94-6067. Airworthiness Directives; Nordskog Water Heaters and Coffee Makers as Installed in Various Airplanes  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 16, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page 0]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-6067]
    
    
    [[Page Unknown]]
    
    [Federal Register: March 16, 1994]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    
    Federal Aviation Administration
    
    14 CFR Part 39
    
    [Docket No. 94-NM-01-AD]
    
     
    
    Airworthiness Directives; Nordskog Water Heaters and Coffee 
    Makers as Installed in Various Airplanes
    
    AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
    
    ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
    
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    SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
    directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Nordskog water heaters and 
    coffee makers. This proposal would require an inspection to determine 
    whether certain discrepant pressure relief valves have been installed 
    in certain galley water heaters and coffee makers; and either 
    replacement of the discrepant valves, or discontinued use and 
    installation of placards. This proposal is prompted by reports of 
    injuries to cabin crew members that resulted from explosions of galley 
    water heaters. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
    prevent explosions of galley water heaters and coffee makers, and 
    subsequent injuries to passengers or cabin crew members.
    
    DATES: Comments must be received by May 9, 1994.
    
    ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
    Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, 
    Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-NM-01-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
    Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this location 
    between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
    holidays.
        The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
    obtained from Aircraft Products Company, 12807 Lake Drive, P.O. Box 
    130, Delray Beach, Florida 33447-0130. This information may be examined 
    at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
    Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
    Office (ACO), 3229 East Spring Street, Long Beach, California.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter Eierman, Systems and Equipment 
    Branch, ANM-131L, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, Los Angeles ACO, 
    3229 East Spring Street, Long Beach, California 90806-2425; telephone 
    (310) 988-5336; fax (310) 988-5210.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Comments Invited
    
        Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
    proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
    they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number 
    and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
    communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
    specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
    proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
    light of the comments received.
        Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
    economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
    comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
    date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
    persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
    the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
        Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
    submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
    stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
    to Docket Number 94-NM-01-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
    returned to the commenter.
    
    Availability of NPRMs
    
        Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
    to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules 
    Docket No. 94-NM-01-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
    98055-4056.
    
    Discussion
    
        On November 15, 1993, the FAA issued AD 93-23-01, Amendment 39-8735 
    (58 FR 61618, November 22, 1993), applicable to certain Nordskog water 
    heaters and coffee makers installed in various airplanes, to require an 
    inspection to determine whether certain NUPRO pressure relief valves 
    have been installed in certain Nordskog galley water heaters and coffee 
    makers. That AD also requires either replacement of those NUPRO 
    pressure relief valves with new, improved NUPRO pressure relief valves, 
    or discontinued use of certain Nordskog galley water heaters and coffee 
    makers and installation of placards stating, ``Not to be used.'' That 
    action was prompted by reports of injuries to cabin crew members that 
    resulted from explosions of galley water heaters. The requirements of 
    that AD are intended to prevent explosions of galley water heaters and 
    coffee makers, and subsequent injuries to passengers or cabin crew 
    members.
        The incident reports that prompted AD 93-23-01 involved units with 
    an integral check valve; AD 93-23-01 applies only to units with the 
    integral check valve. In the preamble to that AD, the FAA indicated 
    that it was evaluating the need for additional AD action to address 
    other installations that incorporate the same pressure relief valve 
    design. The FAA now finds that Nordskog water heaters and coffee makers 
    without the integral check valve also use the same pressure relief 
    valve. Therefore, these units could also be subject to the same unsafe 
    condition as addressed by AD 93-23-01.
        The FAA has reviewed and approved Nordskog Industries, Inc., 
    Service Bulletin SB-93-35, dated October 21, 1993, that describes 
    procedures for an inspection to determine whether certain NUPRO 
    pressure relief valves have been installed in certain Nordskog galley 
    water heaters and coffee makers; and replacement of those NUPRO 
    pressure relief valves with new, improved NUPRO pressure relief valves. 
    The manufacturer has advised that the discrepant pressure relief valve 
    has been installed in certain Nordskog galley water heaters and coffee 
    makers that either were manufactured between January 1990 and July 
    1991, or have been serviced since January 1990. The manufacturer has 
    also advised the FAA that this problem has been corrected on the new 
    model number pressure relief valves installed by Nordskog since July 
    1991. The effectivity listing of this service bulletin includes the 
    model numbers of Nordskog galley water heaters and coffee makers on 
    which the discrepant relief valves may be installed.
        Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
    exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the 
    proposed AD would require an inspection to determine whether certain 
    NUPRO pressure relief valves have been installed in certain Nordskog 
    galley water heaters and coffee makers. This proposed AD would also 
    require either replacement of those NUPRO pressure relief valves with 
    new, improved NUPRO pressure relief valves, or discontinued use of 
    certain Nordskog galley water heaters and coffee makers and 
    installation of placards stating, ``Not to be used.'' The actions would 
    be required to be accomplished in accordance with the service bulletin 
    described previously.
        The FAA is aware that the subject water heaters and coffee makers 
    are installed in various airplanes. There are approximately 300 of 
    these airplanes in the worldwide fleet; the FAA estimates that 200 
    airplanes are of U.S. registry. It would take approximately 2 work 
    hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the 
    average labor rate is $55 per work hour. (There are approximately 4 
    water heaters and/or coffee makers installed on each airplane.) The 
    cost of required parts is expected to be negligible. Based on these 
    figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
    estimated to be $22,000, or $110 per airplane.
        The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on 
    assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed 
    requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish 
    those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
        The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct 
    effects 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. Therefore, in 
    accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this 
    proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
    the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
        For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft 
    regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the 
    Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules 
    Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
    
    List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
    
        Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
    
    The Proposed Amendment
    
        Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
    Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 
    CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations as follows:
    
    PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
    
        1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
    106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.
    
    
    Sec. 39.13   [Amended]
    
        2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
    airworthiness directive:
    
    Nordskog Industries, Inc.: Docket 94-NM-01-AD.
    
        Applicability: Nordskog water heaters and coffee makers, as 
    listed in Nordskog Industries, Inc., Service Bulletin SB-93-35, 
    dated October 21, 1993; as installed in, but not limited to Boeing 
    Model 727, 737, 747, 757, and 767 series airplanes; McDonnell 
    Douglas Model DC-9, DC-9-80, and DC-10 series airplanes, and MD-11 
    airplanes; Lockheed Model L-1011 series airplanes; Airbus Industrie 
    Model A300, A310, and A320 series airplanes; Gulfstream Model G-1159 
    series airplanes and Model G-IV airplanes; de Havilland, Inc., Model 
    DHC-8 series airplanes; Dassault-Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 50, 
    200, and 900 series airplanes; Canadair Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), 
    CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A and -3R) and CL-
    600-2B19 series airplanes; and Fokker Model F27 and F28 series 
    airplanes; certificated in any category.
        Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
    previously.
        To prevent explosions of galley water heaters and coffee makers, 
    and subsequent injuries to passengers or cabin crew members, 
    accomplish the following:
        (a) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
    perform a one-time inspection to determine whether a NUPRO pressure 
    relief valve having part number (P/N) SS-2C4-65 has been installed, 
    in accordance with Nordskog Industries, Inc., Service Bulletin SB-
    93-35, dated October 21, 1993. If any NUPRO pressure relief valve 
    having P/N SS-2C4-65 has been installed, prior to further flight, 
    accomplish either paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this AD.
        (1) Remove the NUPRO pressure relief valve having P/N SS-2C4-65 
    and install a new, improved NUPRO pressure relief valve having P/N 
    SS-CHF2-65, in accordance with the service bulletin. Or
        (2) Deactivate any Nordskog water heater or coffee maker listed 
    in the service bulletin on which a NUPRO pressure relief valve 
    having P/N SS-2C4-65 has been installed, and install a placard 
    stating, ``Not to be used.''
        (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install 
    a NUPRO pressure relief valve having P/N SS-2C4-65 on any airplane
        (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
    compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
    used if approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
    Office (ACO), FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall 
    submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal 
    Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
    Manager, Los Angeles ACO.
    
        Note: Information concerning the existence of approved 
    alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
    obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.
    
        (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
    Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the 
    airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be 
    accomplished.
    
        Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 10, 1994.
    Darrell M. Pederson,
    Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
    Service.
    [FR Doc. 94-6067 Filed 3-15-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
03/16/1994
Department:
Federal Aviation Administration
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Action:
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
Document Number:
94-6067
Dates:
Comments must be received by May 9, 1994.
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: March 16, 1994, Docket No. 94-NM-01-AD
CFR: (1)
14 CFR 39.13