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AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by 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 AD requires installing an electrical support bracket and re-installing wire bundles. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES:
This AD is effective October 15, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 15, 2024.
ADDRESSES:
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 final rule, any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
- For Boeing material, 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; websitemyboeingfleet.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 atregulations.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: 206-231-3415; email: samuel.j.dorsey@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to The Boeing Company Model 767-300 airplanes with certain line numbers. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 23, 2024 (89 FR 30284). The NPRM was prompted by a report that some Model 767-300 series airplanes that had been modified to operate in a freighter configuration by the manufacturer are missing an electrical support bracket for a wire bundle in the main equipment center. The missing electrical support bracket affects wire separation configuration requirements for fuel quantity indicating system wiring and could result in an electrical fault condition. In addition, the missing electrical support bracket 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, Amendment 39-21237 (85 FR 62993, October 6, 2020).
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require installing an electrical support bracket and re-installing wire bundles. 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.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received comments from two commenters.
The Air Line Pilots Association, International, supported the NPRM without change.
Aviation Partners Boeing stated that installing winglets under Supplemental Type Certificate ST01920SE does not affect compliance with the proposed actions. The FAA agrees. The FAA has not changed this AD in this regard.
Conclusion
The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-24A0261, Revision 1, dated August 17, 2022. This material specifies procedures for installing an electrical support bracket in the main equipment center and re-installing wire bundles. 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.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 18 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this 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 |