[Federal Register: December 3, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 232)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 70202-70204]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03de04-10]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2004-19795; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-196-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This
proposed AD would require replacing the existing halogen lamps in the
cargo compartment light assemblies with new incandescent lamps, and
installing warning and identification placards. This proposed AD is
prompted by a report of an aft cargo fire during flight. We are
proposing this AD to prevent a fire in the cargo compartment.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 18,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed 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.
By 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 proposed AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
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. This docket
number is FAA-2004-19795; the directorate identifier for this docket is
2004-NM-196-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical information: Clint Jones,
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-
150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue,
SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6471; fax (425)
917-6590.
Plain language information: Marcia Walters, marcia.walters@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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.
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-19795;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-196-AD'' in the subject line of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
[[Page 70203]]
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 proposed AD. Using the search function of
that 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 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 that affect you. You can get more information about
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.Examining
the Docket
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.
Discussion
We have received a report indicating that an aft cargo fire
occurred during flight on a Model 777-300 series airplane. The crew
discharged the fire bottles and diverted the airplane. After landing,
ground crew discovered a smoldering blanket in some passenger luggage
in the bulk cargo compartment. Investigation indicated that the
passenger luggage had been stuffed against the cargo light assembly,
which uses a halogen lamp. The halogen lamp was identified as the
source of the ignition, which apparently occurred when the cargo doors
were open and the lights were on. The cargo lamps are off during
flight, but during the flight the blanket continued to smolder and was
detected by the cargo smoke detection system. The heat from halogen
lamps in contact with cargo could result in ignition of the cargo.
The light assemblies in the cargo compartments on Model 777-200
series airplanes also use halogen lamps, so both airplane models are
subject to the unsafe condition identified in this proposed AD.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-33-
0025, dated September 1, 2004. The service bulletin describes
procedures for replacing the existing halogen lamps in the cargo
compartment light assemblies with new incandescent lamps, and
installing warning and identification placards for correct replacement
lamps. Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information
is intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.
The Boeing service bulletin refers to Honeywell Service Bulletin
15-0712-33-0001 as an additional source of service information for the
lamp replacement. The latest version of that service bulletin is
Revision 1, dated October 15, 2004.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes
of this same type design. Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which
would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information described previously, except as discussed below.
Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletin
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-33-0025 recommends
replacing the lamps within 36 months, but this proposed AD would
require an 18-month compliance time. Since the service bulletin was
issued, we have re-evaluated the unsafe condition and determined that
the shortened compliance time is necessary to satisfy all concerns
regarding safety for the affected fleet. We have advised the
manufacturer of the need to require an 18-month compliance time in lieu
of the 36-month recommendation noted in the service bulletin. The
manufacturer has acknowledged this adjustment. In developing the
appropriate compliance time for this AD, we considered the urgency
associated with the unsafe condition, the availability of required
parts, and the practical aspect of replacing the lamps within a period
of time that corresponds to the normal maintenance schedules of most
affected operators. According to the lamp vendor, an adequate number of
required parts will be available to modify the U.S. fleet within 18
months. We have determined that this compliance time represents the
most appropriate time allowable for the affected airplanes to continue
to safely operate before the modification is done, and will allow most
affected operators to replace the lamps during scheduled maintenance.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 474 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.
Estimated Costs
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Number of
Work Average Cost per U.S.- Fleet
Airplane model hours hourly Parts airplane registered cost
labor rate airplanes
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777-200 (Group 1)............... 5 $65 No cost to $325 133 $43,225
operators.
777-300 (Group 2)............... 7 65 No cost to *455 (**) (*)
operators.
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*The figures in this table would apply if an affected Model 777-300 series airplane is imported and placed on
the U.S. Register in the future.
**None currently.
Authority for This Rulemaking
The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. 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.
This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in
[[Page 70204]]
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, the FAA is charged 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 AD.
Regulatory Findings
We have 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 that the 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. 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 proposed 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, 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):
Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2004-19795; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
196-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive
comments on this AD action by January 18, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series
airplanes, certificated in any category; as listed in Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 777-33-0025, dated September 1, 2004.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report of an aft cargo fire during
flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent a fire in the cargo
compartment.
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.
Lamp Replacement
(f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD,
replace all halogen lamps in the cargo compartment ceiling light
assemblies with new incandescent lamps, and install warning and
identification placards; in accordance with Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 777-33-0025, dated September 1, 2004.
Parts Installation
(g) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a
halogen bulb, part number 9203, in any airplane cargo ceiling light
assembly.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has
the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 26, 2004.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-26665 Filed 12-2-04; 8:45 am]
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