Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 236 / Tuesday, December 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules 64779

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–65–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing

Model 747–400 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

certain Boeing Model 747–400 series

airplanes. This proposal would require

a one-time inspection of the separation

between the galley power feeder and

static ground wiring, and the adjacent

passenger oxygen system tubing in the

forward ceiling area above the door 4

galley; and rerouting of wiring, and

installing clamps and sleeves, if

necessary. This proposal is prompted by

reports of inadequate clearance between

the galley power feeder wiring and

passenger oxygen system tubing. The

actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent such inadequate

clearance, which could result in a fire

in the ceiling area above the door 4

galley due to chafing of wiring on

oxygen system tubing.

DATES: Comments must be received by

January 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

65–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Boeing Commercial Airplane Group,

P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington

98124–2207. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Susan Letcher, Aerospace Engineer,

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM–

130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification

Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; telephone (425) 227–2670;

fax (425) 227–1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications shall

identify the Rules Docket number and

be submitted in triplicate to the address

specified above. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments, specified above, will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 97–NM–65–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–103, Attention: Rules Docket No.

97–NM–65–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The FAA received reports of

inadequate clearance between the galley

power feeder wiring and the adjacent

passenger oxygen system tubing in the

forward ceiling area above the door 4

galley on a number of Model 747–400

series airplanes, including one in

assembly. Inadequate clearance between

wiring and oxygen tubing can result in

chafing of the wiring on the tubing, and

resultant electrical arcing, which could

damage the oxygen tubing. If the

damaged tubing is pressurized, oxygen

could leak in the vicinity of the

electrical arcing. This condition, if not

corrected, could result in a fire in the

ceiling area above the door 4 galley.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

The FAA has reviewed and approved

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747–

25A3137, dated March 13, 1997, which

describes procedures for a one-time

inspection of the separation between the

galley power feeder and static ground

wiring, and the adjacent passenger

oxygen system tubing in the forward

ceiling area above the door 4 galley; and

rerouting of wiring, and installing

clamps and sleeves, if necessary, to

obtain adequate separation.

Explanation of Requirements of

Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other products of this same

type design, the proposed AD would

require accomplishment of the actions

specified in the alert service bulletin

described previously.

Differences Between the Alert Service

Bulletin and This Proposed AD

The alert service bulletin separates

affected airplanes into two groups

(Groups 1 and 2), and recommends

compliance within 90 days and 18

months, respectively, for those groups.

In addition to providing oxygen to

passengers in the event of an in-flight

depressurization, the oxygen system on

Group 1 airplanes also can provide

therapeutic oxygen. The oxygen tubing

on Group 1 airplanes is always

pressurized with oxygen because of this

therapeutic oxygen feature. The oxygen

tubing on Group 2 airplanes is only

pressurized when the passenger oxygen

system is activated in the event of

depressurization. Chafing of wires on

pressurized oxygen tubing (i.e., Group 1

airplanes) represents a greater fire

hazard; therefore, the alert service

bulletin recommends earlier compliance

for that group.

The manufacturer has advised the

FAA that most Group 1 airplanes have

already voluntarily accomplished the

actions specified in the alert service

bulletin, and no cases of chafing have

been found. In light of this, the FAA has

determined that a compliance time of 18

months for both Group 1 and Group 2

airplanes will provide an acceptable

level of safety.

Cost Impact

There are approximately 452 Boeing

Model 747–400 series airplanes of the

affected design in the worldwide fleet.

The FAA estimates that 36 airplanes of

U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 2 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed
64780 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 236 / Tuesday, December 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Based on these

figures, the cost impact of the proposed

AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be

$4,320, or $120 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the proposed requirements of this AD

action, and that no operator would

accomplish those actions in the future if

this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

would not have substantial direct effects

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. Therefore,

in accordance with Executive Order

12612, it is determined that this

proposal would not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that 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); and (3) if

promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting the Rules Docket at the

location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend part

39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

(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. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

Boeing: Docket 97–NM–65–AD.

Applicability: Model 747–400 series

airplanes; as listed in Boeing Alert Service

Bulletin 747–25A3137, dated March 13,

1997; certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in

the area subject to the requirements of this

AD. For airplanes that have been modified,

altered, or repaired so that the performance

of the requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent chafing of the galley power

feeder and static ground wiring on passenger

oxygen system tubing in the forward ceiling

area above the Door 4 galley, which could

result in a fire, accomplish the following:

(a) Within 18 months after the effective

date of this AD: Perform a one-time

inspection of the separation between the

galley power feeder and static ground wiring,

and the adjacent passenger oxygen system

tubing in the forward ceiling area above the

door 4 galley, in accordance with Boeing

Alert Service Bulletin 747–25A3137, dated

March 13, 1997. If the separation is outside

the limits specified in the alert service

bulletin, prior to further flight, reroute the

wiring, and install clamps and sleeves in

accordance with the alert service bulletin.

(b) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Seattle

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, Seattle ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Seattle ACO.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to

a location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

December 2, 1997.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–32110 Filed 12–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–75–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Grumman

Model TS–2A Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to all

Grumman Model TS–2A series

airplanes. This proposal would require

revising the Airplane Flight Manual

(AFM) to modify the limitation that

prohibits positioning the power levers

below the flight idle stop during flight,

and to provide a statement of the

consequences of positioning the power

levers below the flight idle stop during

flight. This proposal is prompted by

incidents and accidents involving

airplanes equipped with turboprop

engines in which the ground propeller

beta range was used improperly during

flight. The actions specified by the

proposed AD are intended to prevent

loss of airplane controllability, or engine

overspeed and consequent loss of

engine power, caused by the power

levers being positioned below the flight

idle stop while the airplane is in flight.

DATES: Comments must be received by

January 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

75–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

This information may be examined at

the FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, 601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington; or at the FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, Los

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office,

3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood,

California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Frank Hoerman, Aerospace Engineer,

Flight Test Branch, ANM–160L, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, Los

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office,

3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood,