Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Thursday, October 6, 2005 Part II Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Parts 1, 25, 91, etc. Enhanced Airworthiness Program for Airplane Systems/Fuel Tank Safety (EAPAS/FTS); Proposed Advisory Circulars; Proposed Rule and Notices VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:39 Oct 05, 2005 Jkt 208001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4717 Sfmt 4717 E:\FR\FM\06OCP2.SGM 06OCP2 58508 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 193 / Thursday, October 6, 2005 / Proposed Rules DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION • Mail: Docket Management Facility; before and after the comment closing U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 date. If you wish to review the docket Federal Aviation Administration Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, in person, go to the address in the Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590– ADDRESSES section of this preamble 14 CFR Parts 1, 25, 91, 121, 125, 129 001. between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. through Friday, except Federal holidays. [Docket No. FAA–2004–18379; Notice No. • Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on You may also review the docket using 05–08 ] the plaza level of the Nassif Building, the Internet at the Web address in the RIN 2120–AI31 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, ADDRESSES section. DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday Privacy Act: Using the search function Enhanced Airworthiness Program for through Friday, except Federal holidays. of our docket Web site, anyone can find Airplane Systems/Fuel Tank Safety For more information on the and read the comments received into (EAPAS/FTS) rulemaking process, see the any of our dockets, including the name SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of of the individual sending the comment AGENCY: Federal Aviation this document. (or signing the comment on behalf of an Administration (FAA), DOT. Privacy: We will post all comments association, business, labor union, etc.). ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking we receive, without change, to http:// You may review DOT’s complete (NPRM). dms.dot.gov, including any personal Privacy Act Statement in the Federal information you provide. For more Register published on April 11, 2000 SUMMARY: The intent of this proposal is information, see the Privacy Act (65 FR 19477–78) or you may visit to help ensure the continued safety of discussion in the SUPPLEMENTARY http://dms.dot.gov. commercial airplanes by improving the INFORMATION section of this document. Before acting on this proposal, we design, installation, and maintenance of Docket: To read background will consider all comments we receive their electrical wiring systems as well as documents or comments received, go to on or before the closing date for by aligning those requirements as http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to comments. We will consider comments closely as possible with the Room PL–401 on the plaza level of the filed late if it is possible to do so requirements for fuel tank system safety. Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, without incurring expense or delay. We This proposed rulemaking consists of SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. may change this proposal in light of the regulatory changes affecting wiring and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, comments we receive. systems and fuel tank systems in except Federal holidays. If you want the FAA to acknowledge transport category airplanes. First, it FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: receipt of your comments on this proposes to organize and clarify design Stephen Slotte, ANM–111, Airplane & proposal, include with your comments requirements for wire systems by Flight Crew Interface, Federal Aviation a pre-addressed, stamped postcard on moving existing regulatory references to Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., which the docket number appears. We wiring into a single section of the Renton, WA 98055–4056; telephone will stamp the date on the postcard and regulations specifically for wiring and (425) 227–2315; facsimile (425) 227– mail it to you. adding new certification rules. It also 1320, e-mail [email protected] Availability of Rulemaking Documents proposes to require holders of type (certification rules) or Fred Sobeck, certificates for certain transport category AFS–304, Aircraft Maintenance You can get an electronic copy using airplanes to conduct analyses of their Division, Federal Aviation the Internet by: airplanes and make necessary changes Administration, 800 Independence (1) Searching the Department of to existing Instructions for Continued Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; Transportation’s electronic Docket Airworthiness (ICA) to improve telephone: (202) 267–7355; facsimile Management System (DMS) Web page maintenance procedures for wire (202) 267–7335, e-mail (http://dms.dot.gov/search); (2) Visiting the FAA’s Regulations and systems. It would require operators to [email protected] (operating Policies Web page at http:// incorporate those ICA for wiring into rules). their maintenance or inspection www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/; or programs. And finally, this proposed SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (3) Accessing the Government rulemaking would clarify requirements Comments Invited Printing Office’s Web page at http:// of certain existing rules for operators to www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. incorporate ICA for fuel tank systems The FAA invites interested persons to You can also get a copy by submitting into their maintenance or inspection participate in this rulemaking by a request to the Federal Aviation programs. submitting written comments, data, or Administration, Office of Rulemaking, views. We also invite comments relating ARM–1, 800 Independence Avenue DATES: Send your comments on or to the economic, environmental, energy, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by before February 3, 2006. or federalism impacts that might result calling (202) 267–9680. Make sure to ADDRESSES: You may send comments from adopting the proposals in this identify the docket number, notice [identified by Docket Number FAA– document. The most helpful comments number, or amendment number of this 2004–18379] using any of the following reference a specific portion of the rulemaking. methods: proposal, explain the reason for any • DOT Docket Web site: Go to http:// recommended change, and include Organization of This NPRM dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions supporting data. We ask that you send Discussion of the proposal in this for sending your comments us two copies of written comments. NPRM is organized under the following electronically. We will file in the docket all headings. Material supplementary to • Government-wide rulemaking comments we receive, as well as a this discussion, but not included in it, Web site: Go to http:// report summarizing each substantive appears in appendices at the end of the www.regulations.gov and follow the public contact with FAA personnel discussion, before ‘‘List of Subjects.’’ instructions for sending your comments about this proposed rulemaking. The Whenever there is a reference to a electronically. docket is available for public inspection document being included in the docket VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:39 Oct 05, 2005 Jkt 208001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\06OCP2.SGM 06OCP2 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 193 / Thursday, October 6, 2005 / Proposed Rules 58509 for this NPRM, the docket referred to is years later, an MD–11 airplane crashed require them to develop maintenance Docket Number FAA–2004–18379. A into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 229 and inspection tasks to identify, correct, list of acronyms used is included as people aboard. Although an exact cause and prevent wiring conditions that Appendix A. Unless stated otherwise, could not be determined, a region of cause risk to continued safe flight. We rule sections referenced in this NPRM resolidified copper on a wire of the in- are proposing that these tasks be are part of Title 14 of the Code of flight-entertainment system cable included in new instructions for Federal Regulations. indicated that wire arcing had occurred continued airworthiness for wiring and in the area where the fire most likely that they be compatible with Table of Contents originated. instructions for continued airworthiness I. Executive Summary Investigations of those accidents and for fuel tank systems. We are further II. Background subsequent examinations of other proposing to amend Title 14 Code of A. Flight 800 Accident airplanes showed that deteriorated Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 91, 121, B. Flight 111 Accident wiring, corrosion, improper wire 125 and 129 operating rules to require C. FAA Aging Transport Nonstructural installation and repairs, and operators of transport airplanes to Systems Plan contamination of wire bundles with incorporate those tasks for wiring and D. Fuel Tank Safety Rule metal shavings, dust, and fluids, which fuel tanks into their regular E. Existing Wiring Certification Regulations would provide fuel for fire, were maintenance programs. Finally, we are III. General Discussion of the Proposal A. Nature of the Problem common conditions in representative creating a new subpart of part 25 to B. Relationship of this Proposal to Other examples of the ‘‘aging fleet of transport contain all applicable certification Aging Aircraft Initiatives airplanes.’’ The FAA concluded that requirements for airplane wiring, C. Alternatives to Rulemaking current maintenance practices do not including new rules to improve safety in IV. Overview of Proposal adequately address wiring components, manufacture and modification. V. Section-by-Section Discussion of Proposed wiring inspection criteria are too The total estimated benefits of the Rules general, and unacceptable conditions, proposal are comprised of efficiency A. Part 25 Subpart H-Electrical Wiring such as improper repairs and benefits and safety benefits. The Interconnection Systems (EWIS) B. Part 25 Subpart I—Continued installations, are not described in efficiency benefits are $192.3 million Airworthiness and Related Part 25 enough detail in maintenance ($78.3 million present value). The safety Changes instructions. Wiring failures result in benefits are $563 million ($262.4 C. Other Proposed Changes to Part 25 airplane delays, unscheduled landings, million present value).