Proposed Rule2025-04951
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 28, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200LR Series and 777-300ER Series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of chafing and arcing damage on the light emitting diode (LED) sidewall wire bundles. This proposed AD would require a general visual inspection (GVI) of the sidewall light for chafing damage and applicable on- condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 59 (Friday, March 28, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 59 (Friday, March 28, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14055-14057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04951]
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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. 90, No. 59 / Friday, March 28, 2025 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 14055]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0348; Project Identifier AD-2024-00626-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200LR Series and 777-300ER
Series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of chafing
and arcing damage on the light emitting diode (LED) sidewall wire
bundles. This proposed AD would require a general visual inspection
(GVI) of the sidewall light for chafing damage and applicable on-
condition actions. 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 12,
2025.
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="http://regulations.gov">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.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0348; 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For the Boeing material identified in this proposed 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; website <a href="http://myboeingfleet.com">myboeingfleet.com</a>.
<bullet> You may view this material 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="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0348.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raja Vengadasalam, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3537; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#87f5e6ede6a9f1e2e9e0e6e3e6f4e6ebe6eac7e1e6e6a9e0e8f1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="84f6e5eee5aaf2e1eae3e5e0e5f7e5e8e5e9c4e2e5e5aae3ebf2">[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 the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-0348;
Project Identifier AD-2024-00626-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 this 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="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
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 Raja
Vengadasalam, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3537; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f2d3e353e71293a31383e3b3e2c3e333e321f393e3e71383029"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8af8ebe0eba4fcefe4edebeeebf9ebe6ebe7caecebeba4ede5fc">[email protected]</span></a>. Any commentary that the FAA receives that is
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA has received reports of chafing and arcing damage on the
LED sidewall wire bundles. An operator reported that wire chafing and
arcing damage was found on the power cable of the LED sidewall lights
during a maintenance check. The damage was caused by the LED sidewall
light power connector wire bundle becoming trapped between the sidewall
light housing and moisture barrier after maintenance. Relative motion
and deflection between the crown and sidewall may mechanically strain
the wires in the LED sidewall light power connector wire bundle. The
115-volt alternating current power wire eventually arcs to the
electromagnetic interference shield and the communication wires inside
the shield, but the circuit breaker may fail to open. This condition,
if not addressed, could result in maintenance personnel contact with a
live high-voltage electrical cable.
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.
[[Page 14056]]
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin
777-33-0069 RB, dated October 15, 2024. This material specifies
procedures for a GVI of the sidewall lights for wire chafing damage and
applicable on-condition actions, including repairing the wire chafing
damage, replacing the light, adjusting the wire routing, and installing
a new wire clip, ringpost, and clamp. This material 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.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the material already described, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
For information on the procedures, see this material at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>
under Docket No. FAA-2025-0348.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 31 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
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Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection............ Up to 100 work-hours $15,390 Up to $23,890........ Up to $740,590.
x $85 per hour =
$8,500.
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary actions
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection.
The agency has no way of determining the number of aircraft that might
need these actions:
On-Condition Costs
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Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product
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Repair or replacement, adjusting 1 work-hour x $85 per Up to $7,613......... Up to $7,698.
wire routing, and installing hour = $85.
parts.
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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 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) 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.
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:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2025-0348; Project Identifier AD-
2024-00626-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by May 12, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200LR Series and
777-300ER Series airplanes, certificated in any category, as
identified in Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 777-33-
0069 RB, dated October 15, 2024.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 33, Lights.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of chafing and arcing damage on
the light emitting diode (LED) sidewall wire bundles. The FAA is
issuing this AD to prevent and address chafing damage on the LED
sidewall wire bundles. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could
result in maintenance personnel contact with a live high-voltage
electrical cable.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: At the
applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 777-33-0069 RB, dated
October 15, 2024, do all
[[Page 14057]]
applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Requirements
Bulletin 777-33-0069 RB, dated October 15, 2024.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 777-33-0069, dated October 15, 2024, which is referred to
in Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 777-33-0069 RB,
dated October 15, 2024.
(h) Exceptions to Requirements Bulletin Specifications
Where the ``Boeing Recommended Compliance Time'' column in the
table under the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Special Attention
Requirements Bulletin 777-33-0069 RB, dated October 15, 2024, refers
to ``the Original Issue date of Requirements Bulletin 777-33-0069
RB,'' this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety 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
(j)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e9a8a4a6aaa98f8888c78e869f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f3b2bebcb0b3959292dd949c85">[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, AIR-
520, Continued Operational Safety 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.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Raja
Vengadasalam, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St.,
Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3537; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#097b686368277f6c676e686d687a68656864496f6868276e667f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5d2f3c373c732b38333a3c393c2e3c313c301d3b3c3c733a322b">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Material identified in this AD that is not incorporated by
reference is available at the address specified in paragraph (k)(3)
this AD.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 777-33-0069
RB, dated October 15, 2024.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For the Boeing material 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; website <a href="http://myboeingfleet.com">myboeingfleet.com</a>.
(4) You may view this material 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.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3355411d5a5d40435650475a5c5d735d5241521d545c45"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3e584c1057504d4e5b5d4a5751507e505f4c5f10595148">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on March 12, 2025.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-04951 Filed 3-27-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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