AD 95-25-08

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Royal Inventum Company DR1 and DR6 Series Galley Water Heaters, that requires the installation of a pressure relief valve, and 3-phase safety devices on each Royal Inventum Company DR1 and DR6 series galley water heater. This amendment is prompted by a report of a Royal Inventum DR6 water heater explosion during an overheat test at a maintenance facility. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent explosions of Royal Inventum Company DR1 and DR6 series galley water heaters, which could cause personal injury or galley damage to the aircraft.

Final rule.

95-25-08 ROYAL INVENTUM COMPANY: Amendment 39-9453. Docket 95-ANE-13.

Applicability: Royal Inventum Company DR1 and DR6 series galley water heaters, installed on but not limited to Boeing 727, 737, 747, 757 and 767 series, McDonnell Douglas DC-9 series; and Fokker F.28 series (except Mk. 0100) aircraft. NOTE: This AD applies to each water heater identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For water heaters that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must use the authority provided in paragraph (b) to request approval from the FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such a request should include an assessmentof the effect of the changed configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair remove any water heater from the applicability of this AD.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.

To prevent possible explosion of water heaters that could cause personal injury and aircraft damage, accomplish the following:

(a) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD install a pressure relief valve in accordance with Inventum Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) DR1/DR6-25-4, Revision A, dated December 6, 1993, or Inventum Service Bulletin (SB) 25_330, Revision 1, dated September 28, 1977; or SB 25_331, Revision 1, dated September 28, 1977; and two 3-phase safety devices in accordance with Inventum ASB DR1/DR6-25-5, Revision A, dated December 6, 1993, or SB 25_340, dated July 7, 1977; SB 25_344, dated January 18, 1978; or SB 25_345, dated February 16, 1978; or SB 25_346, dated February 16, 1978.

(b) 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, Boston Aircraft Certification Office. The request should be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office. NOTE: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive, if any, may be obtained from the Boston Aircraft Certification Office.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the aircraft to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

(d) The modification and inspection shall be done in accordance with the following service bulletins:

Document No.
Pages
Revision
DateInventum Alert Service Bulletin (ASB)

DR1/DR6-25-4
Total Pages: 5
1-5
A
12/6/1993

Inventum Bilthoven-Holland (SB)

1-4
1
9/28/1977
25_330
Total Pages: 4

1-4
1
9/28/1977
SB 25_331
Total Pages: 4

1-5
A
12/6/1993
ASB DR1/DR6-25-5
Total Pages: 5

1-6
N/A
7/7/1977
SB 25_340
Total Pages: 6

1-7
N/A
1/18/1978
SB 25_344
Total Pages: 7

1-7
N/A
2/16/1978
SB 25_345
Total Pages: 7

1-7
N/A
2/16/1978
SB 25_346
Total Pages: 7

This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from B/E Aerospace, Inventum Galley Products Division (Royal Inventum Company), P.O. Box 1152, 3430 BD Nieuwegin, The Netherlands. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; orat the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on May 20, 1996.

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to Royal Inventum Company DR1 and DR6 series galley water heaters was published in the Federal Register on June 21, 1995 (60 FR 32287). That action proposed to require the installation of new pressure relief valves, and 3-phase safety devices on each Royal Inventum Company DR1 and DR6 series galley water heater. The actions would be required to be in accordance with Inventum Bilthoven-Holland Service Bulletin's (SB's) 25_330, Revision 1, dated September 28, 1977; SB 25_331, Revision 1, dated September 28, 1977; and Inventum Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) DR1/DR6-25-4, Revision A, dated December 6, 1993, that specify the installation of a pressure relief valve; and Inventum Bilthoven-Holland SB's 25_340, dated July 7, 1977; SB 25_344, dated January 18, 1978; SB 25_345, dated February 16, 1978; SB 25_346, dated February16, 1978; and Inventum ASB DR1/DR6-25-5, Revision A, dated December 6, 1993, that specify the installation of 3-phase safety devices. The Director-General of Civil Aviation of the Netherlands has classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued Airworthiness Directive BLA 93-168 (AB), dated December 17, 1993, in order to assure the airworthiness of these water heaters.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to the comments received.

One commenter states that the Inventum DR6 series water heaters have been used on Boeing 747, 757 and 767 series aircraft and recommends that the Applicability be changed to show these aircraft. The commenter further states that they were unable to determine usage of Inventum DR1 and DR6 series water heaters on Boeing 727 and 737 series aircraft. The FAA agrees. Since the Boeing 727 and 737 series aircraft usage was given to the FAA by theDirector-General of Civil Aviation of the Netherlands, the FAA will retain reference to the Boeing 727 and 737 series aircraft in the Applicability section. Reference to the Boeing 747, 757 and 767 series aircraft will be added. Operators are cautioned, however, not to read the list of aircraft as an exclusive list of the aircraft that may have the affected water heaters installed. This AD applies to all aircraft with an affected water heater, whether or not listed.

One commenter supports the AD.

After careful review of the available data, including the comments noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule with the changes described previously. The FAA has determined that these changes will neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

The FAA estimates that 250 water heaters installed on aircraft of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately six and one half work hours per water heater to accomplish the required actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts will cost approximately $250 per aircraft. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $94,500.

The regulations adopted herein will 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 final rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a "significant rule" under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption "ADDRESSES."

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air Transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39 - AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.

39.13 - [AMENDED]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive: