[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50854-50856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19707]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0762; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-011-AD;
Amendment 39-16393; AD 2010-17-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 767-300 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Model 767-300 series airplanes. This AD requires replacing a wire
bundle clamp and installing a tetrafluoroethylene (TFE 2X) sleeve. This
AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We
are issuing this AD to prevent chafing of a wiring bundle, which could
result in a high-energy short and, consequently, a possible ignition
source in the center auxiliary fuel tank.
DATES: This AD is effective September 2, 2010.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of September 2,
2010.
We must receive comments on this AD by October 4, 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 AD, contact Boeing
Commercial
[[Page 50855]]
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.
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 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: Margaret Langsted, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone
(425) 917-6500; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The FAA has examined the underlying safety issues involved in fuel
tank explosions on several large transport airplanes, including the
adequacy of existing regulations, the service history of airplanes
subject to those regulations, and existing maintenance practices for
fuel tank systems. As a result of those findings, we issued a
regulation titled ``Transport Airplane Fuel Tank System Design Review,
Flammability Reduction and Maintenance and Inspection Requirements''
(66 FR 23086, May 7, 2001). In addition to new airworthiness standards
for transport airplanes and new maintenance requirements, this rule
included Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88 (``SFAR 88,''
Amendment 21-78, and subsequent Amendments 21-82 and 21-83).
Among other actions, SFAR 88 requires certain type design (i.e.,
type certificate (TC) and supplemental type certificate (STC)) holders
to substantiate that their fuel tank systems can prevent ignition
sources in the fuel tanks. This requirement applies to type design
holders for large turbine-powered transport airplanes and for
subsequent modifications to those airplanes. It requires them to
perform design reviews and to develop design changes and maintenance
procedures if their designs do not meet the new fuel tank safety
standards. As explained in the preamble to the rule, we intended to
adopt airworthiness directives to mandate any changes found necessary
to address unsafe conditions identified as a result of these reviews.
In evaluating these design reviews, we have established four
criteria intended to define the unsafe conditions associated with fuel
tank systems that require corrective actions. The percentage of
operating time during which fuel tanks are exposed to flammable
conditions is one of these criteria. The other three criteria address
the failure types under evaluation: single failures, single failures in
combination with a latent condition(s), and in-service failure
experience. For all four criteria, the evaluations included
consideration of previous actions taken that may mitigate the need for
further action.
We have determined that the actions identified in this AD are
necessary to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel
tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result
in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.
We received a report that, during a review of production records,
it was found that three airplanes did not receive a tetrafluoroethylene
(TFE 2X) sleeve and a clamp as part of an in-production version of the
actions required by AD 2009-18-02, Amendment 39-15998 (74 FR 43621,
August 27, 2009). The TFE 2X sleeve and the clamp are designed to
prevent chafing of a wiring bundle located along a fuel tank boundary
structure and to provide additional electrical isolation from the fuel
tank. Chafing of that wiring bundle and insufficient electrical
isolation, when combined, could result in a high-energy short and,
consequently, a potential ignition source in the center auxiliary fuel
tank.
Related Rulemaking
AD 2009-18-02 (which applies to certain Model 767-200, -300, -300F,
and -400ER series airplanes identified in Boeing Service Bulletins 767-
57A0100, Revision 1, dated June 19, 2008, and 767-57A0102, Revision 1,
dated November 27, 2007), requires sealing certain fasteners and
stiffeners in the fuel tank, changing certain wire bundle clamp
configurations on the fuel tank walls, inspecting certain fasteners in
the fuel tanks and to determine the method of attachment of the vortex
generators, and corrective action if necessary.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-57A0122, dated
October 22, 2009. The service bulletin describes procedures for
installing a tetrafluoroethylene (TFE 2X) sleeve and a wire bundle
clamp.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD
No airplanes affected by this AD are on the U.S. Register. We are
issuing this AD because the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design
that could be registered in the United States in the future. This AD
requires the actions described in the service bulletin.
Since no airplanes are affected by this AD, notice and opportunity
for public comment before issuing this AD are unnecessary.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include
``Docket No. FAA-2010-0762; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-011-AD'' at
the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend this 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 AD.
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
[[Page 50856]]
because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or
develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
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 this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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.
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 AD:
2010-17-03 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-16393. Docket No. FAA-
2010-0762; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-011-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 2,
2010.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 767-300 series
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 767-57A0122, dated October 22, 2009.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57: Wings.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the
manufacturer. The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing this AD
to chafing of the wiring bundle, which could result in a high-energy
short and, consequently, a possible ignition source in the center
auxiliary fuel tank.
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.
Installation
(g) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD,
install a tetrafluoroethylene (TFE 2X) sleeve and a wire bundle
clamp, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 767-57A0122, dated October 22, 2009.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(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: Margaret Langsted, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-
140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue,
SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6500; 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-57A0122,
dated October 22, 2009, to do the actions required by this AD,
unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) For service information identified in this 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.
(3) You may review copies of the 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.
(4) You may also review copies of the service information that
is incorporated by reference 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 July 30, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-19707 Filed 8-17-10; 8:45 am]
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