[Federal Register: November 16, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 220)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 67043-67045]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16no04-2]
[[Page 67043]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2004-19569; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-179-AD;
Amendment 39-13869; AD 2004-23-14]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. This AD
requires reworking the surface of the ground stud brackets of the
transformer rectifier unit (TRU) and the airplane structure mounting
surface, and measuring the resistance from the bracket to the structure
and the ground lug to the bracket using a bonding meter. This AD is
prompted by a report of loss of all direct current (DC) power
generation during a flight, due to inadequate electrical ground path
between the ground bracket of the TRU and the structure. We are issuing
this AD to prevent depletion of the main battery and consequent loss of
all DC power, which could cause the loss of flight critical systems.
DATES: Effective December 1, 2004.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of
December 1, 2004.
We must receive comments on this AD by January 18, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing
Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207.
You can examine this information at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-
401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.
Docket Management System (DMS)
The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets
electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS
and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a
corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in
the form ``Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.'' The Transport Airplane
Directorate identifier is in the form ``Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
999-AD.'' Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier
(``Old Docket Number'') as a cross-reference for searching purposes.
Examining the Dockets
You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical information: Louis
Natsiopoulous, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-
130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue,
SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6478; fax (425)
917-6590.
Plain language information: Marcia Walters, marcia.walters@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We have received a report of loss of DC
power generation on a Boeing Model 767 airplane during flight.
Investigation by Boeing revealed that the operator had incorporated
Boeing Service Bulletin 767-24-0119, dated May 14, 1998, and/or
Revision 1, dated December 16, 1999, without proper preparation of the
bonding surface of the ground bracket and the airplane structure. The
inadequate preparation caused the loss of an adequate electrical ground
path between the bracket and frame used for the transformer rectifier
units (TRU) and the main battery charger, which caused the subsequent
loss of all DC power generation. When the operator inspected the rest
of its Model 767 fleet, it found a number of brackets that were not
properly grounded. This condition, if not corrected, could result in
depletion of the main battery and consequent loss of all DC power,
which could cause the loss of flight critical systems.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0119,
Revision 2, dated August 19, 2004. The service bulletin describes
procedures for reworking the bonding surfaces of the ground stud
brackets of the TRU and airplane structure, and measuring the
resistance from the bracket to the structure and from the ground lug to
bracket using a bonding meter. The reworking includes:
Removing the ground stud bracket of the TRU;
Cleaning the bracket mounting surface and airplane
structure surface for a faying surface bond;
Installing the ground bracket assembly of the TRU to the
surface using bolts;
Applying fillet sealant to the bracket;
Applying alodine to the prepared surfaces;
And applying primer on bare metal surface.
We have also reviewed Boeing Information Notice 767-24A0119 IN 01,
dated October 21, 2004. This information notice provides more detailed
illustrations than those shown in Figure 1, Details A and B, of Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0119, Revision 2, dated August 19, 2004.
The information notice clarifies the Figure 1, Step 10, procedure of
the Accomplishment Instructions in the service bulletin.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD
The unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or
develop on other airplanes of the same type design. Therefore, we are
issuing this AD to prevent depletion of the main battery and consequent
loss of all DC power, which could cause the loss of flight critical
systems. This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in
[[Page 67044]]
the service information described previously, except as discussed below
in ``Clarification of Error in the Service Bulletin.''
Clarification of Error in the Service Bulletin
Boeing has informed us of an inadvertent error in the service
bulletin. In Step 4, Sheet 3, of Figure 1 of the Accomplishment
Instructions, the service bulletin only specifies to install a collar
with part number (P/N) BACC30M6. However, a second collar with P/N
BACC30BL6, which is listed in paragraph 2.C., ``Parts Necessary For
Each Airplane,'' is also acceptable for installation. We have included
paragraph (g) in this AD to allow the installation of P/N BACC30BL6 as
an alternative method of compliance to the corresponding requirement of
paragraph (f) of this AD (which references the service bulletin as the
appropriate source of service information for accomplishing the
required actions).
Interim Action
This is considered to be interim action. The manufacturer has
advised that it currently is developing a modification (to add a
redundant TRU grounding bracket on all 767 airplanes) that will address
the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. Once this modification is
developed, approved, and available, we may consider additional
rulemaking.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD; therefore, providing notice and opportunity for public comment
before the AD is issued is impracticable, and good cause exists to make
this AD effective in less than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements that affect
flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for
public comment; however, we invite you to submit any relevant written
data, views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an
address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-19569;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-179-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider
all comments received by the closing date and may amend the AD in light
of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of our docket
Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets,
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you can visit
http://dms.dot.gov.
We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of
our communications with you. You can get more information about plain
language at http://www/faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.Regulatory
Findings
We have determined that this AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 that the 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. 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to
examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 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):
2004-23-14 Boeing: Amendment 39-13869. Docket No. FAA-2004-19569;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-179-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective December 1, 2004.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F
series airplanes, as listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-
24A0119, Revision 2, dated August 19, 2004, certificated in any
category; on which the actions of Boeing Service Bulletin 767-24-
0119, dated May 14, 1998, and/or Revision 1, dated December 16,
1999, have been done.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report of loss of all direct
current (DC) power generation during a flight. The FAA is issuing
this AD to prevent depletion of the main battery and consequent loss
of all DC power, which could cause the loss of flight critical
systems.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Rework and Measure Resistance
(f) Within 45 days after the effective date of this AD, rework
the ground stud bracket of the transformer rectifier unit (TRU) and
structure mounting surface, and measure the resistance from the
bracket to the structure and the grounding lug to the bracket using
a bonding meter, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions
of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0119, Revision 2, dated
August 19, 2004, as revised by Boeing Information Notice 767-24A0119
IN 01, dated October 21, 2004, except as provided by paragraph (g)
of this AD.
(g) Step 4, Sheet 3 of Figure 1 in the Accomplishment
Instructions of the service bulletin only specifies to install one
collar with part number (P/N) BACC30M6. However, a collar with P/N
BACC30BL6 (as listed in paragraph 2.C., ``Parts Necessary For Each
Airplane'' of the service bulletin) may be used as an alternative
method of compliance (AMOC).
AMOCs
(h) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if
[[Page 67045]]
requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0119,
Revision 2, dated August 19, 2004, as revised by Boeing Information
Notice 767-24A0119 IN 01, dated October 21, 2004, to perform the
actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies
otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approves the
incorporation by reference of this document in accordance with 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the service
information, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707,
Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. You can review copies at the Docket
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh
Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; or at the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information
on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030,
or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 3, 2004.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-25191 Filed 11-15-04; 8:45 am]
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