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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 16, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63266-63268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25450]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1073; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-078-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 767-300 series airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report that, for certain airplanes, 
reinforcement straps were not bonded to the center overhead stowage 
bins in the passenger compartment. For certain airplanes, this proposed 
AD would require performing an inspection of reinforcement straps to 
ensure they are correctly bonded to the center overhead stowage bins, 
and bonding the reinforcement straps to the center overhead stowage 
bins if necessary. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would 
require installing reinforcement straps on the center overhead stowage 
bins. We are proposing this AD to prevent missing or incorrectly bonded 
reinforcement straps, which could result in the center overhead stowage 
bins breaking loose and causing injury to passengers and damage to 
equipment during in-flight turbulence.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 30, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

[[Page 63267]]

     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 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 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: Sarah Piccola, Aerospace Engineer, 
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 
98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6483; fax: 425-917-6590; email: 
sarah.piccola@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-2012-1073; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-078-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 a report that, for certain airplanes, reinforcement 
straps installed at specified stations for the center overhead stowage 
bins in the passenger compartment were not correctly bonded to the 
stowage bins. In addition, for some airplanes, reinforcement straps may 
have been missing on the center overhead stowage bins at other 
specified stations. This condition, if not corrected, could result in 
the center overhead stowage bins breaking loose and causing injury to 
passengers and damage to equipment during in-flight turbulence.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0520, 
dated February 8, 2012. For certain airplanes, this service bulletin 
describes procedures for general visual and detailed inspections of the 
existing reinforcement straps installed on the center overhead storage 
bins in the passenger compartment to ensure they are bonded to the 
center overhead storage bins. For airplanes on which the straps are 
incorrectly bonded, this service bulletin describes procedures for 
bonding the reinforcement straps to the center overhead stowage bins. 
For certain airplanes, this service bulletin describes procedures for 
installing reinforcement straps.

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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 4 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                   Labor cost          Parts cost       Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group 1 and Group 2 Airplanes:    2 work-hours x $85  $0................  $170..............  $340 (2
 General Visual Inspection for     per hour = $170.                                            airplanes).
 Correct Bonding.
Group 1 and Group 3 Airplanes:    7 work-hours x $85  $1,277 or $1,746..  $1,872 or $2,341..  Up to $4,682 (2
 Install Reinforcement Straps.     per hour = $595.                                            airplanes).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary repairs 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:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Action                           Labor cost            Parts cost         Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group 1 and Group 2 Airplanes: Bonding    Between 7 and 12 work-                  $0  Between $595 and $1,020.
 Existing Reinforcement Straps to the      hours x $85 per hour =
 Center Overhead Stowage Bins.             $595 to $1,020.
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[[Page 63268]]

    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

    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-2012-1073; Directorate Identifier 
2012-NM-078-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by November 30, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 767-300 series 
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-25-0520, dated February 8, 
2012.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2520, Passenger 
Compartment Equipment.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This proposed AD was prompted by a report that, for certain 
airplanes, reinforcement straps were not bonded to the center 
overhead stowage bins in the passenger compartment. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent missing or incorrectly bonded reinforcement 
straps, which could result in the center overhead stowage bins 
breaking loose and causing injury to passengers and damage to 
equipment during in-flight turbulence.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection, Bonding, and Installation of Reinforcement Straps

    Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, do a 
general visual or detailed inspection to determine the condition of 
the reinforcement straps for the center overhead stowage bins, and 
bond the reinforcement straps to the stowage bins as applicable; and 
install reinforcement straps as applicable; in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 767-25-0520, dated February 8, 2012.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
ANM-150S, 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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Sarah Piccola, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, 
ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone: (425) 917-6483; 
fax: (425) 917-6590; email: sarah.piccola@faa.gov.
    (2) 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 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 October 4, 2012.
Dionne Palermo,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-25450 Filed 10-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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