Airworthiness Directives; Nordskog Water Heaters and Coffee Makers as Installed in Various Airplanes

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]

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