Airworthiness Directives: Boeing Model 767 200, 300, 300F, and 400ER Series Airplanes
Federal Register: February 28, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 40)
Rules and Regulations
Page 10645-10646
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr28fe08-2
Page 10645
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39
Docket No. FAA-2007-0203; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-105-AD;
Amendment 39-15384; AD 2008-04-12
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and
-400ER Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive
(AD), which applies to certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. That AD currently requires reworking the surface of the ground stud bracket of the left and right transformer rectifier units (TRUs) and the airplane structure mounting surface, and measuring the resistance from the bracket to the structure and the ground lugs to the bracket using a bonding meter. This new AD revises the applicability of the existing AD to include additional airplanes and requires, among other actions, installation of a new ground stud bracket using faying surface bonding. This AD results from a report of loss of all direct current (DC) power generation during a flight, due to inadequate electrical ground path between the ground bracket of the
TRUs/main battery charger (MBC) and the structure. We are issuing this
AD to prevent depletion of the main battery while in flight, resulting from the loss of both TRUs and the MBC, and consequent loss of all DC power, which could impact the safe flight and landing of the airplane due to the loss of function or malfunction of essential/critical systems and displays in the cockpit.
DATES: This AD becomes effective April 3, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 3, 2008.
On December 1, 2004 (69 FR 67043, November 16, 2004), the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0119, Revision 2, dated August 19, 2004, as revised by Boeing Information Notice 767-24A0119 IN 01, dated
October 21, 2004.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124- 2207.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http:// www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The address for the
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Louis Natsiopoulous, Aerospace
Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057- 3356; telephone (425) 917-6478; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that supersedes AD 2004-23-14, amendment 39-13869 (69 FR 67043, November 16, 2004). The existing AD applies to certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. That
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 19, 2007 (72 FR 64964). That NPRM proposed to require reworking the surface of the ground stud bracket of the left and right transformer rectifier units
(TRUs) and the airplane structure mounting surface, and measuring the resistance from the bracket to the structure and the ground lugs to the bracket using a bonding meter. That NPRM also proposed revising the applicability of the existing AD to include additional airplanes and to require, among other actions, installation of a new ground stud bracket using faying surface bonding.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the development of this AD. We considered the comment that has been received on the NPRM. Boeing, the single commenter, supports the NPRM.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the comment that has been received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
There are 932 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to comply with this AD.
Estimated Costs
Number of U.S.-
Action
Work hours
Average labor
Parts
Cost per airplane
registered
Fleet cost rate per hour
airplanes
Rework and Measurement (required 1................
$80
$4 $84.........................
262 $22,008. by AD 2004-23-14).
New actions...................... 1 or 2 \1\.......
80
208 $288 or $368 \1\............
412 $118,656 or
$151,616.\1\
\1\ Depending on the airplane configuration.
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
Page 10646
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 have determined that this AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
(3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment 0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended] 0 2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by removing amendment 39-13869 (69 FR 67043, November 16, 2004) and by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): 2008-04-12 Boeing: Amendment 39-15384. Docket No. FAA-2007-0203;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-105-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective April 3, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2004-23-14.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and - 400ER series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0162, dated May 30, 2006.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report of loss of all direct current
(DC) power generation during a flight, due to inadequate electrical ground path between the ground bracket of the left and right transformer rectifier unit (TRUs)/main battery charger (MBC) and the structure. We are issuing this AD to prevent depletion of the main battery while in flight, resulting from the loss of both TRUs and the MBC, and consequent loss of all DC power, which could impact the safe flight and landing of the airplane due to the loss of function or malfunction of essential/critical systems and displays in the cockpit.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.
Requirements of AD 2004-23-14
Rework and Measure Resistance
(f) For Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes, as listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0119, Revision 2, dated August 19, 2004; on which the actions of Boeing Service
Bulletin 767-24-0119, dated May 14, 1998, and/or Revision 1, dated
December 16, 1999, have been done: Within 45 days after December 1, 2004 (the effective date of AD 2004-23-14), rework the ground stud bracket of the TRUs and structure mounting surface, and measure the resistance from the bracket to the structure and the grounding lug to the bracket using a bonding meter, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767- 24A0119, Revision 2, dated August 19, 2004, as revised by Boeing
Information Notice 767-24A0119 IN 01, dated October 21, 2004, except as provided by paragraph (g) of this AD.
(g) Step 4, Sheet 3 of Figure 1 in the Accomplishment
Instructions of the service bulletin only specifies to install one collar with part number (P/N) BACC30M6. However, a collar with P/N
BACC30BL6 (as listed in paragraph 2.C., ``Parts Necessary For Each
Airplane'' of the service bulletin) may be used as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC).
New Actions Required by This AD
Rework, Installation, Measurement, as Applicable
(h) For all airplanes: Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, rework the existing ground stud bracket of the TRUs/MBC, measure the resistance, and install a new ground stud bracket of the
TRUs by doing all the applicable actions specified in the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767- 24A0162, dated May 30, 2006.
AMOCs
(i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(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 appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(j) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0119,
Revision 2, dated August 19, 2004, as revised by Boeing Information
Notice 767-24A0119 IN 01, dated October 21, 2004; and Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 767-24A0162, dated May 30, 2006, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767- 24A0162, dated May 30, 2006, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) On December 1, 2004 (69 FR 67043, November 16, 2004), the
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0119, Revision 2, dated August 19, 2004, as revised by Boeing Information Notice 767- 24A0119 IN 01, dated October 21, 2004.
(3) Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207, for a copy of this service information. You may review copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 13, 2008.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
FR Doc. E8-3394 Filed 2-27-08; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
