Airworthiness Directives; the Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 144 (Friday, July 26, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45054-45055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18110]



[[Page 45054]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0628; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-132-AD; 
Amendment 39-17523; AD 2013-15-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; the Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This AD requires either 
removal or inspection of the Honeywell fixed emergency locator 
transmitter (ELT), and corrective action if necessary. This AD was 
prompted by a report of a fire involving a Honeywell fixed ELT. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent a fire in the aft crown of the airplane, or 
to detect and correct discrepancies within the ELT that could cause 
such a fire.

DATES: This AD is effective on July 26, 2013.
    We must receive comments on this AD by September 9, 2013.

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 http://www.regulations.gov. 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: 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.

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 street address for 
the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Fairhurst, Senior Aerospace 
Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 
98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6466; fax: 425-917-6590; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We have received a report of a fire involving the Honeywell fixed 
emergency locator transmitter (ELT) on a Model 787-8 airplane. The 
investigation indicates that the ELT may have initiated the event. 
Discrepancies within the ELT, if not corrected, could cause a fire in 
the aft crown of the airplane.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires either removing the Honeywell fixed ELT, or 
inspecting the ELT (for discrepancies associated with the ELT, ELT 
battery, and associated wiring), and doing corrective action if 
necessary, in accordance with a method approved by the FAA.
    The applicability of this AD is limited to in-service airplanes, 
which have been delivered with Honeywell fixed ELTs having part number 
1152682-2. Future production airplanes will be addressed prior to 
delivery.
    We recognize that various civil aviation authorities (CAA) have 
different operational requirements regarding the use of ELTs. While the 
United States does not require a fixed ELT to be installed for 
operation, operation of an airplane without an ELT in a particular 
country's airspace may require coordination with that country's CAA.

Interim Action

    This AD is considered to be interim action. Because the fire 
occurred on a Model 787-8 airplane, required actions in this AD are 
focused on Honeywell fixed ELTs installed on that model. However, we 
acknowledge that ELTs are installed on various other aircraft; 
therefore, continued investigation is required. Once final action has 
been identified, we might consider further rulemaking.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because 
discrepancies within the Honeywell fixed ELT could cause a fire in the 
aft crown of the airplane. Therefore, we find that notice and 
opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public 
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2013-0628 and 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-132-AD at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
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 AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 6 airplanes of U.S. registry. We 
estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 45055]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
             Action                       Labor cost              Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Removal or inspection..........  1 work-hour x $85 per hour =              $0              $85             $510
                                  $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.

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

    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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2013-15-07 the Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17523; Docket No. FAA-
2013-0628; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-132-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective on July 26, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes, 
certificated in any category, line numbers 7 through 9 inclusive, 
23, 24, 27, 29, 31, 33 through 35 inclusive, 37, 38, 40 through 42 
inclusive, 44 through 72 inclusive, 74 through 78 inclusive, 80, 82 
through 84 inclusive, 86, 87, 89, 92, 94 through 99 inclusive, 101, 
102, 108, and 111.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 23, Communications.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of a fire involving the 
Honeywell fixed emergency locator transmitter (ELT). We are issuing 
this AD to prevent a fire in the aft crown of the airplane, or to 
detect and correct discrepancies within the ELT that could cause 
such a fire.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Honeywell Fixed ELT Removal or Inspection

    Within 10 days after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions specified in either paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Remove the Honeywell fixed ELT using a method approved in 
accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (h) of this 
AD.
    (2) Inspect the Honeywell fixed ELT for discrepancies, and do 
all applicable corrective actions before further flight, using a 
method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in 
paragraph (h) of this AD.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (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. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local 
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in the Related Information 
section of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Kenneth Fairhurst, 
Senior Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, 
FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue 
SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6466; fax: 425-
917-6590; email: [email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 23, 2013.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-18110 Filed 7-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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