improperly configured,
perform the removal and replacement procedures in accordance
paragraph IV. B.4, 8., and 9., as required, of ALC Information
Bulletin No. IB 90-00.
(b) Within 5 flights or 10 flight hours, whichever occurs first,
of a cabin fluorescent lighting system components failure, repeat
the removal and replacement procedures of paragraph (a)(2) of this
AD.
(c) An alternative method of compliance with paragraphs (a)(1),
(a)(2), and (b) of this AD would be to turn the fluorescent lighting
system off and to placard the system to prevent unintentional
activation.
(d) Replacement of the following ALC parts, in accordance with
the following instructions, constitutes terminating action to
[[Page 384]] the inspections required by paragraph (b) of this AD.
These actions are optional:
(1) Remove power units, P/N TR-991 or AL-0546, and replace with
protected power units, P/N AL-5117, in accordance with ALC
Installation Instruction (II) No. AL-11025M, dated March 15, 1992.
(2) Remove power units, P/N TR-992 or AL-0514, and replace with
protected power unit, P/N AL-5112, in accordance with ALC II No. AL-
11024M, dated March 15, 1992.
(3) Remove power supplies, P/N 18-95D, and dimmer, P/N 22-311,
and replace with protected power supply, P/N AL-5118, in accordance
with ALC II No. AL-11023M, Revision A, dated May 20, 1994.
(4) Remove power supplies, P/N AL-0598, and dimmer, P/N AL-0542,
and replace with protected power supply, P/N AL-5130, in accordance
with ALC II No. AL-11023M, Revision A, dated May 20, 1994.
(e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, New York Aircraft Certification
Office. The request should be forwarded through an appropriate FAA
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send
it to the Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office.
Note: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive,
if any, may be obtained from the New York Aircraft Certification
Office.
(f) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the aircraft to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 27, 1994.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-58 Filed 1-3-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P