72564 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 3, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

conditions ‘‘as of the original issue date of 

this service bulletin.’’ This AD, however, 

applies to the airplanes with the specified 

condition as of the effective date of this AD. 

(j) Credit for Previous Actions 

This paragraph provides credit for the 

actions required by paragraphs (g) and (h) of 

this AD, if those actions were performed 

before the effective date of this AD using 

Boeing Service Bulletin 747–53A2747, 

Revision 1, dated October 12, 2011, which is 

not incorporated by reference in this AD. 

(k) Terminating Action for Other ADs 

(1) Accomplishing the requirements of this 

AD terminates the requirements of 

paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of AD 2006–20– 

02, Amendment 39–14771 (71 FR 56861, 

September 28, 2006). 

(2) Accomplishing the requirements of this 

AD terminates the requirements of 

paragraphs (f), (k), and (l) of AD 2006–24–02, 

Amendment 39–14831 (71 FR 67445, 

November 22, 2006). 

(3) Accomplishing the requirements of this 

AD terminates the requirements of 

paragraphs (f) and (i) of AD 2006–24–05, 

Amendment 39–14834 (71 FR 68434, 

November 27, 2006). 

(l) 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 (m)(1) of this AD. Information may 

be emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOCRequests@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 

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 must meet 

the certification basis of the airplane, and the 

approval must specifically refer to this AD. 

(m) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Nathan Weigand, Aerospace 

Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, 

FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 

(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6428; fax: 425– 

917–6590; email: Nathan.P.Weigand@

faa.gov. 

(2) Service information identified in this 

AD that is not incorporated by reference in 

this AD may be obtained at the addresses 

specified in paragraphs (n)(3) and (n)(4) of 

this AD. 

(n) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Boeing Service Bulletin 747–53A2747, 

Revision 2, dated February 22, 2012. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(3) 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. 

(4) You may review copies of the 

referenced service information at the 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. 

(5) You may view this 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/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Renton, WA, on November 15, 

2013. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–28611 Filed 12–2–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1229; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–135–AD; Amendment 

39–17684; AD 2013–24–10] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 757 and 

Model 767 airplanes. This AD was 

prompted by a standby power relay 

failure and subsequent illumination of 

the ‘‘STANDBY BUS OFF’’ light, which 

led the flightcrew to set the standby 

power switch to the ‘‘BAT’’ position, 

isolating the battery and standby buses, 

disabling the battery charger, and 

eventually causing the main battery to 

be depleted. This AD requires doing 

wiring changes and installing a new air/ 

ground relay to the battery charger 

system. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent discharge of the main battery, 

which could result in multiple system 

degradation, reduced airplane 

controllability, and runway excursion 

upon landing. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 7, 

2014. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of January 7, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: For 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, 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; 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 address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

Document Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Marie Hogestad, Aerospace Engineer, 

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM– 

130S, Seattle Aircraft Certification 

Office (ACO), FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; phone: 

425–917–6418; fax: 425–917–6590; 

email: marie.hogestad@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. The 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on December 20, 2012 (77 FR 

75402). The NPRM proposed to require 

doing wiring changes and installing a 


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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 3, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 72565 

new air/ground relay to the battery 

charger system. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the proposal (77 FR 75402, 

December 20, 2012) and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. 

Support for the NPRM (77 FR 75402, 

December 20, 2012) 

The Air Line Pilots Association 

International (ALPA) stated that it 

supports the NPRM (77 FR 75402, 

December 20, 2012). 

Boeing stated that it concurs with the 

contents of the NPRM (77 FR 75402, 

December 20, 2012). 

The National Transportation Safety 

Board stated that it supports the NPRM 

(77 FR 75402, December 20, 2012), and 

that, in conjunction with the procedural 

changes recommended by the board and 

implemented by Boeing, the NPRM will 

provide an additional margin of safety 

by requiring modifications to the 

airplane that will allow flightcrews to 

manage the electrical system more 

effectively in the event of a relay failure 

that results in a loss of power to the 

standby bus. 

Request To Mandate Quick Reference 

Handbook (QRH) Change 

ALPA requested we ensure that 

operators adopt the QRH procedural 

changes that have been implemented by 

Boeing. ALPA stated that incorporating 

the QRH procedural changes would 

help to ensure that an event similar to 

the event that prompted the NPRM (77 

FR 75402, December 20, 2012) does not 

occur during the 60-month compliance 

time. 

We partially agree with the 

commenter’s request. We agree that 

incorporating the QRH change prior to 

implementing the design change helps 

mitigate the unsafe condition. We 

disagree with mandating incorporation 

of the QRH change. We have evaluated 

the risk and have determined that 

accomplishing this final rule within the 

required compliance time adequately 

addresses the unsafe condition without 

the need for any additional interim 

actions. We have determined this AD 

action is appropriate based on the 

probability of occurrence, without 

requiring that operators incorporate the 

temporary procedural changes prior to 

incorporating the required design 

changes. We have not changed this final 

rule in this regard. 

Request To Specify Alternative Relay 

Locations 

United Airlines (UAL) requested that 

we specify alternate locations for the 

new air/ground relay in the P36 panel 

versus the location specified in Figure 

15, Sheet 2, of Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 757–24–0132, Revision 

1, dated June 19, 2012 (which is the 

service information referenced in the 

NPRM (77 FR 75402, December 20, 

2012)). UAL stated that operators will 

need to apply for alternative methods of 

compliance (AMOCs) if they have used 

the location described in the service 

information for supplemental type 

certificate (STC) projects. 

We disagree with the commenter’s 

request to specify alternate relay 

locations. Figure 15, Sheet 2, of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 757– 

24–0132, Revision 1, dated June 19, 

2012, already provides a note with 

regard to the relay installation that 

states, ‘‘if location is used, the new relay 

can be installed anywhere on the same 

row.’’ We have not changed this final 

rule in this regard. 

Request To Change Wire Bundle 

Routing 

UAL requested that the wire bundle 

routing described in Figure 1, Sheet 2, 

of Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 757–24–0132, Revision 1, dated 

June 19, 2012, be moved to a location 

that is easier to access. UAL stated that 

bundle routing near diamond ‘‘B’’ by 

station 288 can be very difficult because 

this is behind the P6 panel, which 

cannot be moved. UAL suggested that 

following a path in a bundle more 

forward would be easier. UAL also 

stated that removing the G1A galley for 

access is only feasible in a C-check 

environment; otherwise the cost is 

prohibitive. 

We disagree with the commenter’s 

request to change the wire bundle 

routing. Wire bundle W2078 is an 

existing wire bundle being changed for 

this modification. The changes to this 

wire bundle are done near the P5 and 

P36 panel. Figure 1, of Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 757–24– 

0132, Revision 1, dated June 19, 2012, 

is only meant to show that the bundle 

is routed to both panels and the P6 

panel, but it does not require a 

modification in that area. 

Figures 2 through 8 of Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 757–24– 

0132, Revision 1, dated June 19, 2012, 

show the wiring change. The wire from 

the P6 panel (W2078–0 150–22) is an 

existing wire and is only modified near 

the P5 panel (flag note 8). Furthermore, 

the G1A galley is only removed if it is 

necessary. Note 5 of section 3.A., 

General Information, of Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 757–24– 

0132, Revision 1, dated June 19, 2012, 

states that, ‘‘If it is necessary to remove 

more parts for access, you can remove 

those parts. If you can get access 

without removing identified parts, it is 

not necessary to remove all of the 

identified parts. Jacking and shoring 

limitations must be observed.’’ 

Therefore, operators can remove other 

items if it is easier for them. 

Finally, in developing an appropriate 

compliance time for this AD, we 

considered not only the safety 

implications, but the manufacturer’s 

recommendations and the practical 

aspect of accomplishing the actions 

within an interval of time that 

corresponds to typical scheduled 

maintenance for affected operators. We 

have determined that a 60-month 

compliance time will ensure an 

acceptable level of safety and allow the 

modifications to be done during 

scheduled maintenance intervals for 

most affected operators. Also, the 

Boeing service information cited in the 

NPRM (77 FR 75402, December 20, 

2012), has been available to operators 

since June 2012; therefore, operators 

have had ample time to consider 

initiating those actions that this final 

rule requires. We have not changed this 

final rule in this regard. 

Statement of STC Effect on 

Applicability 

Aviation Partners Boeing stated that 

the installation of winglets per STC 

ST01920SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/

Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/

rgstc.nsf/0/

082838ee177dbf62862576a4005cdfc0/

$FILE/ST01920SE.pdf) or STC 

ST01518SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/

Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/

rgstc.nsf/0/

48e13cdfbbc32cf4862576a4005d308b/

$FILE/ST01518SE.pdf) do not affect the 

accomplishment of the manufacturer’s 

service instructions. 

We have added new paragraph (c)(3) 

to this final rule to state that installation 

of STC ST01920SE or STC ST01518SE 

does not affect the ability to accomplish 

the actions required by this final rule. 

Therefore, for airplanes on which STC 

ST01920SE or STC ST01518SE is 

installed, a ‘‘change in product’’ AMOC 

approval request is not necessary to 

comply with the requirements of 14 CFR 

39.17. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 


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72566 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 3, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

public interest require adopting this AD 

with the change described previously 

and minor editorial changes. We have 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM (77 FR 

75402, December 20, 2012) for 

correcting the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM (77 FR 75402, 

December 20, 2012). 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 1,085 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Install new air/ground relay; 674 

Model 757 airplanes.

23 work-hours × $85 per hour = 

$1,955.

Up to $733 ................. Up to $2,688 .............. Up to $1,811,712. 

Install new air/ground relay; 411 

Model 767 airplanes.

Up to 35 work-hours × $85 per 

hour = $2,975.

Up to $881 ................. Up to $3,856 .............. Up to $1,584,816. 

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 

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), 

(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. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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 airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

2013–24–10 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–17684; Docket No. 

FAA–2012–1229; Directorate Identifier 

2012–NM–135–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective January 7, 2014. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to The Boeing Company 

airplanes, certificated in any category, 

identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of 

this AD. 

(1) Model 757–200, –200PF, –200CB, and 

–300 series airplanes, as identified in Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 757–24– 

0132, Revision 1, dated June 19, 2012. 

(2) Model 767–200, –300, –300F, and 

–400ER series airplanes, as identified in 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 

767–24–0200, Revision 1, dated September 

13, 2012. 

(3) Installation of Supplemental Type 

Certificate (STC) ST01920SE (http://

rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_

Library/rgstc.nsf/0/

082838ee177dbf62862576a4005cdfc0/$FILE/

ST01920SE.pdf) or STC ST01518SE (http://

rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_

Library/rgstc.nsf/0/

48e13cdfbbc32cf4862576a4005d308b/$FILE/

ST01518SE.pdf) does not affect the ability to 

accomplish the actions required by this AD. 

Therefore, for airplanes on which STC 

ST01920SE or STC ST01518SE is installed, a 

’’change in product’’ alternative method of 

compliance (AMOC) approval request is not 

necessary to comply with the requirements of 

14 CFR 39.17. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America 

Code 24, Electrical Power. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a standby power 

relay failure and subsequent illumination of 

the ‘‘STANDBY BUS OFF’’ light, which led 

the flightcrew to set the standby power 

switch to the ‘‘BAT’’ position, isolating the 

battery and standby buses, disabling the 

battery charger, and eventually causing the 

main battery to be depleted. We are issuing 

this AD to prevent discharge of the main 

battery, which could result in multiple 

system degradation, reduced airplane 

controllability, and runway excursion upon 

landing. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Installation 

Within 60 months after the effective date 

of this AD: Do wiring changes and install a 

new air/ground relay to the battery charger 

system, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 757–24– 

0132, Revision 1, dated June 19, 2012; or 

Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 

767–24–0200, Revision 1, dated September 

13, 2012; as applicable. 

(h) Credit for Previous Actions 

(1) For Model 757 airplanes: This 

paragraph provides credit for the actions 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD if those 

actions were performed before the effective 

date of this AD using Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 757–24–0132, 

dated April 14, 2011, which is not 

incorporated by reference in this AD. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 3, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 72567 

(2) For Model 767 airplanes: This 

paragraph provides credit for the actions 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD if those 

actions were performed before the effective 

date of this AD using Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 767–24–0200, 

dated April 14, 2011, which is not 

incorporated by reference, provided that a 

functional test of the battery charger system 

is done, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 767–24– 

0200, Revision 1, dated September 13, 2012, 

within 60 months after the effective date of 

this AD. 

(i) 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 (j)(1) of this AD. Information may 

be emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOCRequests@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 

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 must meet 

the certification basis of the airplane and the 

approval must specifically refer to this AD. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Marie Hogestad, Aerospace Engineer, 

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM–130S, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 

FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6418; fax: 425– 

917–6590; email: marie.hogestad@faa.gov. 

(2) Service information identified in this 

AD that is not incorporated by reference may 

be obtained at the addresses specified in 

paragraphs (k)(3) and (k)(4) of this AD. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 757–24–0132, Revision 1, dated June 

19, 2012. 

(ii) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 767–24–0200, Revision 1, dated 

September 13, 2012. 

(3) 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. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at 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. 

(5) You may view this 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/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 15, 2013. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–28441 Filed 12–2–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0499; Directorate 

Identifier 2013–NE–20–AD; Amendment 39– 

17673; AD 2013–23–18] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; General 

Electric Company Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

General Electric Company (GE) GE90– 

110B1 and –115B turbofan engines. This 

AD was prompted by multiple events of 

a leaking variable bypass valve (VBV) 

actuator fuel supply tube. This AD 

requires replacement of this VBV 

actuator fuel supply tube with a part 

eligible for installation. We are issuing 

this AD to prevent failure of the affected 

fuel supply tube, fuel leakage, engine 

fire, and damage to the airplane. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 7, 

2014. 

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 address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

Document Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jason Yang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 

Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 

Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 

phone: 781–238–7747; fax: 781–238– 

7199; email: jason.yang@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. The 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on July, 25, 2013 (78 FR 44899, 

July 25, 2013). The NPRM proposed to 

require replacement of the affected VBV 

actuator fuel supply tube, part number 

2165M22P01, with a part eligible for 

installation. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the proposal and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. 

Agreement With the Proposed AD 

The Boeing Company and FedEx 

Express agreed with the AD as 

proposed. 

Request To Change the Compliance 

Time 

GE requested that we change the 

compliance time in this AD from ‘‘at the 

next shop visit, after the effective date 

of this AD’’ to ‘‘as soon as possible 

without effect on revenue service, but 

before April 1, 2014.’’ No justification 

was provided for the change. 

We do not agree. Replacement of the 

VBV actuator fuel supply tube at the 

next shop visit maintains an acceptable 

level of safety for the fleet, based on 

safety risk analysis. We have no data to 

support that a more aggressive 

replacement schedule is required to 

maintain that acceptable level of safety. 

We did not change the AD. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this AD 

as proposed. 


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