Proposed Rule2022-06315
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 25, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD 2021-06-03, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 777F series airplanes. AD 2021-06-03 requires deactivating the potable water system. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-06-03, Boeing developed new actions to address the unsafe condition, which terminate the action required by AD 2021-06-03. This proposed AD would retain the actions required by AD 2021-06-03 and would require installing a shroud to the water supply line in the forward cargo compartment, and performing a leak test of the potable water system. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would also require replacing tubes and hoses from the water supply line and installing a shroud to the water return line. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 58 (Friday, March 25, 2022)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 58 (Friday, March 25, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17035-17037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06315]
[[Page 17035]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0156; Project Identifier AD-2021-01474-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD
2021-06-03, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 777F series
airplanes. AD 2021-06-03 requires deactivating the potable water
system. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-06-03, Boeing developed new
actions to address the unsafe condition, which terminate the action
required by AD 2021-06-03. This proposed AD would retain the actions
required by AD 2021-06-03 and would require installing a shroud to the
water supply line in the forward cargo compartment, and performing a
leak test of the potable water system. For certain airplanes, this
proposed AD would also require replacing tubes and hoses from the water
supply line and installing a shroud to the water return line. The FAA
is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 9,
2022.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For 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 <a href="https://www.myboeingfleet.com">https://www.myboeingfleet.com</a>. You may
view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products
Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines,
WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call 206-231-3195. It is also available at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0156.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0156; or in person at
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, any comments
received, and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Courtney Tuck, Aerospace Engineer,
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Section, FAA, Seattle ACO
Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-
231-3986; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3e0ccd6d1d7cdc6da8de88df7d6c0c8e3c5c2c28dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="07446872757369627e294c295372646c4761666629606871">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-0156; Project Identifier
AD-2021-01474-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
the proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this proposed AD.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to
Courtney Tuck, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental
Systems Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3986; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2e6d415b5c5a404b570065007a5b4d456e484f4f00494158"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="37745842454359524e197c196342545c7751565619505841">[email protected]</span></a>. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA issued AD 2021-06-03, Amendment 39-21469 (86 FR 12809,
March 5, 2021) (AD 2021-06-03), for all The Boeing Company Model 777F
series airplanes. AD 2021-06-03 was prompted by a report of a water
supply line that detached above an electronic equipment (EE) cooling
filter, leading to water intrusion into the forward EE bay. AD 2021-06-
03 requires deactivating the potable water system. The agency issued AD
2021-06-03 to address water entering the EE cooling system via the
cooling filter, which can affect multiple EE bay racks and line
replaceable units (LRUs), resulting in loss of functionality or
inaccurate output of critical electrical systems and possible loss of
control of the airplane.
The reported water supply detachment occurred on a Model 777F
series airplane with 34,000 total flight hours and 6,000 total flight
cycles. During potable water servicing on ground, the operator received
multiple messages appearing on the engine indication and crew alert
system (EICAS) indicating multiple affected EE LRUs. Further
investigation revealed that the location of a joint on a swaged end
fitting ferrule of a corrosion resistant stainless steel (CRES) water
supply line had become partially or fully detached from the tube,
causing water to spill onto an EE cooling filter (directly below the
fitting) in the left-hand sidewall at station (STA) 571. The amount and
duration of the water spillage are unknown. Water saturated the cooling
filter, which was then blown via the EE cooling system into multiple EE
LRUs located in the EE bay.
Model 777F series airplanes line numbers (L/Ns) 960 and subsequent
[[Page 17036]]
have a joint at this location from the factory-installed CRES tube
assembly. Boeing released Service Bulletin 777-38-0042 as an economic
service bulletin providing operators with airplanes prior to L/N 960
instructions to retrofit to this configuration at their discretion.
Therefore, AD 2021-06-03 requires deactivation of the potable water
system for all 777F airplanes with this joint installed either in
production or through accomplishment of Boeing SB 777-38-0042.
Actions Since AD 2021-06-03 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 2021-06-03, the FAA has determined that
further rulemaking is necessary. The preamble to AD 2021-06-03
specifies that the FAA considers the requirements ``interim action''
and that the manufacturer is developing a modification to address the
unsafe condition. That AD explains that the FAA might consider further
rulemaking if a modification is developed, approved, and available. The
manufacturer now has developed such a modification, and this proposed
AD follows from that determination.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-38A0048 RB,
dated October 18, 2021. This service information specifies procedures
for replacing tubes and hoses from the water supply line and installing
a shroud to the water supply and return lines in the forward cargo
compartment and performing a leak test of the potable water system.
This proposed AD would also require Boeing Multi Operator Message
MOM-MOM-21-0089-01B, dated February 26, 2021, which the Director of the
Federal Register approved for incorporation by reference as of March 5,
2021 (86 FR 12809, March 5, 2021).
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 ADDRESSES.
Proposed AD Requirements in this NPRM
This proposed AD would retain all of the requirements of AD 2021-
06-03. This proposed AD would also require accomplishment of the
actions identified in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-38A0048
RB, dated October 18, 2021, described previously, except as discussed
under ``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Service
Information,'' and except for any differences identified as exceptions
in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. This proposed AD would also
prohibit the future accomplishment of the actions specified in Boeing
Service Bulletin 777-38-0042.
For information on the procedures and compliance times, see this
service information at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0156.
Difference Between This AD and the Service Information
Boeing Multi Operator Message MOM-MOM-21-0089-01B, dated February
26, 2021, specifies one Safety Action and six Recommended Actions.
Although the FAA recommends accomplishment of all of these actions,
this proposed AD would require only deactivation of the potable water
system, as specified in the Safety Action of the service information.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 58 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deactivation of potable water system 2 work-hours x $85 per $0........................... $170........................ $9,860.
(retained actions from AD 2021-06- hour = $170.
03).
Replace tubes and hoses, and install Up to 12 work-hours x Up to $1,850................. Up to $2,870................ Up to $166,460.
shroud (new proposed action). $85 per hour = Up to
$1,020.
Potable water system leak test (new 2 work-hours x $85 per $0........................... $170........................ $9,860.
proposed action). hour = $170.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of
this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the
cost impact on affected operators.
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.
The FAA is 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
The FAA has 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 that the proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
[[Page 17037]]
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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-06-03, Amendment 39-21469
(86 FR 12809, March 5, 2021), and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2022-0156; Project Identifier AD-
2021-01474-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) action by May 9, 2022.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2021-06-03, Amendment 39-21469 (86 FR 12809,
March 5, 2021) (AD 2021-06-03).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 777F series
airplanes, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 38, Water/waste.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of a water supply line that
detached at a certain joint located above an electronic equipment
(EE) cooling filter, leading to water intrusion into the forward EE
bay. This AD was also prompted by the development of new actions to
address the unsafe condition. The FAA is issuing this AD to address
water entering the EE cooling system via the cooling filter, which
can affect multiple EE bay racks and line replaceable units (LRUs),
resulting in loss of functionality or inaccurate output of critical
electrical systems and possible loss of control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Retained Deactivation of Potable Water System, With No Changes
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD
2021-06-03, with no changes. For the airplanes identified in
paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this AD: Within 5 days after March 5,
2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-06-03), deactivate the potable
water system, in accordance with Boeing Multi Operator Message MOM-
MOM-21-0089-01B, dated February 26, 2021 (Boeing MOM-MOM-21-0089-
01B).
(1) Line numbers (L/Ns) 959 and earlier on which the actions
specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-38-0042 have been
accomplished.
(2) L/Ns 960 and subsequent.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance on deactivating the potable
water system can be found in Boeing 777 Aircraft Maintenance Manual
(AMM) Task 38-10-00-040-801.
(h) Retained Installation Prohibition, With No Changes
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD
2021-06-03, with no changes. For airplanes not identified in
paragraph (g) of this AD: As of March 5, 2021 (the effective date of
AD 2021-06-03), accomplishment of the actions specified in Boeing
Service Bulletin 777-38-0042 is prohibited.
(i) Retained Reporting Provisions, With No Changes
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (i) of AD
2021-06-03, with no changes. Although Boeing MOM-MOM-21-0089-01B
specifies to report inspection findings, this AD does not require
any report.
(j) New Required Actions
Except as specified by paragraph (k) of this AD: At the
applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-38A0048 RB, dated October 18, 2021,
do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin
777-38A0048 RB, dated October 18, 2021.
Note 1 to paragraph (j): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
777-38A0048, dated October 18, 2021, which is referred to in Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-38A0048 RB, dated October 18, 2021.
(k) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications
Where the Compliance Time columns of the tables in the
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-
38A0048 RB, dated October 18, 2021, use the phrase ``the Original
Issue date of Requirements Bulletin 777-38A0048 RB,'' this AD
requires using ``the effective date of this AD.''
(l) Terminating Action for Deactivation of Potable Water System
Accomplishment of the required actions specified in the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin
777-38A0048 RB, dated October 18, 2021, terminates the potable water
system deactivation required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
(m) 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 responsible Flight Standards 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 (n)(1) of this AD. Information may be
emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ca5b1ddd2d1b1cff9fde8e8f0f9b1dddfd3b1ddd1d3dfb1cef9ede9f9efe8efdcfafdfdb2fbf3ea"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0899df1fefd9de3d5d1c4c4dcd59df1f3ff9df1fdfff39de2d5c1c5d5c3c4c3f0d6d1d19ed7dfc6">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the responsible Flight Standards 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 Company Organization Designation
Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle
ACO Branch, FAA, 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.
(n) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Courtney Tuck,
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Section,
FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198;
phone and fax: 206-231-3986; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6e2d011b1c1a000b174025403a1b0d052e080f0f40090118"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="793a160c0b0d171c005732572d0c1a12391f1818571e160f">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) For 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 <a href="https://www.myboeingfleet.com">https://www.myboeingfleet.com</a>. You may view this referenced service
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational
Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
Issued on March 7, 2022.
Derek Morgan,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-06315 Filed 3-24-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 25, 2022.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.