Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 Series Airplanes

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. That AD currently requires an inspection of visually accessible areas for indications of overheating of the heater tape attached to the potable water fill and drain lines in the forward and aft cargo compartments, exposed foam insulation or missing or damaged protective tape around the potable water fill and drain lines, and debris or contaminants on or near the potable water fill and drain lines. That AD also requires corrective action, as necessary. This new AD requires repetitive inspections of the forward and aft cargo compartments, as applicable, for discrepancies of the potable water supply and gray water drain lines; and applicable corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires replacing the heater tapes on the potable water supply and gray water drain lines of the forward and aft cargo compartments, as applicable, with new ribbon heaters, or deactivating and removing any defective heater tape and wrapping the drain line with foam insulation; either action ends the repetitive inspections. This AD results from a report of a fire in the aft cargo compartment. We are issuing this AD to prevent overheating of the heater tape on potable water fill and drain lines, which may ignite accumulated debris or contaminants on or near the potable water fill and drain lines, resulting in a fire in the airplane.