This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

44744 

Vol. 82, No. 185 

Tuesday, September 26, 2017 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0900; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–055–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all The 

Boeing Company Model 737–100, –200, 

–200C, –300, –400, and –500 series 

airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by a report of wire damage on 

a fuel boost pump power cable, and a 

separate report of a fuel tank explosion 

on a similarly equipped airplane. This 

proposed AD would require the 

installation of new shielded wire 

bundles and convoluted liners within 

fuel tank conduits, and revision of the 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, to incorporate certain 

airworthiness limitations (AWLs). We 

are proposing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 13, 

2017. 

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 service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data 

Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster 

Blvd., MC 110–SK57, Seal Beach, CA 

90740–5600; telephone 562–797–1717; 

Internet https://www.myboeing

fleet.com. You may view this referenced 

service information at the FAA, 

Transport Standards Branch, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

It is also available on the Internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov by searching 

for and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0900. 

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–2017– 

0900; 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: 

Christopher Baker, Aerospace Engineer, 

Propulsion Section, FAA, Seattle ACO 

Branch, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

WA 98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6498; 

fax: 425–917–6590; email: 

christopher.r.baker@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– 

2017–0900; Product Identifier 2017– 

NM–055–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 

This proposed AD is further 

rulemaking following the interim action 

of AD 2007–24–02, Amendment 39– 

15268 (72 FR 65446, November 21, 

2007) (‘‘AD 2007–24–02’’), which 

applies to all Boeing Model 737–100, 

–200, –200C, –300, –400, –500 series 

airplanes. AD 2007–24–02 was 

prompted by reports of a fuel tank 

explosion on a Boeing Model 727–200F 

airplane and chafed wires and a 

damaged wiring sleeve on a fuel boost 

pump power cable in a Boeing Model 

737–300 airplane. AD 2007–24–02 

requires repetitive detailed inspections 

for damage of the electrical wire and 

sleeve that run to the fuel boost pump 

through a conduit in the fuel tank, to 

address potential electrical arcing 

between the wiring and the surrounding 

conduit that could result in arc-through 

of the conduit, consequent fire or 

explosion of the fuel tank, and 

subsequent loss of the airplane. The 

preamble to AD 2007–24–02 explains 

that its requirements are considered 

‘‘interim action’’ and that we might 

consider further rulemaking. We now 

have determined that further 

rulemaking is necessary, and this 

proposed AD follows from that 

determination. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed the following service 

information. 

• Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737– 

28A1273, Revision 1, dated March 14, 

2017. This service information describes 

procedures for the installation of new 

shielded wire bundles and convoluted 

liners within fuel tank conduits. 

• Boeing 737–100/200/200C/300/400/ 

500 Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs)/ 

Certification Maintenance Requirements 

(CMRs), D6–38278–CMR, dated May 

2016. This service information describes 

new AWLs for inspecting the fuel tank 

wiring and conduits. 

This service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 26, 2017 / Proposed Rules 44745 

course of business or by the means 

identified in the ADDRESSES section. 

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 

We considered a number of factors in 

determining whether to issue a new AD 

or to supersede AD 2007–24–02, 

including the size of the affected fleet 

and the consequent workload added by 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737– 

28A1273, Revision 1, dated March 14, 

2017. In light of this, the FAA has 

determined that the less burdensome 

approach is to issue a separate AD that 

includes only Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 737–28A1273, Revision 1, 

dated March 14, 2017. This proposed 

AD would not supersede AD 2007–24– 

02. Airplanes identified in the 

applicability of AD 2007–24–02 are 

required to continue to comply with the 

requirements of that AD until the 

corrective actions of this proposed AD 

are done, which would terminate the 

inspection and reporting requirements 

of AD 2007–24–02. This proposed AD is 

a separate AD action and would 

therefore require accomplishment of 

only those actions identified as ‘‘RC’’ 

(required for compliance) in the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Alert Service Bulletin 737–28A1273, 

Revision 1, dated March 14, 2017, 

described previously, except for 

differences between this proposed AD 

and the service information that are 

identified in the regulatory text of this 

proposed AD. 

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–2017– 

0900. 

This proposed AD would also require 

revisions to certain operator 

maintenance documents to include new 

Critical Design Configuration Control 

Limitations (CDCCLs). Compliance with 

these CDCCLs is required by 14 CFR 

91.403(c). For airplanes that have been 

previously modified, altered, or repaired 

in the areas addressed by this proposed 

AD, the operator may not be able to 

accomplish the actions described in the 

revisions. In this situation, to comply 

with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator 

must request approval for an alternative 

method of compliance according to 

paragraph (l) of this proposed AD. The 

request should include a description of 

changes to the required inspections that 

will ensure the continued operational 

safety of the airplane. 

Explanation of Applicability 

Model 737 airplanes having line 

numbers 1 through 291 have a limit of 

validity (LOV) of 34,000 total flight 

cycles, and the actions proposed in this 

NPRM, as specified in Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–28A1273, Revision 

1, dated March 14, 2017, would be 

required at a compliance time occurring 

after that LOV. Although operation of an 

airplane beyond its LOV is prohibited 

by 14 CFR 121.1115 and 129.115, this 

NPRM includes those airplanes in the 

applicability so that they are tracked in 

the event the LOV is extended in the 

future. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 499 airplanes of U.S. registry. We 

estimate the following costs to comply 

with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Installation ....................................................... 154 work-hours × $85 per hour = $13,090 .... $5,561 $18,651 $9,306,849 

Incorporation of Airworthiness Limitations ...... 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ................. 0 85 42,415 

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. 

This proposed AD is issued in 

accordance with authority delegated by 

the Executive Director, Aircraft 

Certification Service, as authorized by 

FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance 

with that order, issuance of ADs is 

normally a function of the Compliance 

and Airworthiness Division, but during 

this transition period, the Executive 

Director has delegated the authority to 

issue ADs applicable to transport 

category airplanes to the Director of the 

System Oversight Division. 

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: 

44746 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 26, 2017 / Proposed Rules 

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): 

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA– 

2017–0900; Product Identifier 2017– 

NM–055–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by November 

13, 2017. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD affects AD 2007–24–02, 

Amendment 39–15268 (72 FR 65446, 

November 21, 2007) (‘‘AD 2007–24–02’’). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all The Boeing 

Company Model 737–100, –200, –200C, 

–300, –400, and –500 series airplanes, 

certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 28, Fuel. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

chafed wires and a damaged wiring sleeve on 

a fuel boost pump power cable, and an onground fuel tank explosion. We are issuing 

this AD to prevent electrical arcing between 

the fuel boost pump power cable wiring and 

the surrounding conduit, which could lead to 

arc-through of the conduit, consequent fire or 

explosion of the fuel tank, and subsequent 

loss of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) For Group 1 and Group 2 airplanes 

identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–28A1273, Revision 1, dated March 14, 

2017: Except as required by paragraph (j) of 

this AD, at the applicable times specified in 

paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing 

Alert Service Bulletin 737–28A1273, 

Revision 1, dated March 14, 2017, do all 

applicable actions identified as required for 

compliance (‘‘RC’’) in, and in accordance 

with, the Accomplishment Instructions of 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737–28A1273, 

Revision 1, dated March 14, 2017. 

(2) For airplanes identified as Group 3 in 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737–28A1273, 

Revision 1, dated March 14, 2017: Within 

120 days after the effective date of this AD, 

inspect the airplane and do all applicable 

corrective actions using a method approved 

in accordance with the procedures specified 

in paragraph (l) of this AD. 

(h) Revision of Maintenance or Inspection 

Program 

Within 60 days after the effective date of 

this AD: Revise the maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, to 

incorporate the applicable Airworthiness 

Limitations (AWLs) from Boeing 737–100/ 

200/200C/300/400/500 Airworthiness 

Limitations (AWLs)/Certification 

Maintenance Requirements (CMRs), D6– 

38278–CMR, dated May 2016, as identified in 

paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this AD. 

(1) 28–AWL–18 and 28–AWL–26, ‘‘Fuel 

Boost Pump Wires In Conduit Installation— 

In Fuel Tank,’’ for Boeing Model 737–100, 

–200, –200C series airplanes. 

(2) 28–AWL–18 and 28–AWL–25, ‘‘Fuel 

Boost Pump Wires In Conduit Installation— 

In Fuel Tank,’’ for Boeing Model 737–300, 

–400, –500 series airplanes. 

(i) No Alternative Critical Design 

Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCLs) 

After the maintenance or inspection 

program, as applicable, has been revised as 

required by paragraph (h) of this AD, no 

alternative CDCCLs may be used unless the 

CDCCLs are approved as an alternative 

method of compliance (AMOC) in 

accordance with the procedures specified in 

paragraph (l) of this AD. 

(j) Exceptions to Service Information 

Specifications 

Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737– 

28A1273, Revision 1, dated March 14, 2017, 

uses the phrase ‘‘after the original issue date 

of this service bulletin,’’ for purposes of 

determining compliance with the 

requirements of this AD, the phrase ‘‘after the 

effective date of this AD’’ must be used. 

(k) Terminating Action for Requirements of 

AD 2007–24–02 

Accomplishment of the actions required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD terminates all 

requirements of AD 2007–24–02. 

(l) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 

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 

certification office, send it to the attention of 

the person identified in paragraph (m)(2) of 

this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9- 

ANM-LAACO-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, Los Angeles 

ACO Branch, to make those findings. 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 (l)(4)(i) and (l)(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. If a step or substep is 

labeled ‘‘RC Exempt,’’ then the RC 

requirement is removed from that step or 

substep. 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. 

(m) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Christopher Baker, Aerospace 

Engineer, Propulsion Section, FAA, Seattle 

ACO Branch, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 

Renton, WA 98057–3356; phone: 425–917– 

6498; fax: 425–917–6590; email: 

christopher.r.baker@faa.gov. 

(2) For information about AMOCs, contact 

Serj Harutunian, Aerospace Engineer, 

Propulsion Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO 

Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 

Lakewood, CA 90712–4137; phone: 562–627– 

5254; fax: 562–627–5210; email: 

serj.harutunian@faa.gov. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data 

Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., 

MC 110–SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600; 

telephone 562–797–1717; Internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this 

referenced service information at the FAA, 

Transport Standards Branch, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

September 20, 2017. 

Dionne Palermo, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–20545 Filed 9–25–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission 

18 CFR Part 40 

[Docket No. RM17–12–000] 

Emergency Preparedness and 

Operations Reliability Standards 

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission, Department of Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. 

SUMMARY: The Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission proposes to 

approve Emergency Preparedness and 

Operations (EOP) Reliability Standards