Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2011 / Proposed Rules 12617 

Dated: March 2, 2011. 

Otto Barry Bird, 

Chief Counsel. 

[FR Doc. 2011–5128 Filed 3–7–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–WH–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0153; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–NM–022–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). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Model 777–200 and –300 series 

airplanes. This proposed AD would 

require removing the electrical system 

control panel, changing the wiring, 

installing a new electrical power control 

panel, and installing new operational 

software for the electrical load 

management system and configuration 

database. 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 April 22, 2011. 

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 

me.boecom@boeing.com; 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–2011–0153; Directorate Identifier 

2010–NM–022–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 

was from cabin IFE system components, 

including electronic seat boxes mounted 

under passenger seats, IFE 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 nonessential 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 777–24–0074, Revision 1, dated 

October 5, 2006. This service bulletin 

describes procedures for removing the 

electrical power control panel, changing 

the wiring, and installing a new 

electrical power control panel having 

the two new cabin power control 

switches. 

Boeing Service Bulletin 777–24–0074, 

Revision 1, dated October 5, 2006, also 

specifies prior or concurrent 

accomplishment of Boeing Service 

Bulletin 777–24–0070, dated April 4, 

2002, which describes procedures for 

installing new operational software 

(OPS) for the electrical load 

management system and new 

configuration database software. 

Boeing Service Bulletin 777–24–0074, 

Revision 1, dated October 5, 2006, refers 

to Boeing Component Service Bulletin 

233W3202–24–04, Revision 1, dated 

September 25, 2003, as an additional 

source of guidance for installing the 

passenger compartment electrical power 

isolation switches. 

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 

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12618 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2011 / Proposed Rules 

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 42 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

Action Work 

hours 

Average 

labor rate 

per hour 

Parts Cost per 

product 

Number of 

U.S.- 

registered 

airplanes 

Fleet cost 

Modification .......................................................................................... 4 $85 $751 $1,091 42 $45,822 

Concurrent modification (Boeing Service Bulletin 777–24–0070) ....... 2 85 0 170 42 7,140 

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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new AD: 

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA– 

2011–0153; Directorate Identifier 2010– 

NM–022–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) We must receive comments by April 22, 

2011. 

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 

identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 777–24– 

0074, Revision 1, dated October 5, 2006. 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 24: Electrical power. 

Unsafe Condition 

(e) This AD results from an in-flight 

entertainment (IFE) systems review. We are 

issuing 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 nonessential 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, remove the electrical power 

control panel, change the wiring, and install 

a new electrical power control panel, in 

accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 

777–24–0074, Revision 1, dated October 5, 

2006. 

Note 1: Boeing Service Bulletin 777–24– 

0074, Revision 1, dated October 5, 2006, 

refers to Boeing Component Service Bulletin 

233W3202–24–04, Revision 1, dated 

September 25, 2003, as an additional source 

of guidance for installing the passenger 

compartment electrical power isolation 

switches. 

Concurrent Requirements 

(h) Prior to or concurrently with 

accomplishing the requirements of paragraph 

(g) of this AD, install the electrical load 

management system operational software and 

configuration database software, in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777– 

24–0070, dated April 4, 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: 9- 

ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(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, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. The AMOC 

approval letter must specifically reference 

this AD. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2011 / Proposed Rules 12619 

Issued in Renton, Washington on February 

22, 2011. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–5158 Filed 3–7–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0155; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–NM–141–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company 737–200, –200C, –300, –400, 

and –500 Series Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede an existing airworthiness 

directive (AD) that applies to certain 

Boeing Model 737–200, –200C, –300, 

–400, and –500 series airplanes. The 

existing AD currently requires repetitive 

inspections to find fatigue cracking of 

certain upper and lower skin panels of 

the fuselage, and follow-on and 

corrective actions if necessary. The 

existing AD also includes a terminating 

action for the repetitive inspections of 

certain modified or repaired areas only. 

This proposed AD would add new 

inspections for cracking of the fuselage 

skin along certain chem-milled lines, 

and corrective actions if necessary. This 

proposed AD would also reduce certain 

thresholds and intervals required by the 

existing AD. This proposed AD results 

from reports of new findings of vertical 

cracks in the fuselage skin along the 

chem-milled steps adjacent to the butt 

joints. We are proposing this AD to 

detect and correct fatigue cracking of the 

skin panels, which could result in 

sudden fracture and failure of the skin 

panels of the fuselage, and consequent 

rapid decompression of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by April 22, 2011. 

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 

me.boecom@boeing.com; 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: 

Wayne Lockett, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 917–6447; fax (425) 917–6590; 

e-mail: wayne.lockett@faa.gov. 

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–2011–0155; Directorate Identifier 

2009–NM–141–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 August 26, 2004, we issued AD 

2004–18–06, Amendment 39–13784 (69 

FR 54206, September 8, 2004), for 

certain Model 737–200, –200C, –300, 

–400, and –500 series airplanes. That 

AD requires repetitive inspections to 

find fatigue cracking of certain upper 

and lower skin panels of the fuselage, 

and follow-on and corrective actions if 

necessary. That AD also includes a 

terminating action for the repetitive 

inspections of certain modified or 

repaired areas only. That AD resulted 

from reports indicating new findings of 

cracks were found along the edges of the 

chem-milled pockets in the upper skin 

at certain stringers. We issued that AD 

to find and fix fatigue cracking of the 

skin panels, which could result in 

sudden fracture and failure of the skin 

panels of the fuselage, and consequent 

rapid decompression of the airplane. 

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued 

Since we issued AD 2004–18–06, we 

have received reports of new findings of 

vertical cracks in the fuselage skin along 

the chem-milled steps adjacent to the 

butt joints and at certain body stations 

on airplanes with between 45,100 flight 

cycles (65,200 flight hours) and 67,400 

flight cycles (70,800 flight hours). 

A decompression event connected to 

chem-milled steps occurred in July 2009 

(after issuance of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 737–53A1210, Revision 3, 

dated July 16, 2009) and resulted in reevaluation of the inspection thresholds 

and repetitive intervals. The new data 

and analysis require the repetitive 

intervals be reduced from those 

currently specified in Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–53A1210, Revision 

3, dated July 16, 2009. These new 

repetitive intervals are defined in the 

differences section of the NPRM. 

Explanation of Relevant Service 

Information 

We have reviewed Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–53A1210, Revision 

2, dated March 3, 2009; and Boeing 

Alert Service Bulletin 737–53A1210, 

Revision 3, dated July 16, 2009. Boeing 

Alert Service Bulletin 737–53A1210, 

Revision 1, dated October 25, 2001, was 

referred to as the appropriate source of 

service information for accomplishing 

the actions in the existing AD. 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737– 

53A1210, Revision 2, describes 

procedures for, among other things, 

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