2024-08550. 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 767-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that some Model 767-300 series airplanes that had been converted into a freighter configuration are missing an electrical bracket for a wire bundle in the main equipment center. This proposed AD would require installing an electrical support bracket and re-installing wire bundles. 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 June 7, 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: [phone].

• 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-2024-1005; 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 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 [phone]; website myboeingfleet.com.

• 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 regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-1005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Samuel Dorsey, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

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-2024-1005; Project Identifier AD-2022-00996-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 Samuel Dorsey, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: [phone]; email: [e-mail]. 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 that certain Model 767-300 series airplanes that have been modified to operate in a freighter configuration by the manufacturer (also referred to as a “767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter” or “767-300BCF”) do not have the correct airplane configuration necessary to comply with the requirements of AD 2020-18-16, Amendment 39-21237 (85 FR 62993, October 6, 2020) (AD 2020-18-16). Specifically, these Model 767-300 series airplanes are missing an electrical support bracket in the main equipment center, leading to inadequate separation of a wire bundle that includes fuel quantity indicating system (FQIS) wiring.

During the design of the replacement cargo floor beams for the freighter conversion, although the bracket and attached wire support clamps were a required design feature to protect the FQIS wiring, the bracket and clamps were omitted from the design of the cargo floor beams. When the passenger configuration floor beams were replaced with the cargo configuration floor beams during modification, the bracket was therefore removed but not replaced. In addition, on some airplanes, clamps were installed around the relevant wire bundles but were not attached to the missing bracket.

In either case, the wire bundles that were previously attached to the bracket were left unsecured, affecting the wire separation configuration requirements for the FQIS wiring as defined in the airworthiness limitations (Critical Design Configuration Control Limitation 28-AWL-09).

This condition, if not addressed, could result in an electrical fault condition in the FQIS wiring, possibly creating an ignition source in the center wing fuel tank. A failure to prevent possible ignition sources in the fuel tank, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in an explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

AD 2020-18-16 applies to certain Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and -400ER series airplanes and requires modification of the FQIS to prevent ignition sources inside the center fuel tank. Paragraph (h) of AD 2020-18-16 contains optional alternative requirements for cargo airplanes. The electrical support bracket required by this proposed AD is needed for some Model 767-300 cargo airplanes to accomplish the service bulletin required by the alternative actions in paragraph (h)(2)(ii) of AD 2020-18-16. This proposed AD would restore the airplane to a configuration where paragraph (h)(2)(ii) of AD 2020-18-16 may be accomplished.

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 Service Bulletin 767-24A0261, Revision 1, dated August 17, 2022. This service information specifies procedures for installing an electrical support bracket in the main equipment center and re-installing wire bundles. 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 require accomplishing the actions identified as “RC” (required for compliance) in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0261, Revision 1, dated August 17, 2022, 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 service information at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-1005.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 18 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
Installation of bracket	3 work-hours × $85 per hour = $255	$93	$348	$6,264

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

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2024-1005; Project Identifier AD-2022-00996-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by June 7, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 767-300 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0261, Revision 1, dated August 17, 2022.

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 24, Electrical Power.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by a report that some Model 767-300 series airplanes that have been modified to operate in a freighter configuration are missing an electrical bracket for a wire bundle in the main equipment center, which affects wire separation configuration requirements for fuel quantity indicating system wiring and could result in an electrical fault condition. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent possible ignition sources in the fuel tank due to an electrical fault, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

(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 Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0261, Revision 1, dated August 17, 2022, do all applicable actions identified as “RC” (required for compliance) in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0261, Revision 1, dated August 17, 2022.

(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

Where the “Compliance” paragraph of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0261, Revision 1, dated August 17, 2022, refers to the Revision 1 date of this service bulletin, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using Boeing Service Bulletin 767-24-0261, dated May 19, 2021.

(j) 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 (k)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [e-mail].

(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.

(4) Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this AD: For service information that contains steps that are labeled as Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraphs (j)(4)(i) and (ii) of this AD apply.

(i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply with the AD. If a step or substep is labeled “RC Exempt,” then the RC requirement is removed from that step or substep. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps, including substeps and identified figures.

(ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition.

(k) Related Information

(1) For more information about this AD, contact Samuel Dorsey, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

(2) Service information identified in this AD that is not incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in paragraphs (l)(3) and (4) of this AD.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

(i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0261, Revision 1, dated August 17, 2022.

(ii) [Reserved]

(3) 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 [phone]; website myboeingfleet.com.

(4) 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.

(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 [e-mail].

Issued on April 17, 2024.

Victor Wicklund,

Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.