2016-19487. Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report indicating that the fire block in the video control station and closets, and fire blocking tape in the floor panel opening in the forward and aft main passenger cabin, might be missing on some airplanes. This proposed AD would require installing fire block in the video control station and closets, as applicable, and installing fire blocking tape in the floor panel openings in the forward and aft main passenger cabin. We are proposing this AD to prevent propagation of a fire in the lower lobe cheek area outboard of a video control station and closet. Such propagation could result in an increased risk of smoke and/or fire propagation into the passenger cabin.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 3, 2016.

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 http://www.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.

For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone: [phone], extension 1; fax: [phone]; Internet: https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-8844.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-8844; 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 proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Office (phone: [phone]) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Francis Smith, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite 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-2016-8844; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-026-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed 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 proposed AD.

Discussion

We have received a report from Boeing indicating that the fire block in the video control station and closets, and fire blocking tape in the floor panel opening in the forward and aft main passenger cabin might be missing on some airplanes. The materials were not installed during production. We are proposing this AD to prevent propagation of a fire in the lower lobe cheek area outboard of a video control station and closet. Such propagation could result in an increased risk of smoke and/or fire in the passenger cabin.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed the following service information:

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB250028-00, Issue 001, dated August 1, 2013. The service information describes procedures for installing fire block in the video control station and closets.

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB250070-00, Issue 001, dated March 10, 2015. The service information describes procedures for installing fire block in the video control station.

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB530018-00, Issue 001, dated June 7, 2013. The service information describes procedures for installing fire blocking tape in the floor panel openings in the forward and aft main passenger cabin.

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 the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

We are proposing 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.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service information described previously. For information on the procedures and compliance times, see this service information at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-8844.

Costs of Compliance

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

Estimated Costs

Action	Labor cost	Parts cost	Cost per product	Cost on U.S. operators
Fire blocking tape installation in the floor panel openings	Up to 23 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,955 per installation	$0	Up to $1,955 per installation	Up to $11,730 per installation.
Fire block installation in the video control closet	5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $425 per installation	489	$914 per installation	$5,484 per installation.
Fire block installation in the video control station	5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $425 per installation	276	$701 per installation	$4,206 per installation.

According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost estimate.

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

We 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) Is not a “significant rule” under the 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

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 (AD):

The Boeing Company:

Docket No. FAA-2016-8844; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-026-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

We must receive comments by October 3, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB530018-00, Issue 001, dated June 7, 2013; Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB250028-00, Issue 001, dated August 1, 2013; and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB250070-00, Issue 001, dated March 10, 2015.

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/furnishings; 53, Fuselage.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by a report indicating that the fire block in the video control station and closets, and fire blocking tape in the floor panel opening in the forward and aft main passenger cabin, might be missing on some airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent propagation of a fire in the lower lobe cheek area outboard of a video control station and closet. Such propagation could result in an increased risk of smoke and/or fire propagation into the passenger cabin.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Installation of Fire Block and Fire Blocking Tape, as Applicable

Within 72 months after the effective date of this AD, do the actions specified in paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), and (g)(3) of this AD, as applicable.

(1) For airplanes specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB250028-00, Issue 001, dated August 1, 2013: Install fire block in the video control station and closets, as applicable, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB250028-00, Issue 001, dated August 1, 2013.

(2) For airplanes specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB250070-00, Issue 001, dated March 10, 2015: Install fire block in the video control station, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB250070-00, Issue 001, dated March 10, 2015.

(3) For airplanes specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB530018-00, Issue 001, dated June 7, 2013: Install fire blocking tape in the floor panel opening in the forward and aft main passenger cabin, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB530018-00, Issue 001, dated June 7, 2013.

(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 paragraph (i)(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 local flight standards district office/certificate holding district 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 Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, 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) For service information that contains steps that are labeled as Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraphs (h)(4)(i) and (h)(4)(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. 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.

(i) Related Information

(1) For more information about this AD, contact Francis Smith, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone: [phone], extension 1; fax: [phone]; Internet: https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 5, 2016.

Chris L. Spangenberg,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.