[Federal Register: November 19, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 222)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 64964-64966]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19no07-18]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0203; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-105-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and
-400ER Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness
directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and
-300F series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires reworking
the surface of the ground stud bracket of the left and right
transformer rectifier units (TRUs) and the airplane structure mounting
surface, and measuring the resistance from the bracket to the structure
and the ground lugs to the bracket using a bonding meter. This proposed
AD would revise the applicability of the existing AD to include
additional airplanes and would also require, among other actions,
installation of a new ground stud bracket using faying surface bonding.
This proposed AD results from 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 TRUs/main battery charger
(MBC) and the structure. We are proposing this AD to prevent depletion
of the main battery while in flight, resulting from the loss of both
TRUs and the MBC, and consequent loss of all DC power, which could
impact the safe flight and landing of the airplane due to the loss of
function or malfunction of essential/critical systems and displays in
the cockpit.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 3, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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.
[[Page 64965]]
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, 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.
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 (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSE section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0203;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-105-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
On November 3, 2004, we issued AD 2004-23-14, amendment 39-13869
(69 FR 67043, November 16, 2004), for certain Boeing Model 767-200, -
300, and -300F series airplanes. That AD requires reworking the surface
of the ground stud bracket of the left and right transformer rectifier
units (TRUs) and the airplane structure mounting surface, and measuring
the resistance from the bracket to the structure and the ground lugs to
the bracket using a bonding meter. That AD resulted from 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
TRUs and the structure. We issued that AD to prevent depletion of the
main battery and consequent loss of all DC power, which could cause the
loss of flight critical systems.
Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued
The preamble to AD 2004-23-14 explains that we consider the
requirements ``interim action'' and were considering further rulemaking
to add a redundant TRU ground bracket on all 767 airplanes. We now have
determined that further rulemaking is indeed necessary, and this
proposed AD follows from that determination.
In addition, Boeing has informed us that additional airplanes are
subject to the identified unsafe condition (i.e., depletion of the main
battery while in flight, resulting from the loss of both TRUs and the
MBC, and consequent loss of all DC power, which could impact the safe
flight and landing of the airplane due to the loss of function or
malfunction of essential/critical systems and displays in the cockpit).
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0162, dated
May 30, 2006. The service information describes the following major
procedures, depending on the airplane configuration:
Reworking the existing ground stud bracket of the TRUs/MBC
and structure mounting surface.
Measuring the resistance from that bracket to the
structure and from the ground lugs to that bracket using a bonding
meter.
Installing a new ground stud bracket using faying surface
bonding.
Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to develop on other airplanes of the
same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, which
would supersede AD 2004-23-14 and would retain the requirements of the
existing AD. This proposed AD also would require accomplishing the
applicable actions specified in service information described
previously. In addition, this proposed AD would expand the
applicability of the existing AD to include additional airplanes.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 932 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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Average Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours labor rate Parts Cost per airplane registered Fleet cost
per hour airplanes
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Rework and Measurement 1............... $80 $4 $84..................... 262 $22,008.
(required by AD 2004-23-14).
New proposed actions........... 1 or 2 \1\...... 80 208 $288 or $368 \1\........ 412 $118,656 or $151,616 \1\.
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\1\ Depending on the airplane configuration.
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,
[[Page 64966]]
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 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 and placed it in the AD docket. 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
removing amendment 39-13869 (69 FR 67043, November 16, 2004) and adding
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2007-0203; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
105-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by January
3, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2004-23-14.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and -
400ER series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified
in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0162, dated May 30, 2006.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from 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 left and right
transformer rectifier unit (TRUs)/main battery charger (MBC) and the
structure. We are issuing this AD to prevent depletion of the main
battery while in flight, resulting from the loss of both TRUs and
the MBC, and consequent loss of all DC power, which could impact the
safe flight and landing of the airplane due to the loss of function
or malfunction of essential/critical systems and displays in the
cockpit.
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.
Requirements of AD 2004-23-14
Rework and Measure Resistance
(f) For Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes, as
listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0119, Revision 2,
dated August 19, 2004; 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: Within 45 days after December 1,
2004 (the effective date of AD 2004-23-14), rework the ground stud
bracket of the TRUs 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).
New Actions Required by This AD
Rework, Installation, Measurement, as Applicable
(h) For all airplanes: Within 36 months after the effective date
of this AD, rework the existing ground stud bracket of the TRUs/MBC,
measure the resistance, and install a new ground stud bracket of the
TRUs by doing all the applicable actions specified in the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-
4A0162, dated May 30, 2006.
AMOCs
(i)(1) 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.
(2) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 7, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-22543 Filed 11-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P