81 FR 48693 - Fuel Tank Vent Fire Protection; Correction

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 143 (July 26, 2016)

The FAA is correcting a final rule published in the Federal Register on June 24, 2016 (81 FR 41200). In that final rule, the FAA amended certain airworthiness regulations for transport category airplanes to require fuel tank designs that prevent a fuel tank explosion caused by the propagation of flames, from external fires, through the fuel tank vents. The final rule requires a delay of two minutes and thirty seconds between exposure of external fuel tank vents to ignition sources and explosions caused by propagation of flames into the fuel tank, thus increasing the time available for passenger evacuation and emergency response. The amendments apply to applications for new type certificates and certain applications for amended or supplemental type certificates. The amendments also require certain airplanes produced in the future and operated by air carriers to meet the new standards. However, in that document, the amendment numbers for the final rules were incorrect, and an airplane model number in a footnote was incorrect. This document now posts the correct amendment numbers and airplane model number in the footnote.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 26, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48693-48694]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17590]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 25, 121, and 129

[Docket No.: FAA-2014-0500; Amdt. Nos. 25-143, 121-375, and 129-52]
RIN 2120-AK30


Fuel Tank Vent Fire Protection; Correction

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is correcting a final rule published in the Federal 
Register on June 24, 2016 (81 FR 41200). In that final rule, the FAA 
amended certain airworthiness regulations for transport category 
airplanes to require fuel tank designs that prevent a fuel tank 
explosion caused by the propagation of flames, from external fires, 
through the fuel tank vents. The final rule requires a delay of two 
minutes and thirty seconds between exposure of external fuel tank vents 
to ignition sources and explosions caused by propagation of flames into 
the fuel tank, thus increasing the time available for passenger 
evacuation and emergency response. The amendments apply to applications 
for new type certificates and certain applications for amended or 
supplemental type certificates. The amendments also require certain 
airplanes produced in the future and operated by air carriers to meet 
the new standards.
    However, in that document, the amendment numbers for the final 
rules were incorrect, and an airplane model number in a footnote was 
incorrect. This document now posts the correct amendment numbers and 
airplane model number in the footnote.

DATES: This correction is effective on July 26, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical questions concerning 
this action, contact Mike Dostert, Propulsion and Mechanical Systems 
Branch, ANM-112, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., Renton, 
WA 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-2132; facsimile (425) 227 1149; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 24, 2016, the FAA published a final rule titled, ``Fuel 
Tank Vent Fire Protection'' in the Federal Register (81 FR 41200).
    The intent of that rule is to prevent fuel tank explosions caused 
by ignition from external ignition sources of fuel vapor either 
contained in vapor spaces \1\ or exiting from vapor spaces through the 
fuel tank vent outlets. Potential external ignition sources include, 
but are not limited to, ground handling equipment, fuel fires that 
result from refueling spills, or ground fires that follow a survivable 
crash landing in which the fuel tank and the vent system remain intact. 
Means to prevent or delay the propagation of flame \2\ from external 
sources into the fuel tank through the fuel tank vent system \3\ would 
also prevent or delay fuel tank explosions following certain accidents. 
These means include flame arrestors or fuel tank inerting. This 
prevention or delay would provide additional time for the safe 
evacuation of passengers from the airplane and for emergency personnel 
to provide assistance.
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    \1\ A vapor space is any portion of the airplane fuel tanks and 
the fuel tank vent system that, if such tanks and system held any 
fuel, could contain fuel vapor.
    \2\ Flame propagation is the spread of a flame in a combustible 
environment outward from the point at which the combustion started.
    \3\ A fuel tank vent system is a system that ventilates fuel 
vapor from the airplane fuel tanks to the atmosphere. A fuel tank 
vent system ensures that the air and fuel pressure within the fuel 
tank stay within structural limits required by Sec.  25.975(a).
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    The rule applies to applications for new type certificates and 
applications for amended or supplemental type certificates on 
significant product-level change projects in which title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 25.975, ``Fuel tank vents and carburetor 
vapor vents,'' is applicable to a changed area. Additionally, a new 
operating requirement in both 14 CFR part 121, ``Operating 
Requirements: Domestic, Flag, and Supplemental Operations,'' and 14 CFR 
part 129, ``Operations: Foreign Air Carriers and Foreign Operators of 
U.S.-Registered Aircraft Engaged in Common Carriage,'' applies to 
airplanes that are issued an original airworthiness certificate after a 
specified date.
    However, the rule published with incorrect amendment numbers, ``25-
142, 21-376, and 129-53.'' Amendment number 25-142 is the same 
amendment number as the rule titled ``Harmonization of Airworthiness 
Standards--Fire Extinguishers and Class B and F Cargo Compartments,'' 
which published in the Federal Register on February 16, 2016 (81 FR 
7698). Amendment numbers 21-376 and 129-53 are incorrect designations. 
The correct amendment numbers for this rule are ``25-143, 121-375, and 
129-52.''

[[Page 48694]]

    In the same publication on page 41203 in footnote number 14, the 
Lockheed airplane model number referenced is ``328.'' The correct 
number should be ``382.''

Correction

    In FR Doc. 2016-14454, beginning on page 41200 in the Federal 
Register of June 24, 2016, make the following corrections:

Correction

    1. On page 41200, in the second column, correct the 4th header 
paragraph to read as follows:
    ``[Docket No.: FAA-2014-0500; Amdt. Nos. 25-143, 121-375, and 129-
52].''
    2. On page 41203, in the second column, correct the text of 
footnote number 14 to read as follows:
    ``The previously approved Lockheed 382 and Embraer flame arrestors 
would not have met the 2 minute and 30 second requirement.''

    Issued under authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 106(f) and 44701(a) 
in Washington, DC, on July 19, 2016.
Lirio Liu,
Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2016-17590 Filed 7-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P