Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes, 88906-88908 [2024-26128]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 12, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 88906-88908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26128]


========================================================================
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. 89, No. 218 / Tuesday, November 12, 2024 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 88906]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2408; Project Identifier AD-2024-00362-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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400, 747-400F, 747-8F, and 
747-8 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that, 
during potable water servicing, there were multiple engine indicating 
and crew alerting system messages. The cause was the separation of a 
fitting and steel water supply tube above an electronics equipment 
cooling air filter, behind the forward cargo compartment left sidewall. 
This proposed AD would require, depending on configuration, installing 
at certain locations: conduits on exposed potable water supply lines, 
envelope assemblies over all exposed potable water line fittings and 
exposed potable water supply lines, a slitted spray shield, a 2-piece 
deflector shield around the equipment cooling system air inlet, and/or 
a shroud on exposed potable water supply lines. 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 December 
27, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 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: 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 regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2408; 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:
     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 myboeingfleet.com.
     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 regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2408.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Courtney Tuck, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3986; email: [email protected].

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-2024-2408; 
Project Identifier AD-2024-00362-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 
regulations.gov, 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 
Courtney Tuck, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3986; email: [email protected]. 
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 a report indicating that during potable water 
servicing on a Model 777 freighter airplane, there were multiple engine 
indicating and crew alerting system messages. The cause was the 
separation of a fitting and steel water supply tube above an 
electronics equipment cooling air filter, behind the forward cargo 
compartment left sidewall. Water from the soaked filter was 
subsequently sprayed by the equipment cooling system onto multiple line 
replaceable units in the main electronics center. Due to similar 
designs to the Model 777 freighter airplanes, Boeing developed a 
precautionary solution for Model 747-400, 747-400F, 747-8F, and 747-8 
airplane configurations having potable water supply lines and 
connections near

[[Page 88907]]

the equipment cooling supply (ECS) air inlet. The solution includes 
installing shrouding around the potable water lines and conduits near 
the ECS air equipment the electrical equipment cooling duct to collect 
any water leaks and allow collected water to flow gravitationally away 
and at a safe distance from the ECS air inlet and the electronic 
equipment cooling duct to the floor of the airplane, preventing water 
leaks into the main electronics center. This condition, if not 
addressed, could result in an adverse impact on the function of 
multiple electronics and line replaceable units (LRUs) in the equipment 
bay racks that are essential for safe flight, which can lead to the 
loss of continued safe flight and landing.

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.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-38A2146 RB, 
dated August 7, 2024. This material specifies procedures for, depending 
on configuration, installing: conduits on exposed potable water supply 
lines between station (STA) 580 and STA 650, between STA 575 and STA 
650, or between STA 595 and STA 650, as applicable; envelope assemblies 
over all exposed potable water line fittings and exposed potable water 
supply lines between STA 650 and STA 660, between STA 640 and STA 660, 
between STA 570 and STA 580, between STA 570 and STA 580 and between 
STA 650 and STA 660, between STA 580 and STA 600 and between STA 650 
and STA 660, or between STA 580 and STA 600, as applicable; a slitted 
spray shield; a 2-piece deflector shield around the ECS air inlet STA 
610; a spray shield; and/or a shroud on exposed potable water supply 
line between STA 550 and STA 680.
    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 and compliance times, see this 
material at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-2408.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 178 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installations.............  Up to 22 work-     Up to $4,980.....  Up to $6,850.....  Up to $1,219,300.
                             hours x $85 per
                             hour = Up to
                             $1,870.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 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-2024-2408; Project Identifier AD-
2024-00362-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by December 27, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400, 747-400F, 
747-8F, and 747-8 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as 
identified in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-38A2146 RB, 
dated August 7, 2024.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 38, Water/waste.

[[Page 88908]]

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that, during potable water 
servicing, there were multiple engine indicating and crew alerting 
system messages. The cause was the separation of a fitting and steel 
water supply tube above an electronics equipment cooling air filter, 
behind the forward cargo compartment left sidewall. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address water leaks into the main electronics 
center. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in an 
adverse impact on the function of multiple electronics and line 
replaceable units (LRUs) in the equipment bay racks that are 
essential for safe flight, which can lead to the loss of continued 
safe flight and landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this AD: At the 
applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing 
Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-38A2146 RB, dated August 7, 2024, do 
all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
747-38A2146 RB, dated August 7, 2024.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g):  Guidance for accomplishing the actions 
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
747-38A2146, dated August 7, 2024, which is referred to in Boeing 
Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-38A2146 RB, dated August 7, 2024.

(h) Exception to Requirements Bulletin Specifications

    Where the Compliance Time columns of the tables in the 
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-
38A2146 RB, dated August 7, 2024, refer to the original issue date 
of Requirements Bulletin 747-38A2146 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: [email protected].
    (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 Courtney Tuck, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 
98198; phone: 206-231-3986; email: [email protected].
    (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 Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-38A2146 RB, dated 
August 7, 2024.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For 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 myboeingfleet.com.
    (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 www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on November 5, 2024.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-26128 Filed 11-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P