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[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 232 (Friday, December 3, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70202-70204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26665]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19795; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-196-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require replacing the existing halogen lamps in the 
cargo compartment light assemblies with new incandescent lamps, and 
installing warning and identification placards. This proposed AD is 
prompted by a report of an aft cargo fire during flight. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent a fire in the cargo compartment.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 18, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, 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, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, 
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This docket 
number is FAA-2004-19795; the directorate identifier for this docket is 
2004-NM-196-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical information: Clint Jones, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-
150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6471; fax (425) 
917-6590.
    Plain language information: Marcia Walters, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Docket Management System (DMS)

    The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets 
electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS 
and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a 
corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in 
the form ``Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.'' The Transport Airplane 
Directorate identifier is in the form ``Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
999-AD.'' Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier 
(``Old Docket Number'') as a cross-reference for searching purposes.

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-19795; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-196-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.

[[Page 70203]]

    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of 
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You can review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You can get more information about 
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    We have received a report indicating that an aft cargo fire 
occurred during flight on a Model 777-300 series airplane. The crew 
discharged the fire bottles and diverted the airplane. After landing, 
ground crew discovered a smoldering blanket in some passenger luggage 
in the bulk cargo compartment. Investigation indicated that the 
passenger luggage had been stuffed against the cargo light assembly, 
which uses a halogen lamp. The halogen lamp was identified as the 
source of the ignition, which apparently occurred when the cargo doors 
were open and the lights were on. The cargo lamps are off during 
flight, but during the flight the blanket continued to smolder and was 
detected by the cargo smoke detection system. The heat from halogen 
lamps in contact with cargo could result in ignition of the cargo.
    The light assemblies in the cargo compartments on Model 777-200 
series airplanes also use halogen lamps, so both airplane models are 
subject to the unsafe condition identified in this proposed AD.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-33-
0025, dated September 1, 2004. The service bulletin describes 
procedures for replacing the existing halogen lamps in the cargo 
compartment light assemblies with new incandescent lamps, and 
installing warning and identification placards for correct replacement 
lamps. Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information 
is intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.
    The Boeing service bulletin refers to Honeywell Service Bulletin 
15-0712-33-0001 as an additional source of service information for the 
lamp replacement. The latest version of that service bulletin is 
Revision 1, dated October 15, 2004.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes 
of this same type design. Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which 
would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously, except as discussed below.

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletin

    Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-33-0025 recommends 
replacing the lamps within 36 months, but this proposed AD would 
require an 18-month compliance time. Since the service bulletin was 
issued, we have re-evaluated the unsafe condition and determined that 
the shortened compliance time is necessary to satisfy all concerns 
regarding safety for the affected fleet. We have advised the 
manufacturer of the need to require an 18-month compliance time in lieu 
of the 36-month recommendation noted in the service bulletin. The 
manufacturer has acknowledged this adjustment. In developing the 
appropriate compliance time for this AD, we considered the urgency 
associated with the unsafe condition, the availability of required 
parts, and the practical aspect of replacing the lamps within a period 
of time that corresponds to the normal maintenance schedules of most 
affected operators. According to the lamp vendor, an adequate number of 
required parts will be available to modify the U.S. fleet within 18 
months. We have determined that this compliance time represents the 
most appropriate time allowable for the affected airplanes to continue 
to safely operate before the modification is done, and will allow most 
affected operators to replace the lamps during scheduled maintenance.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 474 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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                                                                                           Number of
                                     Work      Average                          Cost per     U.S.-       Fleet
         Airplane model             hours       hourly           Parts          airplane   registered     cost
                                              labor rate                                   airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
777-200 (Group 1)...............          5          $65  No cost to                $325          133    $43,225
                                                           operators.
777-300 (Group 2)...............          7           65  No cost to                *455         (**)        (*)
                                                           operators.
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*The figures in this table would apply if an affected Model 777-300 series airplane is imported and placed on
  the U.S. Register in the future.
**None currently.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is 
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. 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.
    This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in

[[Page 70204]]

Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, the FAA is charged 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 AD.

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. 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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2004-19795; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
196-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this AD action by January 18, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series 
airplanes, certificated in any category; as listed in Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 777-33-0025, dated September 1, 2004.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report of an aft cargo fire during 
flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent a fire in the cargo 
compartment.

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.

Lamp Replacement

    (f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace all halogen lamps in the cargo compartment ceiling light 
assemblies with new incandescent lamps, and install warning and 
identification placards; in accordance with Boeing Special Attention 
Service Bulletin 777-33-0025, dated September 1, 2004.

Parts Installation

    (g) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
halogen bulb, part number 9203, in any airplane cargo ceiling light 
assembly.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 26, 2004.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-26665 Filed 12-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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