Document ID: FAA-2010-1205-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR,  300, and  300ER Series Airplanes
Posted Date: 2010-12-28T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 81508-81512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32657]

 ========================================================================
 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. 75, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 28, 2010 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 81508]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-1205; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-146-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -
200LR, -300, and -300ER Series 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 Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require, for certain airplanes, replacing certain 
boost pump relays with ground fault interrupter (GFI) relays. For 
certain other airplanes, this proposed AD would require installing new 
panels in the main equipment center, making certain wiring changes, 
installing new GFI relays in the new panels, and installing new 
electrical load management system (ELMS) software. For certain other 
airplanes, this proposed AD would require doing certain bond resistance 
measurements, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD 
results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside 
fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could 
result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 11, 
2011.

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 Boeing service information identified in this proposed 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.
    For Smiths and GE Aviation service information identified in this 
proposed AD, contact GE Aviation, Customer Services--Clearwater, P.O. 
Box 9013, Clearwater, Florida 33758; telephone 727-539-1631; fax 727-
539-0680; e-mail cs.support@ge.com.
    You may review copies of the referenced 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.

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 proposed 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: Georgios Roussos, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 917-6482; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-1205; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-146-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

    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

[[Page 81509]]

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 a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.
    As part of the SFAR 88 analysis, Boeing found indications of wiring 
deterioration that could cause electrical faults in the main tank boost 
pumps, main tank jettison pumps, or center tank override/jettison pumps 
could result in an overheat or electrical arc condition that could 
provide an ignition source in the fuel tanks. Also, uncommanded dry 
operation of the main tank jettison pumps or the center tank override/
jettison pumps could result from electrical faults or a single failure 
in the pump switch or the electrical load control unit (ELCU). Extended 
dry operation of the pump could cause an overheat condition, electrical 
arc, or frictional sparks, providing an ignition source in the fuel 
tanks. These ignition sources, in combination with flammable fuel 
vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of 
the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, 
dated September 20, 2010. That service bulletin describes procedures 
for replacing 4 main tank boost pump relays in electrical load 
management system (ELMS) panels P110, P210, and P320, with new ground 
fault interrupter (GFI) relays.
    Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated September 
20, 2010, references the service bulletins identified in the following 
table as additional sources of guidance for replacing the main tank 
boost pump relays.

    Table--Service Bulletins for Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Service bulletin            Revision level           Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GE Aviation Service Bulletin      1.................  January 7, 2010.
 4000ELM-28-448.
GE Aviation Service Bulletin      1.................  January 7, 2010.
 4000ELM-28-451.
GE Aviation Service Bulletin      1.................  January 7, 2010.
 5000ELM-28-446.
GE Aviation Service Bulletin      1.................  January 7, 2010.
 5000ELM-28-449.
Smiths Service Bulletin 4000ELM-  Original..........  August 8, 2007.
 28-445.
Smiths Service Bulletin 4000ELM-  Original..........  August 8, 2007.
 28-465.
Smiths Service Bulletin 5000ELM-  Original..........  August 8, 2007.
 28-443.
Smiths Service Bulletin 5000ELM-  Original..........  August 8, 2007.
 28-463.
Smiths Service Bulletin 6000ELM-  Original..........  August 8, 2007.
 28-444.
Smiths Service Bulletin 6000ELM-  Original..........  August 8, 2007.
 28-447.
Smiths Service Bulletin 6000ELM-  Original..........  August 8, 2007.
 28-450.
Smiths Service Bulletin 6000ELM-  Original..........  August 8, 2007.
 28-464.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We have also reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 
2, dated September 20, 2010. That service bulletin describes procedures 
for certain airplanes, for installing new panels, P301 and P302, in the 
main equipment center; making certain wiring changes; installing new 
GFI relays in the P301 and P302 panels; and installing new ELMS 
software. For certain airplanes, that service bulletin describes 
procedures for measuring the bond resistance between the terminal lugs 
on certain studs and a ground bracket assembly, and corrective action 
if necessary. The corrective actions include repairing (cleaning of 
applicable components with solvent) or replacing (replacing applicable 
components with new components) affected components.
    Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0039, Revision 2, dated September 
20, 2010, is an additional source of guidance for installing ELMS 
software.
    Smiths Service Bulletin 5000ELM-28-454, dated August 13, 2007; and 
GE Aviation Service Bulletin 6000ELM-28-455, Revision 1, dated February 
1, 2010; are additional sources of guidance for making wiring changes 
in the P110 and P210 panels.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design. 
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in 
the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 130 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.

[[Page 81510]]

                                                                                     Table--Estimated Costs
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Average labor rate                                                  Number of U.S.-
                     Action                           Work hours             per hour                Parts           Cost per product    registered airplanes              Fleet cost
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacements: Group 1 airplanes identified in                       3                   $85               $25,577               $25,832                   126  $3,254,832.
 Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038.
Replacements: Group 2 airplanes identified in                       3                    85                52,545                52,800                     0  No airplanes currently on U.S.
 Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038.                                                                                                                           Register.
Replacements: Group 3 airplanes identified in                       4                    85                37,257                37,597                     4  150,388.
 Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038.
Replacements: Group 4 airplanes identified in                       4                    85                17,816                18,156                     0  No airplanes currently on U.S.
 Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038.                                                                                                                           Register.
Installations and Measurement: Boeing Service                      76                    85                29,934                36,394                   130  4,731,220.
 Bulletin 777-28A0037.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 81511]]

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.

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), 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.

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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2010-1205; Directorate Identifier 
2010-NM-146-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by February 11, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) AD 2008-11-13, Amendment 39-15536, affects this AD.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, 
-300, and -300ER series airplanes, certificated in any category; as 
identified in the service information specified in paragraphs (c)(1) 
and (c)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated 
September 20, 2010.
    (2) Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated 
September 20, 2010.

Subject

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

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing this AD 
to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, 
which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a 
fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

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.

Related Airworthiness Limitation

    Note 1: AD 2008-11-13 requires a revision of the Airworthiness 
Limitations (AWLs) section of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness to include limitations for the fuel tank systems. One 
of the limitations, AWL 28-AWL-18, requires a repetitive inspection 
of the ground fault interrupter (GFI) functions.

Installations and Software Changes

    (g) For Group 1 and 2 airplanes identified as Configuration 2 in 
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20, 
2010: Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, install 
new panels, P301 and P302, in the main equipment center; make 
certain wiring changes; install new GFI relays in the P301 and P302 
panels; and install new electrical load management system (ELMS) 
software; as applicable. Do the applicable actions in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-
28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20, 2010.

    Note 2:  Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0039, Revision 2, dated 
September 20, 2010, is an additional source of guidance for 
installing ELMS software.

    Note 3: Smiths Service Bulletin 5000ELM-28-454, dated August 13, 
2007; and GE Aviation Service Bulletin 6000ELM-28-455, Revision 1, 
dated February 1, 2010; are additional sources of guidance for 
making a wiring change in the P110 and P210 panels, respectively.

    (h) For Group 1 and 2 airplanes identified as Configuration 1 in 
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20, 
2010: Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, do 
bonding resistance measurements to verify bonding requirements as 
specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated 
September 20, 2010, are met, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, 
dated September 20, 2010.

Replacement of GFI Relays

    (i) For airplanes identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-
28A0038, Revision 1, dated September 20, 2010: Within 60 months 
after the effective date of this AD, replace 4 main tank boost pump 
relays in electrical load management system panels P110, P210, and 
P320 with new GFI relays, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, 
dated September 20, 2010.

    Note 4:  Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated 
September 20, 2010, references the service bulletins identified in 
Table 1 of this AD as additional sources of guidance for replacing 
the main tank boost pump relays.

              Table 1--Additional Sources of Guidance for Replacing the Main Tank Boost Pump Relays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Group No. of airplanes, as
   identified in Boeing Service
 Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1,  Panel No.     Service bulletin       Revision level             Date
     dated September 20, 2010
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group 1...........................       P110  Smiths Service         Original............  August 8, 2007.
                                                Bulletin 5000ELM-28-
                                                443.

[[Page 81512]]

 
Group 1...........................       P210  Smiths Service         Original............  August 8, 2007.
                                                Bulletin 6000ELM-28-
                                                444.
Group 1...........................       P320  Smiths Service         Original............  August 8, 2007.
                                                Bulletin 4000ELM-28-
                                                445.
Group 2...........................       P110  GE Aviation Service    1...................  January 7, 2010.
                                                Bulletin 5000ELM-28-
                                                446.
Group 2...........................       P210  Smiths Service         Original............  August 8, 2007.
                                                Bulletin 6000ELM-28-
                                                447.
Group 2...........................       P320  GE Aviation Service    1...................  January 7, 2010.
                                                Bulletin 4000ELM-28-
                                                448.
Group 3...........................       P110  GE Aviation Service    1...................  January 7, 2010.
                                                Bulletin 5000ELM-28-
                                                449.
Group 3...........................       P210  Smiths Service         Original............  August 8, 2007.
                                                Bulletin 6000ELM-28-
                                                450.
Group 3...........................       P320  GE Aviation Service    1...................  January 7, 2010.
                                                Bulletin 4000ELM-28-
                                                451.
Group 4...........................       P110  Smiths Service         Original............  August 8, 2007.
                                                Bulletin 5000ELM-28-
                                                463.
Group 4...........................       P210  Smiths Service         Original............  August 8, 2007.
                                                Bulletin 6000ELM-28-
                                                464.
Group 4...........................       P320  Smiths Service         Original............  August 8, 2007.
                                                Bulletin 4000ELM-28-
                                                465.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement

    (j) A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is 
not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless 
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 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: 
Georgios Roussos, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, 
ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-
6482; 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 17, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.

[FR Doc. 2010-32657 Filed 12-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P