Airworthiness Directives: Boeing Model 777-200 Series Airplanes
Federal Register: May 7, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 87)
Proposed Rules
Page 21284-21285
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr07my09-17
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39
Docket No. FAA-2009-0430; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-148-AD
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777-200 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 Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require installing a new insulation blanket on the latch beam firewall of each thrust reverser (T/R) half. This proposed AD results from an in-flight shutdown due to an engine fire indication; an under-cowl engine fire was extinguished after landing. The cause of the fire was uncontained failure of the starter in the engine core compartment; the fire progressed into the latch beam cavity and was fueled by oil from a damaged integrated drive generator oil line. We are proposing this AD to prevent a fire from entering the cowl or strut area, which could weaken T/R parts and result in reduced structural integrity of the T/R, possible separation of T/R parts during flight, and consequent damage to the airplane and injury to people or damage to property on the ground.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 22, 2009.
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 service information identified in this 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. 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 or 425-227- 1152.
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: Margaret Langsted, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone
(425) 917-6500; 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-2009-0430;
Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-148-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
We have received a report of an in-flight shutdown due to an engine fire indication; an under-cowl engine fire was extinguished after landing. The cause of the fire was uncontained failure of the starter in the engine core compartment; the fire progressed into the latch beam cavity and was fueled by oil from a damaged integrated drive generator oil line. The fire breached the bolt on the aluminum plate on the rear of the latch beam firewall and moved inside the translating sleeve.
Installation of a thermal insulation blanket over the bolt on the aluminum plate area at the rear of the latch beam will protect that area of the firewall so it is not breached by fire. A fire entering the cowl or strut area could weaken thrust reverser (T/R) parts and result in reduced structural integrity of the T/R, possible separation of T/R parts during flight, and consequent damage to the airplane and injury to people or damage to property on the ground.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 777-78A0066, Revision 1, dated March 12, 2009. The service bulletin describes procedures for installing bonded studs and a new thermal insulation blanket with sealant on the latch beam firewall of each T/R half.
Page 21285
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 25 airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 7 work-hours per product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts would cost between $3,546 and $5,253 per product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed
AD to the U.S. operators to be between $102,650 and 145,325, or between
$4,106 and $5,813 per product.
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:
Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2009-0430; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM- 148-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by June 22, 2009.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing Service
Bulletin 777-78A0066, Revision 1, dated March 12, 2009.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from an in-flight shutdown due to an engine fire indication; an under-cowl engine fire was extinguished after landing. The cause of the fire was uncontained failure of the starter in the engine core compartment; the fire progressed into the latch beam cavity and was fueled by oil supplied by a damaged integrated drive generator oil line. We are issuing this AD to prevent a fire from entering the cowl or strut area, which could weaken thrust reverser (T/R) parts and result in reduced structural integrity of the T/R, possible separation of T/R parts during flight, and consequent damage to the airplane and injury to people or damage to property on the ground.
Subject
(e) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 78: Exhaust.
Compliance
(f) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
Installation of Insulation Blanket
(g) Within 60 months or 4,500 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever is first: Install a new insulation blanket on the latch beam firewall of each T/R half by doing all the applicable actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of
Boeing Service Bulletin 777-78A0066, Revision 1, dated March 12, 2009.
Credit for Actions Done Using Previous Service Information
(h) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-78A0066, dated
June 5, 2008, are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
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: Margaret Langsted, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM- 140S, FAA, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6500; fax (425) 917-6590. Or, e-mail information 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 May 1, 2009.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
FR Doc. E9-10613 Filed 5-6-09; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
