Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 107 (Monday, June 4, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32889-32892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12910]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1320; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-208-AD; 
Amendment 39-17066; AD 2012-11-03]
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 all The 
Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This AD was prompted by four 
reports of retaining cross bolt hardware not fully engaged into the 
fuse pins of the forward trunnion lower housing of the main landing 
gear (MLG), which could result in an incorrect MLG emergency landing 
break-away sequence. This AD requires a detailed inspection of the fuse 
pin cross bolts and fuse pins of the left and right MLG forward 
trunnion lower housing to verify that the cross bolts are correctly 
installed and that there are no missing fuse pins, and replacement of 
the fuse pins if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent an 
incorrect emergency landing MLG break-away sequence, which could result 
in puncturing of the wing box and consequent fuel leaks and an airplane 
fire. Failure of the fuse pins could also result in a possible landing 
gear collapse causing a runway excursion during take-off or landing.

DATES: This AD is effective July 9, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of July 9, 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; phone: 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax: 206-766-5680; email: [email protected]; 
Internet: https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA,

[[Page 32890]]

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://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: James Sutherland, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone: 425-
917-6533; 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 December 15, 2011 (76 FR 
77937). That NPRM proposed to require a detailed inspection of the fuse 
pin cross bolts and fuse pins of the forward trunnion lower housing of 
the left and right MLG to verify that the cross bolts are correctly 
installed and that there are no missing fuse pins, and replacing all 
fuse pins in the MLG forward trunnion upper and lower housing with new 
fuse pins if necessary.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the proposal 
(76 FR 77937, December 15, 2011) and the FAA's response to each 
comment.

Support for the NPRM (76 FR 77937, December 15, 2011)

    United Airlines stated it concurs with the proposed rule (76 FR 
77937, December 15, 2011) to inspect for the correct installation of 
the cross bolts and the fuse pins to ensure a high level of safety for 
the 777 fleet.
    Thomas Hayden Barnes stated that he supports efforts to ensure 
airline safety and the proposed rule (76 FR 77937, December 15, 2011).

Request To Clarify Fuse Pin Replacement

    American Airlines (American) and FedEx requested clarification as 
to whether the NPRM (76 FR 77937, December 15, 2011) requires changing 
all fuse pins on both left and right MLG even if the discrepant 
condition is only found on one side of the airplane MLG.
    We agree to clarify the fuse pin replacement by changing paragraph 
(g) of the final rule to read, in part: ``If any cross bolt of the MLG 
forward trunnion lower housing is not installed correctly, or if any 
fuse pin of the MLG forward trunnion lower housing is missing: Before 
further flight, replace all fuse pins in the MLG forward trunnion upper 
and lower housing on the side, or sides of the airplane, where the 
missing or incorrectly installed fuse pin/pins were discovered * * *.''

Request To Use Maintenance Pits and Clarify Procedure

    American requested that the NPRM (76 FR 77937, December 15, 2011) 
permit the use of maintenance pits in lieu of jacking the airplane, as 
specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-57A0090, dated August 
24, 2011. American stated that it is acceptable to stabilize the 
airplane on jacks and lower maintenance pits until the wheels do not 
touch the surface, and accomplishes the same effect of unloading the 
airplane weight from the trunnion for the purposes of changing the fuse 
pins.
    American also noted that the phrase ``until the wheels are just off 
the ground'' in Part 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 777-57A0090, dated August 24, 2011, might be 
construed to be a dimension without tolerance.
    We agree that the use of lowered maintenance pits to unload the MLG 
does have the same effect as lifting. We also agree that the meaning of 
the phrase ``just off the ground'' is a dimension without tolerance. We 
have changed paragraph (g) of the final rule to specify that step 1 in 
Part 2 of paragraph 3.B. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 777-57A0090, dated August 24, 2011, is not 
considered regulatory for the purposes of this AD.

Request To Change Applicability

    Boeing and FedEx requested that the applicability of the NPRM (76 
FR 77937, December 15, 2011) list only the airplanes specified in 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-57A0090, dated August 24, 2011. 
Boeing stated that airplanes not listed in this service information 
have been inspected during production to ensure they do not have the 
unsafe condition. FedEx stated that it currently flies 6 aircraft that 
are not listed in the NPRM, and is adding new aircraft to its fleet, 
none of which will be listed in the NPRM.
    We agree. The intent of the AD is to ensure that inspections are 
done on airplanes on which Boeing was unable to confirm that the cross 
bolts are installed correctly and on which there are no missing fuse 
pins. We have changed paragraph (c) of the final rule to apply to the 
airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-57A0090, 
dated August 24, 2011.

Additional Change Made to This Final Rule

    We have removed Note 1 that followed paragraph (g) in the NPRM (76 
FR 77937, December 15, 2011) from the final rule. That information is 
contained in Note 7 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 777-57A0090, dated August 24, 2011, and does not need 
to be included in the AD.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the AD with the changes described previously and minor editorial 
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (76 FR 77937, December 15, 2011) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (76 FR 77937, December 15, 2011).
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of the AD.

 Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 166 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 32891]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Cost per    Cost on U.S.
                  Action                            Labor cost           Parts cost    product       operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Detailed Inspection......................  3 work-hours x $85 per hour           $0         $255         $42,330
                                            = $255.
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    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
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 
replacements.

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Action                        Labor cost               Parts cost            Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace fuse pins....................  44 work-hours x $85 per  Between $15,216 and      Between $18,956 and
                                        hour = $3,740.           $52,620.                 $56,360.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be 
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected 
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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):

2012-11-03 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17066; Docket No. FAA-
2011-1320; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-208-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective July 9, 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-
57A0090, dated August 24, 2011.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by four reports of retaining cross bolt 
hardware not fully engaged into the fuse pins of the forward 
trunnion lower housing of the main landing gear (MLG), which could 
result in an incorrect MLG emergency landing break-away sequence. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent an incorrect emergency landing MLG 
break-away sequence, which could result in puncturing of the wing 
box and consequent fuel leaks and an airplane fire. Failure of the 
fuse pins could also result in a possible landing gear collapse 
causing a runway excursion during take-off or landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Detailed Inspection and Replacement

    Within 1,125 days after the effective date of this AD, perform a 
detailed inspection of the fuse pin cross bolts and fuse pins of the 
left and right MLG forward trunnion lower housing to verify that the 
cross bolts are installed correctly and that there are no missing 
fuse pins, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-57A0090, dated August 24, 2011. If 
any cross bolt of the MLG forward trunnion lower housing is not 
installed correctly, or if any fuse pin of the MLG forward trunnion 
lower housing is missing: Before further flight, replace all fuse 
pins in the MLG forward trunnion upper and lower housing on the 
side, or sides, of the airplane where the missing or incorrectly 
installed fuse pin/pins were discovered, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
57A0090, dated August 24, 2011, except step 1 in Part 2 of paragraph 
3.B of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 777-57A0090, dated August 24, 2011, is not considered 
regulatory for the purposes of this AD.

[[Page 32892]]

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, 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.
    (3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any repair required by this AD if it is approved by the 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization 
(ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO to make 
those findings. 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) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact James Sutherland, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 
98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6533; fax: 425-917-6590; email: 
[email protected].

(j) 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:
    (i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-57A0090, dated August 24, 
2011.
    (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; phone: 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 18, 2012.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12910 Filed 6-1-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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