Document ID: FAA-2018-0495-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: The Boeing Company Airplanes
Posted Date: 2018-06-01T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25405-25408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11693]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 106 / Friday, June 1, 2018 / Proposed 
Rules  

[[Page 25405]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0495; Product Identifier 2017-NM-089-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 
certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. 
This proposed AD was prompted by reports of unreliable performance of 
the water and fuel scavenge system; failure of the fuel scavenge 
function can cause trapped fuel, resulting in unavailable fuel 
reserves. This proposed AD would require incorporating operating 
limitations, or modifying the water and fuel scavenge systems in the 
fuel tanks and certain electrical panels. We are proposing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 16, 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.
    For Boeing 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.myboeingfleet.com.
    You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport 
Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. 
Boeing service information is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0495.

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-2018-
0495; 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: Kevin Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3555; email: 
[email protected].

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-2018-0495; 
Product Identifier 2017-NM-089-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 proposed AD.

Discussion

    We have received reports of unreliable performance of the water and 
fuel scavenge system; failure of the fuel scavenge function can cause 
trapped fuel, resulting in unavailable fuel reserves. During flight, 
any water in the fuel can sink to the bottom of the fuel tank. This 
water can enter the fuel scavenge inlets and can then freeze as it 
travels from the body center fuel tank into the colder fuel scavenge 
tubes in the left and right cheek center fuel tanks (outboard of the 
side of body ribs). The flow of scavenge fuel from the center fuel tank 
to the main fuel tanks can then decrease or stop. When this occurs, as 
much as 700 pounds of fuel can remain unavailable during flight. If the 
fuel quantity decreases to the quantity of the unavailable fuel, then 
fuel exhaustion will occur, which could lead to subsequent power loss 
of all engines.

Related Rulemaking

    We issued AD 2002-16-15, Amendment 39-12854 (67 FR 54333, August 
22, 2002), applicable to certain Boeing Model 777 series airplanes, 
that requires modification of the supports for the wire bundles of the 
fuel quantity indicator system (FQIS), and follow-on actions if 
necessary. AD 2002-16-15 was issued to prevent chafing of the FQIS 
wiring on surrounding structures and system, which could result in 
exposure of the bare conductor in close proximity to structures or 
other electrically conductive return paths, and potential electrical 
arcing and explosion in the fuel tank in the event of an additional 
wiring failure outside the fuel tank. Paragraph (a)(2) of AD 2002-16-15 
requires modifying the supports for the FQIS wire bundles in the center 
fuel tank (including installing spacers on the FQIS wiring support 
brackets and standoffs, installing a clamp next to the grommet at each 
tank unit, and replacing the clamp filler O-rings), in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 777-28-0016, dated April 27, 2000.
    This proposed AD would require incorporating operating limitations, 
or modifying the water and fuel scavenge systems in the fuel tanks and 
certain electrical panels.

[[Page 25406]]

    Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-28-0082, Revision 1, 
dated May 1, 2017, provides instructions to modify the fuel tanks 
scavenge system. For airplanes identified as Groups 1 through 4 and 7 
through 14 in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-28-0082, 
Revision 1, dated May 1, 2017, a minor adjustment to a certain FQIS 
wire bundle routing to allow the installation of a new fuel scavenge 
tube would need to be made. Although this minor adjustment is a 
deviation from the wire routing layout required by paragraph (a)(2) of 
AD 2002-16-15, the separation of the wire bundles from chafing and 
rubbing against a new fuel scavenge inlet tube is maintained, which is 
the safety objective of AD 2002-16-15.
    Because of the difference in the FQIS wire bundle routing required 
in paragraph (a)(2) of AD 2002-16-15 and routing specified in paragraph 
(h) of this proposed AD, we have determined that operators of airplanes 
identified as Groups 1 through 4 and 7 through 14 in Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 777-28-0082, Revision 1, dated May 1, 2017, 
would need an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) to paragraph 
(a)(2) of AD 2002-16-15. Therefore, paragraph (j)(5) of this proposed 
AD specifies that accomplishment of the engine fuel feed system 
modification specified in paragraph (h) of this proposed AD is 
acceptable for compliance with the routing requirements of fuel 
quantity indicating system wire bundle W8011 in the left side of the 
body center fuel tank specified in paragraph (a)(2) of AD 2002-16-15.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-28-0082, 
Revision 1, dated May 1, 2017. This service information describes 
procedures for changing the water and fuel scavenge systems in the fuel 
tanks on each side of the airplane. The FQIS wire bundle W8011 
adjustment is intended to prevent the wire bundle from rubbing with a 
new fuel scavenge inlet tube. Additionally, this service information 
describes procedures for making electrical changes in the main 
equipment center, including installing additional relays on the P301 
and P302 panels, and making wiring changes. Also, this service 
information describes procedures for installing new electrical load 
management system 1 (ELMS1) software.
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal 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

    This proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions 
identified as ``RC'' (required for compliance) in Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 777-28-0082, Revision 1, dated May 1, 2017, 
except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory 
text of this proposed AD.
    For information on the procedures, see this service information at 
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2018-0495.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 111 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incorporation operating limitations.  1 work-hour x $85 per                $0              $85           $9,435
                                       hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      Estimated Costs for Optional Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fuel system modification......................  207 work-hours x $85 per hour =          $85,572        $103,167
                                                 $17,595.
P110 and P210 panel changes...................  2 work-hours x $85 per hour =                  0             170
                                                 $170.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.
    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

[[Page 25407]]

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

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2018-0495; Product Identifier 
2017-NM-089-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 16, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD affects AD 2002-16-15, Amendment 39-12854 (67 FR 54333, 
August 22, 2002).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300 
series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-28-0082, Revision 1, 
dated May 1, 2017.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 28, Fuel.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of unreliable performance of the 
water and fuel scavenge system; failure of the fuel scavenge 
function can cause trapped fuel, resulting in unavailable fuel 
reserves. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of capability to 
scavenge fuel in the center fuel tank, which could lead to fuel 
exhaustion and subsequent power loss of all engines.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Revision to Operating Limitations

    Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD: Revise the 
operating limitations in the documents specified in paragraphs 
(g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD to include the text in figure 1 to 
paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (1) ``Fuel System--Loading'' section of the ``Certificate 
Limitations'' section of the FAA-approved Boeing Model 777 Airplane 
Flight Manual.
    (2) ``Loading Limitations'' section of the ``Fuel Loading 
Procedures'' section of the ``Fuel Management'' section of the FAA-
approved Boeing Model 777 Weight and Balance Control and Loading 
Manual.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP01JN18.002

(h) Optional Terminating Action

    Modifying the fuel tank fuel and water scavenge systems, 
modifying the fuel jettison system, making electrical changes in the 
main equipment center, modifying the wiring in the ELMS P110 and 210 
panels, and installing new electrical load management system 1 
(ELMS1) software, by doing all applicable actions identified as 
``RC'' (required for compliance) in, and in accordance with, the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 777-28-0082, Revision 1, dated May 1, 2017, is an optional 
terminating action to the requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (h) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 777-28-0082, dated May 26, 2016.

(j) 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 ACO branch, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (k)(1) of this AD. Information may be 
emailed to: [email protected].
    (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, 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 RC, the provisions of paragraphs (j)(4)(i) and (j)(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.
    (5) For airplanes in Groups 1 through 4, and 7 through 14, as 
defined in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-28-0082, 
Revision 1, dated May 1, 2017: Accomplishment of the engine fuel 
feed system modification specified in paragraph (h) of this AD is 
acceptable for compliance with the routing requirements of fuel 
quantity indicating system wire bundle W8011 in the left side of the 
body center fuel tank specified of in paragraph (a)(2) of AD 2002-
16-15, provided all provisions of AD 2002-16-15 that are not 
specifically

[[Page 25408]]

described in this paragraph remain fully applicable and are complied 
with accordingly.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Kevin Nguyen, 
Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 
2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-
3555; email: [email protected].
    (2) For Boeing 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 service information at the 
FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, 
WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 206-231-3195.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on May 23, 2018.
James Cashdollar,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-11693 Filed 5-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P