[P7_TOM]

SAFO
Safety Alert for Operators

U.S. Department                                                                                    
             SAFO 08014 of Transportation                                                          
                                        DATE: 6/6/08
Federal Aviation
Administration                                                                                      
             Flight Standards Service
Washington, DC

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_...afety/safo            
            A SAFO contains important safety information and may include recommended action. SAFO
content should be especially valuable to air carriers in meeting their statutory duty to provide
service with the highest possible degree of safety in the public interest. Besides the specific
action recommended in a SAFO, an alternative action may be as effective in addressing the safety
issue named in the SAFO.

Subject:  Boeing 777 Extended Operations (ETOPS) Restrictions due to Cargo Fire Suppression
System Shortfall

Purpose:   To inform operators conducting ETOPS with the Boeing Model 777 series airplane, of a
necessity to restrict some aircraft with Walter Kidde filter/regulators installed in the cargo
compartment fire suppression system. The affected systems are those with Walter Kidde
filter/regulators identified as part numbers 473494-1, -2, or -3, 473995-1, -2, or -3 or 473857-1,-2, or -3.

Background:   The Boeing Company has informed the FAA that they discovered an error in the
capability of certain cargo compartment fire suppression systems certified on Model 777 airplanes.

The affected fire suppression systems as delivered by Boeing are now known to have
filter/regulators that do not conform to the approved type design, which results in a metered flow  rate higher than the certified level. This shortfall results in a system time capability less than  that identified in the Model 777 ETOPS Configuration, Maintenance, and Procedures (CMP) Document  Number D044W054. This CMP document approves the Model 777 for ETOPS under Title 14 Code of Federal  Regulations (14 CFR) part 121, § 121.162(a) for ETOPS up to and including 180 minutes, and identifies cargo fire suppression system configurations intended to comply with the time-limited  system requirements of § 121.633(a) and appendix P, section I, paragraph (h)(4) for 207-minute  ETOPS. Boeing has determined that the correct cargo fire suppression capability of most airplanes  with affected filter/regulators is less than that required for the intended maximum ETOPS diversion  time under these part 121 operating rules.

There are a total of 694 Boeing Model 777 airplanes in the world fleet affected by this problem. Of  those, there are 137 airplanes registered in the United States and 128 operated by U.S. carriers.  The table below identifies the affected airplanes and the actual cargo fire suppression capability  for each.

The FAA plans to issue an Immediate Adopted Rule (IAR) airworthiness directive to require operators  to comply with a new revision to the Model 777 CMP that will identify the actual cargo fire  suppression capability. Boeing plans to issue service information for restoring the cargo fire  suppression system filter/regulators to the certified time capability.

Approved by:  AFS-200                                                                              
           OPR:  AFS-220
Recommended Action:  Directors of Operations and Directors of Maintenance should
determine if their 777 airplanes are equipped with the identified Walter Kidde filter/regulators as
part of the airplane’s cargo fire suppression systems. Operators should limit their ETOPS Maximum
Diversion Time to the actual capability of their airplanes cargo fire suppression system (minus 15
minutes) or maximum ETOPS authority granted by the FAA, whichever is less. Such a limit may be
removed with the incorporation of an FAA approved design change
that restores the cargo fire suppression system to the minimum required for the operator’s original
approved maximum diversion time.

Aircraft Model                  Filter Regulator          Original Certification           Actual
Capability
Part Installed


777-200 & 777-200 Increased
Gross Weight (777-200ER)
473494-1,-2,or-3   Certified Capability195 Minutes        174 Minutes


777-200 Increased Gross Weight
(777-200ER)
473995-1,-2,or-3   Certified Capability 222 Minutes        213 Minutes

777-200LR Gas Ox System       473995-1,-2,or-3   Certified Capability 222 Minutes        203
Minutes

777-200LR Low Flow System     473995-1,-2,or-3   Certified Capability 271 Minutes        213
Minutes

777-300                       473857-1,-2,or-3   Certified Capability 195 Minutes        185
Minutes

777-300ER Standard 3 Bottle System
473857-1,-2,or-3   Certified Capability 195 Minutes        185 Minutes

777-300ER Optional 4 Bottle System
473857-1,-2,or-3   Certified Capability 267 Minutes        239 Minutes

Point of Contact:  Any questions regarding this SAFO should be directed to Jim Ryan, Air
Carrier Operations Branch, AFS-220, at (202) 267-7493.

Approved by:  AFS-200                                                                              
           OPR:  AFS-220

Good catch Ventus – but this is to do with flow rates, suppression and a reduction of ETOPS time.  I agree it would be of great interest had the aircraft disappeared after two or perhaps three hours into the flight.  Even if had all turned to worms there is still the intriguing lack of comms; fire warning – hit the cut off button, get on the radio and head home. The fire/ fumes so nearly fits, just not quite there, but then, neither was I.  

ET rules OK.