[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38945-38947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16517]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0678; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-020-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -
300 Series 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 Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would
require installing new operational software in the cabin management
system, and loading new software into the mass memory card. This
proposed AD results from an in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems
review. We are proposing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew is able
to turn off electrical power to the IFE system and other non-essential
electrical systems through a switch in the flight compartment in the
event of smoke or flames. In the event of smoke or flames in the
airplane flight deck or passenger cabin, the flightcrew's inability to
turn off electrical power to the IFE system and other non-essential
electrical systems could result in the inability to control smoke or
flames in the airplane flight deck or passenger cabin during a non-
normal or emergency situation.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 23, 2010.
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.
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 proposed AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management,
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail [email protected];
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review copies of the
referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. 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; 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: Joe Salameh, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 917-6454; 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 ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-0678;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-020-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
In response to numerous reports of smoke or flames in the passenger
cabin of various models of transport category airplanes, we conducted a
comprehensive in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems review. Earlier
investigation of the reports had revealed that the source of the smoke
and flames
[[Page 38946]]
was from cabin IFE system components, including electronic seat boxes
mounted under passenger seats, IFR wirings, IFE monitors, cabin
lighting, wall outlets, and other non-essential cabin electrical
systems.
The systems review disclosed that in order to minimize the risk of
smoke or flames in the passenger cabin, a switch is needed in the
flight compartment to enable the flightcrew to turn off electrical
power to the IFE system and other non-essential electrical systems. In
the event of smoke or flames in the airplane flight deck or passenger
cabin, the flightcrew's inability to turn off power to the IFE system
and other non-essential electrical systems, if not corrected, could
result in the inability to control smoke or flames in the airplane
flight deck or passenger cabin during a non-normal or emergency
situation.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 777-23-0175, Revision 2,
dated October 12, 2006. The service bulletin describes procedures for
installing new operational software in the cabin management system as
follows:
At the cabin system control panel (CSCP), remove the
installed mass memory card (MMC) 285W0925-1 or 285W0925-2.
Install the new MMC 285W0925-3.
Install a new cabin system management unit (CSMU) software
part number 2313-BCE-01T-03.
Install a new cabin area control panel (CACP) software
part number 2313-BCE-01U-02.
Install a new zone management unit (ZMU) software part
number 2374-BCE-021-02.
Install a new overhead electronics unit (OEU) operational
software (OPS) (12 port) part number 2310-BCE-01V-02, if the airplane
configuration has OEU hardware 285W0029-5 installed.
Install a new configuration database (CDB).
Install the new CDB to the cabin service system.
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-23-0175, Revision 2, dated October 12,
2006, specifies prior or concurrent accomplishment of Boeing Component
Service Bulletin 285W0925-23-02, dated July 11, 2002, which describes
procedures for loading the new cabin services system central storage
device software and CSCP OPS into the MMC.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type
designs. This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions
specified in the service information described previously.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 59 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S.
operators to comply with this proposed AD.
Table--Estimated Costs
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
rate per hour product airplanes
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Modification--New software in the cabin management 4 $85 $0 $340 59 $20,060
system.................................................
Concurrent modification--New software in the mass memory 1 85 0 85 59 5,015
card...................................................
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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), 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.
You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of
compliance in the AD Docket.
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
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 AD:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2010-0678; Directorate Identifier
2010-NM-020-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by August 23, 2010.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300
series airplanes, certificated in any category; as
[[Page 38947]]
identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-23-0175, Revision 2, dated
October 12, 2006.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 23:
Communications.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from an in-flight entertainment (IFE)
systems review. We are proposing this AD to minimize the risk of
smoke or flames in the passenger cabin by installing a switch in the
flight compartment to enable the flightcrew to turn off electrical
power to the IFE system and other non-essential electrical systems.
In the event of smoke or flames in the airplane flight deck or
passenger cabin, the flightcrew's inability to turn off electrical
power to the IFE system and other non-essential electrical systems
could result in the inability to control smoke or flames in the
airplane flight deck or passenger cabin during a non-normal or
emergency situation.
Compliance
(f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Modification
(g) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD:
Replace the mass memory card (MMC) with a new MMC; install new cabin
system management unit (CSMU) software, cabin area control panel
(CACP) software, and new zone management unit (ZMU) software;
install new overhead electronics unit (OEU) operational program
software, if applicable; install a new configuration database (CDB);
and install the new CDB to the cabin service system; in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-
23-0175, Revision 2, dated October 12, 2006.
Concurrent Requirement
(h) Prior to or concurrently with accomplishing the requirements
of paragraph (g) of this AD, load the new cabin services system
central storage device software and cabin system control panel
operational software into the MMC, in accordance with Boeing
Component Service Bulletin 285W0925-23-02, dated July 11, 2002.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(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. Send information to
ATTN: Joe Salameh, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch,
ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-
6454; fax (425) 917-6590. Information may be e-mailed to: [email protected].
(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 principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office.
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 29, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-16517 Filed 7-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P