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[Federal Register: August 18, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 159)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 50854-50856]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18au10-6]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0762; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-011-AD; 
Amendment 39-16393; AD 2010-17-03]
RIN 2120-AA64

 
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 767-300 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Model 767-300 series airplanes. This AD requires replacing a wire 
bundle clamp and installing a tetrafluoroethylene (TFE 2X) sleeve. This 
AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent chafing of a wiring bundle, which could 
result in a high-energy short and, consequently, a possible ignition 
source in the center auxiliary fuel tank.

DATES: This AD is effective September 2, 2010.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of September 2, 
2010.
    We must receive comments on this AD by October 4, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing 
Commercial

[[Page 50855]]

Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-
65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000; extension 
1, fax 206-766-5680; e-mail me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.

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 street address for 
the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Langsted, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 
(425) 917-6500; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The FAA has examined the underlying safety issues involved in fuel 
tank explosions on several large transport airplanes, including the 
adequacy of existing regulations, the service history of airplanes 
subject to those regulations, and existing maintenance practices for 
fuel tank systems. As a result of those findings, we issued a 
regulation titled ``Transport Airplane Fuel Tank System Design Review, 
Flammability Reduction and Maintenance and Inspection Requirements'' 
(66 FR 23086, May 7, 2001). In addition to new airworthiness standards 
for transport airplanes and new maintenance requirements, this rule 
included Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88 (``SFAR 88,'' 
Amendment 21-78, and subsequent Amendments 21-82 and 21-83).
    Among other actions, SFAR 88 requires certain type design (i.e., 
type certificate (TC) and supplemental type certificate (STC)) holders 
to substantiate that their fuel tank systems can prevent ignition 
sources in the fuel tanks. This requirement applies to type design 
holders for large turbine-powered transport airplanes and for 
subsequent modifications to those airplanes. It requires them to 
perform design reviews and to develop design changes and maintenance 
procedures if their designs do not meet the new fuel tank safety 
standards. As explained in the preamble to the rule, we intended to 
adopt airworthiness directives to mandate any changes found necessary 
to address unsafe conditions identified as a result of these reviews.
    In evaluating these design reviews, we have established four 
criteria intended to define the unsafe conditions associated with fuel 
tank systems that require corrective actions. The percentage of 
operating time during which fuel tanks are exposed to flammable 
conditions is one of these criteria. The other three criteria address 
the failure types under evaluation: single failures, single failures in 
combination with a latent condition(s), and in-service failure 
experience. For all four criteria, the evaluations included 
consideration of previous actions taken that may mitigate the need for 
further action.
    We have determined that the actions identified in this AD are 
necessary to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel 
tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result 
in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.
    We received a report that, during a review of production records, 
it was found that three airplanes did not receive a tetrafluoroethylene 
(TFE 2X) sleeve and a clamp as part of an in-production version of the 
actions required by AD 2009-18-02, Amendment 39-15998 (74 FR 43621, 
August 27, 2009). The TFE 2X sleeve and the clamp are designed to 
prevent chafing of a wiring bundle located along a fuel tank boundary 
structure and to provide additional electrical isolation from the fuel 
tank. Chafing of that wiring bundle and insufficient electrical 
isolation, when combined, could result in a high-energy short and, 
consequently, a potential ignition source in the center auxiliary fuel 
tank.

Related Rulemaking

    AD 2009-18-02 (which applies to certain Model 767-200, -300, -300F, 
and -400ER series airplanes identified in Boeing Service Bulletins 767-
57A0100, Revision 1, dated June 19, 2008, and 767-57A0102, Revision 1, 
dated November 27, 2007), requires sealing certain fasteners and 
stiffeners in the fuel tank, changing certain wire bundle clamp 
configurations on the fuel tank walls, inspecting certain fasteners in 
the fuel tanks and to determine the method of attachment of the vortex 
generators, and corrective action if necessary.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-57A0122, dated 
October 22, 2009. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
installing a tetrafluoroethylene (TFE 2X) sleeve and a wire bundle 
clamp.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    No airplanes affected by this AD are on the U.S. Register. We are 
issuing this AD because the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design 
that could be registered in the United States in the future. This AD 
requires the actions described in the service bulletin.
    Since no airplanes are affected by this AD, notice and opportunity 
for public comment before issuing this AD are unnecessary.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite 
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send 
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include 
``Docket No. FAA-2010-0762; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-011-AD'' at 
the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the 
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend this 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 AD.

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

[[Page 50856]]

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), 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.
    You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of 
compliance in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 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 AD:

2010-17-03 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-16393. Docket No. FAA-
2010-0762; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-011-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 2, 
2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 767-300 series 
airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 767-57A0122, dated October 22, 2009.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57: Wings.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing this AD 
to chafing of the wiring bundle, which could result in a high-energy 
short and, consequently, a possible ignition source in the center 
auxiliary fuel tank.

Compliance

    (f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Installation

    (g) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install a tetrafluoroethylene (TFE 2X) sleeve and a wire bundle 
clamp, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 767-57A0122, dated October 22, 2009.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(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. Send information to 
ATTN: Margaret Langsted, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-
140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6500; fax 
(425) 917-6590. Information may be e-mailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or 
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a 
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. 
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-57A0122, 
dated October 22, 2009, to do the actions required by this AD, 
unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 
206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail 
me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the 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.
    (4) You may also review copies of the 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 30, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-19707 Filed 8-17-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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