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

57383 

Vol. 82, No. 232 

Tuesday, December 5, 2017 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–1024; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–065–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 737–300, –400, 

–500, –600, –700, –700C, –800, –900, 

and –900ER series airplanes; Model 757 

airplanes; Model 767 airplanes; Model 

777 airplanes; and Model 787–8 and 

787–9 airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by reports of fuel crossfeed 

valves failing to open when activated 

during flight. This proposed AD would 

require, for certain airplanes, revising 

the airplane flight manual (AFM); and 

for certain other airplanes, revising the 

minimum equipment list (MEL) to do an 

operational check of the fuel crossfeed 

valve prior to each extended range 

operations (ETOPS) flight if one fuel 

crossfeed valve (or the fuel balancing 

system on Model 787 airplanes) is 

inoperative. We are proposing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by January 19, 2018. 

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. 

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– 

1024; 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 NPRM, 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: Jon 

Regimbal, Aerospace Engineer, 

Propulsion Section, FAA, Seattle ACO 

Branch, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

WA 98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6506; 

fax: 425–917–6590; email: 

Jon.Regimbal@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– 

2017–1024; Product Identifier 2017– 

NM–065–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this NPRM. We will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this NPRM 

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 NPRM. 

Discussion 

We have received reports of fuel 

crossfeed valves failing to open when 

activated during flight. The fuel 

crossfeed valve can fail closed due to 

electrical or mechanical faults. Such a 

failure would remain undiscovered 

until an attempt is made to open the 

fuel crossfeed valve. Depending on the 

operational use of the airplane, such a 

failure could remain latent for multiple 

flights. Some of the affected airplanes 

have only one fuel crossfeed valve. 

Other affected airplanes have two 

redundant fuel crossfeed valves, but are 

allowed to be dispatched under their 

MEL with one of the two fuel crossfeed 

valves inoperative and locked closed. 

Model 787 airplanes have a single 

crossfeed valve and a separate fuel 

balancing system, either of which 

allows use of all of the main tank fuel 

by either engine. The Model 787 MEL 

allows airplanes to be dispatched with 

the fuel balancing system inoperative. 

If an engine failure occurs during 

certain portions of the cruise phase of 

an ETOPS flight and the fuel crossfeed 

valve cannot be opened, the fuel in the 

main tank associated with the failed 

engine cannot be used by the remaining 

operative engine, potentially resulting 

in a forced off-airport landing due to 

exhaustion of the remaining usable fuel 

and consequent loss of all engine thrust. 

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 designs. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

For airplanes equipped with a single 

fuel crossfeed valve, this proposed AD 

would require revising the limitation 

and normal procedures sections of the 

AFM by adding an operational check of 

the fuel crossfeed valve immediately 

prior to each ETOPS flight. For 

airplanes equipped with dual fuel 

crossfeed valves, this proposed AD 

would require revising the MEL by 

adding a requirement to do an 

operational check of the fuel crossfeed 

valve prior to each ETOPS flight if one 

fuel crossfeed valve (or the fuel 

balancing system on Model 787 

airplanes) is inoperative. 

This proposed AD would allow 

removal of the AFM limitation required 

by AD 88–21–03 R1, Amendment 39– 

6077 (53 FR 46605, November 18, 1988) 

(‘‘88–21–03 R1’’), after the applicable 

AFM limitations in this proposed AD 

are incorporated in the AFM. 


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57384 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2017 / Proposed Rules 

Related AD 

AD 88–21–03 R1 applies to, among 

other airplanes, certain Model 737–200, 

737–300, 757–200, 767–200, and 767– 

300 series airplanes. AD 88–21–03 R1 

requires revising the AFM to include an 

operational check of the fuel crossfeed 

valve during the last hour of cruise 

flight during each ETOPS flight and log 

book entry of any fuel crossfeed valve 

failure conditions, and repair if 

necessary. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 3,252 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 

AFM Revision (2,127 airplanes) ..................... 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ................. $0 $85 $180,795 

MEL Revision (1,125 airplanes) ..................... 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ................. 0 85 95,625 

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 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: 

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– 

2017–1024; Product Identifier 2017– 

NM–065–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by January 19, 

2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD affects AD 88–21–03 R1, 

Amendment 39–6077 (53 FR 46605, 

November 18, 1988). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all The Boeing 

Company airplanes, certificated in any 

category, identified in paragraphs (c)(1) 

through (c)(5) of this AD. 

(1) Model 737–300, –400, –500, –600, –700, 

–700C, –800, –900, and –900ER series 

airplanes. 

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

–300 series airplanes. 

(3) Model 767–200, –300, –300F, and 

–400ER series airplanes. 

(4) Model 777–200, –200LR, –300, –300ER, 

and –777F series airplanes. 

(5) Model 787–8 and 787–9 airplanes. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 28; Fuel. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of fuel 

crossfeed valves failing to open when 

activated during flight. We are issuing this 

AD to prevent an airplane from being 

dispatched on an extended range operations 

(ETOPS) flight with a single fuel crossfeed 

valve that cannot be opened. This condition 

could cause the fuel in the main tank 

associated with a failed engine to be 

unavailable to the remaining operative 

engine, potentially resulting in a forced 

offairport landing due to exhaustion of the 

remaining usable fuel and consequent loss of 

all engine thrust. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) AFM Revisions for Model 737 Airplanes 

Equipped With a Single Fuel Crossfeed 

Valve 

For airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(1) 

of this AD: Within 120 days after the effective 

date of this AD, do the actions in specified 

in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD. 

(1) Revise ‘‘Extended Range Operations’’ 

subsection of the ‘‘Fuel System Limitations’’ 

section of the Section 1 Certificate 

Limitations of the airplane flight manual 

(AFM) by incorporating the information 

specified in figure 1 to paragraph (g)(1) of 

this AD. This may be done by inserting a 

copy of this AD into the AFM. When a 

statement identical to that in figure 1 to 


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paragraph (g)(1) of this AD has been included 

in the ‘‘Extended Range Operations’’ 

subsection of the ‘‘Fuel System Limitations’’ 

section of the Section 1 Certificate 

Limitations of the general revisions of the 

AFM, the general revisions may be inserted 

into the AFM, and the copy of this AD may 

be removed from the AFM. 

(2) Revise the ‘‘Extended Range 

Operations’’ section of the Section 3 Normal 

Procedures of the AFM by incorporating the 

information specified in figure 2 to paragraph 

(g)(2) of this AD. This may be done by 

inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM. 

When a statement identical to that in figure 

2 to paragraph (g)(2) of this AD has been 

included in the ‘‘Extended Range 

Operations’’ section of Section 3 Normal 

Procedures of the AFM, the general revisions 

may be inserted into the AFM, and the copy 

of this AD may be removed from the AFM. 

(h) AFM Revisions for Model 757 Airplanes 

Equipped With a Single Fuel Crossfeed 

Valve 

For airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(2) 

of this AD having line numbers 1 through 

616 inclusive and 618 on which the actions 

specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 757–28– 

0029 (second fuel crossfeed valve 

installation) have not been done: Within 120 

days after the effective date of this AD, do the 

actions specified in paragraphs (h)(1) and 

(h)(2) of this AD. For Model 757 airplanes 

identified in this paragraph, if the actions 

specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 757–28– 

0029 are done after the effective date of this 

AD, then the actions specified in this 

paragraph are no longer required for that 

airplane and the actions specified in 

paragraph (j) of this AD must be done before 

further flight after performing the actions 

specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 757–28– 

0029. 

(1) Revise the ‘‘Extended Range 

Operations’’ section of the Section 1 

Certificate Limitations of the AFM by 

incorporating the information specified in 

figure 3 to paragraph (h)(1). This may be 

done by inserting a copy of this AD into the 

AFM. When a statement identical to that in 

figure 3 to paragraph (h)(1) of this AD has 

been included in the ‘‘Extended Range 

Operations’’ section of the Section 1 

Certificate Limitations of the general 

revisions of the AFM, the general revisions 

may be inserted into the AFM, and the copy 

of this AD may be removed from the AFM. 


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57386 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2017 / Proposed Rules 

(2) Revise the ‘‘Extended Range 

Operations’’ section of Section 3 Normal 

Procedures of the AFM by incorporating the 

information specified in figure 4 to paragraph 

(h)(2) of this AD. This may be done by 

inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM. 

When a statement identical to that in figure 

4 to paragraph (h)(2) of this AD has been 

included in the Extended Range Operations 

section of Section 3 Normal Procedures of the 

AFM, the general revisions may be inserted 

into the AFM, and the copy of this AD may 

be removed from the AFM. 

(i) AFM Revisions for Model 767 Airplanes 

Equipped With a Single Fuel Crossfeed 

Valve 

For airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(3) 

of this AD having line numbers 1 through 

430 inclusive on which the actions specified 

in Boeing Service Bulletin 767–28–0034 

(second fuel crossfeed valve installation) 

have not been done as of the effective date 

of this AD: Within 120 days after the effective 

date of this AD, do the actions specified in 

paragraphs (i)(1) and (i)(2) of this AD. If the 

actions specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 

767–28–0034 are done after the effective date 

of this AD, the actions specified in this 

paragraph are no longer required for that 

airplane and the actions specified in 

paragraph (k) of this AD must be done before 

further flight. 

(1) Revise the ‘‘Extended Range 

Operations’’ section of the Section 1 

Certificate Limitations of the AFM by 

incorporating the information specified in 

figure 5 to paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. This 

may be done by inserting a copy of this AD 

into the AFM. When a statement identical to 

that in figure 5 to paragraph (i)(1) of this AD 

has been included in the ‘‘Extended Range 

Operations’’ section of the Section 1 

Certificate Limitations of the general 

revisions of the AFM, the general revisions 

may be inserted into the AFM, and the copy 

of this AD may be removed from the AFM. 

(2) Revise the Section 3.1 Normal 

Procedures of the AFM by incorporating the 

information specified in figure 6 to paragraph 

(i)(2) of this AD. This may be done by 

inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM. 

When a statement identical to that in figure 


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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2017 / Proposed Rules 57387 

6 to paragraph (i)(2) of this AD has been 

included in the Extended Range Operations 

section of Section 3.1 Normal Procedures of 

the AFM, the general revisions may be 

inserted into the AFM, and the copy of this 

AD may be removed from the AFM. 

(j) Minimum Equipment List (MEL) 

Revisions for Model 757 Equipped With 

Dual Fuel Crossfeed Valves 

For airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(2) 

of this AD having line numbers 617, 619, and 

subsequent; and for airplanes identified in 

paragraph (c)(2) of this AD having line 

numbers 1 through 616 inclusive and 618, on 

which a second fuel crossfeed valve has been 

installed before the effective date of this AD, 

as specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 757– 

28–0029: Within 120 days after the effective 

date of this AD, revise the operator’s FAAapproved MEL by incorporating the 

information specified in figure 7 to paragraph 

(j) of this AD as a required operations 

procedure when dispatching for ETOPS 

operation with an inoperative fuel crossfeed 

valve. Specific alternative MEL wording to 

accomplish the actions specified in figure 7 

to paragraph (j) of this AD can be approved 

by the operator’s principal operations 

inspector (POI). 

(k) MEL Revisions for Model 767 Equipped 

With Dual Fuel Crossfeed Valves 

For airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(3) 

of this AD having line numbers 431 and 

subsequent; and for airplanes identified in 

paragraph (c)(3) of this AD having line 

numbers 1 through 430 inclusive on which 

a second fuel crossfeed valve has been 

installed before the effective date of this AD, 

as specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 767– 

28–0034: Within 120 days after the effective 

date of this AD, revise the operator’s FAAapproved MEL by incorporating the 

information specified in figure 8 to paragraph 

(k) of this AD as a required operations 

procedure when dispatching for ETOPS 

operation with an inoperative fuel crossfeed 

valve. Specific alternative MEL wording to 

accomplish the actions specified in figure 8 

to paragraph (k) of this AD can be approved 

by the operator’s POI. 


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57388 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2017 / Proposed Rules 

(l) MEL Revisions for Model 777 Airplanes 

For airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(4) 

of this AD: Within 120 days after the effective 

date of this AD, revise the operator’s FAAapproved MEL by incorporating the 

information specified in figure 9 to paragraph 

(l) of this AD as a required operations 

procedure when dispatching for ETOPS 

operation with an inoperative fuel crossfeed 

valve. Specific alternative MEL wording to 

accomplish the actions specified in figure 9 

to paragraph (l) of this AD can be approved 

by the operator’s POI. 

(m) MEL Revisions for Model 787 Airplanes 

For airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(5) 

of this AD: Within 120 days after the effective 

date of this AD, revise the operator’s FAAapproved MEL by incorporating the 

information specified in figure 10 to 

paragraph (m) of this AD into the MEL 

requirements for each of the inoperative 

items specified in paragraphs (m)(1) through 

(m)(4) of this AD. Specific alternative MEL 

wording to accomplish the actions specified 

in figure 10 to paragraph (m) of this AD can 

be approved by the operator’s POI. 

(1) 28–21–01–01 Pressure Refueling 

System, Main Tank Inboard Refuel Valve. 

(2) 28–22–06 Fuel Balance Switch. 

(3) 28–26–01 Defuel/Isolation Valves. 

(4) 28–41–01–01 Main Tank Fuel Quantity 

Indication Systems. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2017 / Proposed Rules 57389 

(n) AD 88–21–03 R1, Amendment 39–6077 

(53 FR 46605–01, November 18, 1988), AFM 

Limitation Removal 

After the applicable AFM limitations 

specified in paragraphs (g)(1), (h)(1), and 

(i)(1) of this AD are incorporated into an 

airplane’s AFM, operators may remove the 

AFM limitation required by AD 88–21–03 R1, 

Amendment 39–6077 (53 FR 46605–01, 

November 18, 1988), for that airplane. 

(o) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Seattle 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 (p) of this 

AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANMSeattle-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. 

(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, Seattle 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. 

(p) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Jon Regimbal, Aerospace Engineer, 

Propulsion Section, FAA, Seattle ACO 

Branch, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6506; fax: 425– 

917–6590; email: Jon.Regimbal@faa.gov. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 6, 2017. 

Dionne Palermo, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–24811 Filed 12–4–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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