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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 29, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 81220-81223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32548]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-7531; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-052-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company 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 The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This proposed AD was

[[Page 81221]]

prompted by reports of electrical shorts of the motor stator wiring 
burning a hole through the housing of the motor of the cabin air 
compressor (CAC). This proposed AD would require installing modified 
inboard and outboard CAC modules on the left side and right side cabin 
air conditioning and temperature control system (CACTCS) packs. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent an electrical short from burning through 
the housing of the motor of the CAC, which could result in a fire in 
the pack bay, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 12, 
2016.

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 Boeing service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 
Management, P. O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone 
206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
7531; 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: Eric Brown, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin 
Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 
98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6476; fax: 425-917-6590; email: 
eric.m.brown@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-2015-7531; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-052-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 received reports of electrical shorts of the motor stator wiring 
burning a hole through the housing of the motor of the CAC. The pack 
bay is classified as a flammable fluid leakage zone and the burn-
through would be classified as an ignition source. This condition, if 
not corrected, could result in a fire in the pack bay, and consequent 
reduced controllability of the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB210055-00, 
Issue 001, dated March 12, 2015. This service information describes 
procedures for installing modified inboard and outboard CAC modules on 
the left side and right side CACTCS packs. This service information is 
reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it 
through their normal course of business or by the means identified in 
the ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.

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. For information on the 
procedures and compliance times, see this service information at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
7531.

Explanation of Required for Compliance (RC) Steps in Service 
Information

    The FAA worked in conjunction with industry, under the 
Airworthiness Directive Implementation Aviation Rulemaking Committee 
(ARC), to enhance the AD system. One enhancement was a new process for 
annotating which steps in the service information are required for 
compliance with an AD. Differentiating these steps from other tasks in 
the service information is expected to improve an owner's/operator's 
understanding of crucial AD requirements and help provide consistent 
judgment in AD compliance. The steps identified as RC in any service 
information identified previously have a direct effect on detecting, 
preventing, resolving, or eliminating an identified unsafe condition.
    For service information that contains steps that are labeled as RC, 
the following provisions apply: (1) the steps labeled as RC, including 
substeps under an RC step and any figures identified in an RC step, 
must be done to comply with the AD, and an AMOC is required for any 
deviations to RC steps, including substeps and identified figures; and 
(2) steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted methods 
in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection program 
without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC steps, including 
substeps and identified figures, can still be done as specified, and 
the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 22 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 81222]]

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                      Labor cost         Parts cost    Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification, installation, and   Up to 30 work[dash]hours         $0   Up to $2,550.......  Up to $56,100.
 installation test.                x $85 per hour = $2,550.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2015-7531; Directorate Identifier 
2015-NM-052-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by February 12, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes, 
certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB210055-00, Issue 001, dated March 12, 2015.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 21, Air 
conditioning.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of electrical shorts of the 
motor stator wiring burning a hole through the housing of the motor 
of the cabin air compressor (CAC). We are issuing this AD to prevent 
an electrical short from burning through the housing of the motor of 
the CAC, which could result in a fire in the pack bay and consequent 
reduced controllability of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Replacement of CAC Modules

    Within 5 years after the effective date of this AD, install 
modified inboard and outboard CAC modules on the left side and right 
side cabin air conditioning and temperature control system (CACTCS) 
packs, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB210055-00, Issue 001, dated 
March 12, 2015.

(h) 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 paragraph (i)(1) 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 repair, modification, or alteration 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 repair method to 
be approved, the repair method, modification deviation, or 
alteration deviation must meet the certification basis of the 
airplane, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD.
    (4) For service information that contains steps that are labeled 
as Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraphs 
(h)(4)(i) and (h)(4)(ii) of this AD apply.
    (i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step 
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply 
with the AD. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps, 
including substeps and identified figures.
    (ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted 
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection 
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC 
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done 
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy 
condition.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Eric Brown, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, 
ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6476; fax: 
425-917-6590; email: eric.m.brown@faa.gov.

[[Page 81223]]

    (2) For Boeing service information identified in this AD, 
contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 
Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; 
telephone 206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet 
https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this 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 December 18, 2015.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-32548 Filed 12-28-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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