DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0209; Product Identifier 2020-NM-004-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Kidde Aerospace & Defense

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for Kidde Aerospace & Defense cargo fire extinguisher halon bottles
installed on various transport category airplanes. This proposed AD was
prompted by a report indicating that certain cargo fire extinguisher
halon bottles installed in the cargo compartment had low charge
pressure. This proposed AD would require an inspection to determine the
part number and serial number of the cargo fire extinguisher halon
bottles and replacement of affected parts with serviceable parts. The
FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 14,
2020.

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 https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

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 Boeing service information identified in this NPRM, 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; internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. For Kidde
Aerospace & Defense service information identified in this NPRM contact
Kidde Aerospace & Defense, 4200 Airport Drive NW, Building B, Wilson, NC
27896-8630; telephone 319-295-5000; http://www.Kiddetechnologies.com/
aviation. You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport
Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0209;
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 NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel Belete, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5580; fax: 404-474-5606;
email: Samuel.Belete@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites 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-2020-0209;
Product Identifier 2020-NM-004-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
NPRM because of those comments.

The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide.
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.

Discussion

The FAA has received a report indicating that certain cargo fire
extinguisher halon bottles installed in the cargo compartment had low
charge pressure. An investigation revealed that a procedural change at
the manufacturer of the cargo fire extinguisher halon bottles resulted
in cargo fire extinguisher halon bottles being produced with lower than
required pressure. Indication of the low bottle pressure may not occur
until the bottles have been agitated from in-service use and a warning
is displayed in the flight deck. Low charge pressure of a cargo fire
extinguisher halon bottle installed in the cargo compartment, if not
addressed, could result in insufficient halon concentrations to
extinguish a fire in the cargo compartment.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed the following Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletins.
This service information describes procedures for an inspection to
determine the serial number of the cargo fire extinguisher halon bottle
having a certain part number and replacing affected parts with
serviceable parts. These documents are distinct since they apply to
different airplane models.

Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-26A1150 RB, dated
September 27, 2019.

Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-26A1151 RB, dated
September 27, 2019.

The FAA reviewed the following Kidde Aerospace & Defense service
information. This service information describes, among other actions,
procedures for replacing affected fire extinguishers (referred to as
"cargo fire extinguisher halon bottles" in this proposed AD) with
serviceable parts. These documents are distinct since they apply to
different airplane models.

Service Bulletin 473919-26-521, Rev 02, dated November 7, 2019.

Service Bulletin 473957-26-518, Rev 02, dated November 4, 2019.

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, except as discussed
under "Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Service
Information." For information on the procedures, see this service
information at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0209.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

The Kidde Aerospace & Defense service information specifies a
compliance time of 12 months to accomplish the replacement. The Boeing
service information specifies a compliance time of 24 months to
accomplish the replacement. In developing an appropriate compliance
time for this action, we considered the urgency associated with the
subject unsafe condition, the availability of required parts, and the
practical aspect of accomplishing the required replacement within a
period of time that corresponds to the normal scheduled maintenance for
most affected operators. In light of these items, we have determined
that a 24-month compliance time is appropriate.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 3,308 appliances
installed on, but not limited to, the transport category airplanes
identified in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) through (vii) of this AD. We
estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs

We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection.
We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need
replacements:

On-Condition Costs

According to the cargo fire extinguisher halon bottles
manufacturer, some or all 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 known 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) 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.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):