Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29212-29214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11463]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0105; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-123-AD; 
Amendment 39-17049; AD 2012-09-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports 
of fractured and missing latch pin retention bolts that secure the 
latch pins on the forward cargo door. This AD requires repetitive 
detailed inspections for fractured or missing latch pin retention 
bolts, replacement of existing titanium bolts with new Inconel bolts, 
and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct fractured and missing latch pin 
retention bolts, which could result in potential separation of the 
cargo door from the airplane and catastrophic decompression of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective June 21, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of June 21, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; email [email protected]; 
Internet https:[sol][sol]www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review copies 
of the referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at 
http:[sol][sol]www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket 
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The address 
for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ana Martinez Hueto, Aerospace 
Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 
98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6592; fax: 425-917-6590; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM published in the Federal Register on February 8, 2012 (77 FR

[[Page 29213]]

6522). That NPRM proposed to require repetitive detailed inspections 
for fractured or missing latch pin retention bolts, replacement of 
existing titanium bolts with new Inconel bolts, and related 
investigative and corrective actions if necessary.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We have considered the comments received. Boeing and American 
Airlines support the NPRM (77 FR 6522, February 8, 2012).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 148 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
              Action                        Labor cost            Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection........................  1 work-hour x $85 per                  $0              $85          $12,580
                                     hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                Action                                Labor cost                   Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cross-bolt replacement...............  2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $170.....             $50             $220
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
    (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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2012-09-14 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17049; Docket No. FAA-
2012-0105; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-123-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective June 21, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -
300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes; certificated in any 
category; as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 52, Doors.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of fractured and missing latch 
pin retention bolts that secure the latch pins on the forward cargo 
door. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fractured and 
missing latch pin retention bolts, which could result in potential 
separation of the cargo door from the airplane and catastrophic 
decompression of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Inspect Retention Bolt of Latch Pin Fittings No. 1 Through No. 8

    At the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E., 
``Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, 
Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010, except as specified in paragraph 
(i) of this AD: Do a detailed inspection for fractured and/or

[[Page 29214]]

missing latch pin retention bolts of the latch pin fittings of the 
lower sill of the forward large cargo door, and do all applicable 
related investigative and corrective actions, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010, except as provided by 
paragraph (h) of this AD. Do all applicable related investigative 
and corrective actions at the applicable times specified in 
paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
777-52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010. Repeat the inspection 
thereafter at the applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E., 
``Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, 
Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010, except as specified in paragraph 
(j) of this AD.

(h) Repair

    If any cut, crack, or damage is found during any inspection 
required by this AD, and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, 
Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010, specifies to contact Boeing for 
appropriate action: Before further flight, repair the cut, crack, or 
damage in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, Seattle, 
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA. For a repair method to be 
approved, the repair must meet the certification basis of the 
airplane, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD.

(i) Exception to Compliance Time

    Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, Revision 1, 
dated June 24, 2010, specifies a compliance time after the date on 
that service bulletin, this AD requires compliance within the 
specified compliance time after the effective date of this AD.

(j) Optional Terminating Action for Repetitive Inspections

    Replacing latch pin retention bolts made of titanium with new 
Inconel bolts, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 
24, 2010, terminates the repetitive inspections required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD at Stations 509.10, 522.75, 537.50, 554.30, 
562.90, 579.70, 591.25, and 604.90, latch pin fittings No. 1 through 
No. 8.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle ACO, has the authority to approve AMOCs 
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
ACO, send it to the attention of the person identified in the 
Related Information section of this AD. Information may be emailed 
to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(l) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Ana Martinez Hueto, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, 
ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6592; fax: 425-
917-6590; email: [email protected].

(m) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference (IBR) of the following service information under 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the following service information:
    (i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, Revision 1, dated 
June 24, 2010.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 
206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; email 
[email protected]; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the referenced service information 
at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 4, 2012.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-11463 Filed 5-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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