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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34876-34879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14252]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0595; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-055-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company

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 The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD was 
prompted by reports of failure of wire support clamps in the forward 
section of the aft pressure bulkhead. This proposed AD would require a 
detailed inspection of the clamps on the power feeder cable auxiliary 
power unit (APU) to determine if certain clamps are installed, and 
related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent failure of the clamp, which could result 
in wire chafing and potential arcing and consequent fire in section 48 
(a flammable fluid leakage zone) or heat damage to the APU power feeder 
cable, insulation blankets, or pressure bulkhead.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Boeing

[[Page 34877]]

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; 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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Georgios Roussos, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; 
phone: (425) 917-6482; fax: (425) 917-6590; email: 
georgios.roussos@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0595; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-055-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

    We have received reports of failure of wire support clamps in the 
forward section of the aft pressure bulkhead. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in wire chafing and potential arcing and 
consequent fire in section 48 (a flammable fluid leakage zone) or heat 
damage to the APU power feeder cable, insulation blankets, or pressure 
bulkhead.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-24A0119, dated 
November 11, 2011. The service information describes procedures for a 
detailed inspection of the clamps on the APU power feeder cable to 
determine if certain clamps are installed, and related investigative 
and corrective actions if necessary.
    The related investigative actions include a general visual 
inspection for damage of the APU power feeder cable and heat damage of 
the insulation blanket adjacent to the clamp, a detailed inspection for 
primer discoloration and structural deterioration of the fuselage 
structure, and an eddy current inspection for heat damage of the 
aluminum structure.
    The corrective actions include replacing the affected clamps, 
repairing the APU power feeder cable, the installation blanket, and the 
aluminum structure.

Clarification of Requirements

    Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-24A0119, dated November 11, 2011, 
does not include a step for the corrective action if no damage is found 
during the detailed inspection for primer discoloration and structural 
deterioration of the section 47 and 48 fuselage structure. For the 
corrective action, this AD requires repairing the APU power feeder 
cable and insulation blanket and replacing the existing non-TA027063 
clamps with TA027063 clamps, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-24A0119, dated 
November 11, 2011.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously, except as discussed 
under ``Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service 
Information.''

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information

    The service bulletin specifies to contact the manufacturer for 
instructions on how to repair certain conditions, but this proposed AD 
would require repairing those conditions in one of the following ways:
     In accordance with a method that we approve; or
     Using data that meet the certification basis of the 
airplane, and that have been approved by the Boeing Commercial 
Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) whom we have 
authorized to make those findings.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 164 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection and Clamp Replacement....  8 work-hours x $85 per             $500           $1,180         $193,520
                                       hour = $680.
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    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary repair that 
would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. We 
have no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this 
repair:

[[Page 34878]]

                                               On-Condition Costs
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                                                                                                     Cost per
                  Action                                Labor cost                 Parts cost        product
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Inspection and Repair of the Pressure       48 work-hours x $85 per hour =                  $0           $4,080
 Bulkhead.                                   $4,080.
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    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
parts cost estimates for the on-condition repairs specified in this 
proposed 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 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

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 
airworthiness directive (AD):

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2012-0595; Directorate Identifier 
2012-NM-055-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 27, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -
300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes; certificated in any 
category; as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
24A0119, dated November 11, 2011.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 2421; AC Generator/Alternator.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of failure of wire support 
clamps in the forward section of the aft pressure bulkhead. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the clamp, which could result 
in wire chafing and potential arcing and consequent fire in section 
48 (a flammable fluid leakage zone) or heat damage to the auxiliary 
power unit (APU) power feeder cable, insulation blankets, or 
pressure bulkhead.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Detailed Inspection of the Clamps

    Within 48 months after the effective date of this AD: Do a 
detailed inspection of the clamps on the APU power feeder cable to 
determine if TA027063 clamps are installed, and all applicable 
related investigative and corrective actions, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
24A0119, dated November 11, 2011, except as required by paragraph 
(h) and (i) of this AD. Do all related investigative and corrective 
actions before further flight.

(h) Exception to the Service Bulletin

    If during any inspection of the fuselage structure required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, no primer discoloration or structural 
deterioration is found, before further flight, repair the APU power 
feeder cable and insulation blanket and replace the existing clamps, 
in accordance with steps 3.B.7, 3.B.8, and 3.B.9 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
24A0119, dated November 11, 2011.

(i) Repair Approval

    Where the service bulletin specifies to do the repair in 
accordance to the instruction from Boeing, before further flight, 
repair using a method approved in accordance with the procedures 
specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (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. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local 
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in the Related Information 
section of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.
    (2) 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.
    (3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any structural repair required by this AD if it is approved 
by the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation 
Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle 
ACO, to make those findings. For a structural repair method to be 
approved, the repair must meet the certification basis of the 
airplane, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Georgios 
Roussos, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, 
FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: (425) 917-6482; fax: (425) 917-6590; 
email: georgios.roussos@faa.gov.

[[Page 34879]]

    (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; 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 31, 2012.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-14252 Filed 6-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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