AD 2011-09-15 Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and -300ER Series Airplanes

Models named: 777-200, -200LR, -300, -300ER series. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and -300ER series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in the service information specified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD. (1) Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated September 20, 2010. (2) Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20, 2010.

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done. Related Airworthiness Limitation Note 1: AD 2008-11-13 requires a revision of the Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to include limitations for the fuel tank systems. One of the limitations, AWL 28-AWL-18, requires a repetitive inspection of the ground fault interrupter (GFI) functions. Installations and Software Changes (g) For Groups 1 and 2 airplanes identified as Configuration 2 in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20, 2010: Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, install new panels, P301 and P302, in the main equipment center; make certain wiring changes; install new GFI relays in the P301 and P302 panels; and install new electrical load management system (ELMS) software; as applicable. Do the applicable actions in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20, 2010, except as specified in paragraph (j) of this AD. Note 2: Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0039, Revision 2, dated September 20, 2010, is an additional source of guidance for installing ELMS software. Note 3: Smiths Service Bulletin 5000ELM-28-454, dated August 13, 2007; and GE Aviation Service Bulletin 6000ELM-28-455, Revision 1, dated February 1, 2010; are additional sources of guidance for making a wiring change in the P110 and P210 panels, respectively. (h) For Groups 1 and 2 airplanes identified as Configuration 1 in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20, 2010: Within 36 months after the effective date of this AD, do bonding resistance measurements to verify bonding requirements as specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20, 2010, are met, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20, 2010. Replacement of GFI Relays (i) For airplanes identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated September 20, 2010: Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, replace 4 main tank boost pump relays in electrical load management system panels P110, P210, and P320 with new GFI relays, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated September 20, 2010, except as specified in paragraph (j) of this AD. Note 4: Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated September 20, 2010, references the service bulletins identified in Table 1 of this AD as additional sources of guidance for replacing the main tank boost pump relays. Table 1—Additional Sources of Guidance for Replacing the Main Tank Boost Pump Relays Group number of airplanes, as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated September 20, 2010 Panel No. Service bulletin Revision level Date Group 1 P110 Smiths Service Bulletin 5000ELM-28-443 Original August 8, 2007. Group 1 P210 Smiths Service Bulletin 6000ELM-28-444 Original August 8, 2007. Group 1 P320 Smiths Service Bulletin 4000ELM-28-445 Original August 8, 2007. Group 2 P110 GE Aviation Service Bulletin 5000ELM-28-446 1 January 7, 2010. Group 2 P210 Smiths Service Bulletin 6000ELM-28-447 Original August 8, 2007. Group 2 P320 GE Aviation Service Bulletin 4000ELM-28-448 1 January 7, 2010. Group 3 P110 GE Aviation Service Bulletin 5000ELM-28-449 1 January 7, 2010. Group 3 P210 Smiths Service Bulletin 6000ELM-28-450 Original August 8, 2007. Group 3 P320 GE Aviation Service Bulletin 4000ELM-28-451 1 January 7, 2010. Group 4 P110 Smiths Service Bulletin 5000ELM-28-463 Original August 8, 2007. Group 4 P210 Smiths Service Bulletin 6000ELM-28-464 Original August 8, 2007. Group 4 P320 Smiths Service Bulletin 4000ELM-28-465 Original August 8, 2007. Optional Method To Install a Label (j) Where Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20, 2010; and Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated September 20, 2010: specify installing a label, an operator's equivalent procedure may be used as a method to indelibly mark the applicable service bulletin number on the panel. Note 5: Additional guidance on indelibly marking the panel may also be found in Boeing Standard BAC5307. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (k)(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 the Related Information section of this AD. Information may be e-mailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov . (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. Related Information (l) For more information about this AD, contact Georgios Roussos, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone: 425-917-6482; fax: 425-917-6590; e-mail: georgios.roussos@faa.gov . Material Incorporated by Reference (m) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0038, Revision 1, dated September 20, 2010; or Boeing Service Bulletin 777-28A0037, Revision 2, dated September 20, 2010; as applicable; to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) For Boeing service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com . (3) For Smiths and GE Aviation service information identified in this AD, contact GE Aviation, Customer Support Center, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, Ohio 45215; telephone 513-552-3272; e-mail cs.techpubs@ge.com; Internet http://www.geaviation.com . (4) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. (5) You may also review copies of the service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 8, 2011. Ali Bahrami, Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2011-9917 Filed 4-29-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing this AD to prevent potential ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.