Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 30, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65613-65615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26074]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1104; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-073-AD; 
Amendment 39-17226; AD 2012-21-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
The Boeing Company Model 777-200LR and -300ER series airplanes. This AD 
requires reviewing the airplane's maintenance records for each rudder 
power control unit (PCU) to identify the condition of its related 
reaction link assembly, and replacing the rudder PCU and its related 
reaction link assembly if necessary. This AD was prompted by a report 
of an abnormal airframe vibration in the aft fuselage during flight. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent excessive freeplay in the rudder control 
surface, which could cause rudder vibration, and result in structural 
damage severe enough to prevent continued safe flight and landing.

DATES: This AD is effective November 14, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of November 14, 
2012.
    We must receive comments on this AD by December 14, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing 
Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box 
3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000, 
extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://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://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 street address for 
the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Frey, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; 
phone: (425) 917-6468; fax: (425) 917-6590; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We have received a report of an abnormal airframe vibration in the 
aft fuselage during flight. A subsequent inspection of the rudder PCU 
installations found that the bushing liners were missing from all six 
end cap assemblies on the three rudder PCUs. An investigation revealed 
that the cause of the problem was failure of the bond between the liner 
and the bushing substrate because of the use of liquid nitrogen during 
installation of the bushing into the reaction link end cap housing. 
This condition, if not corrected, could result in excessive freeplay in 
the rudder control surface, which could cause rudder vibration, and 
result in structural damage severe enough to prevent continued safe 
flight and landing.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-27A0109, dated 
December 1, 2011. The service information describes procedures, for 
airplanes having certain line numbers, for reviewing the airplane's 
maintenance records for each rudder PCU to identify the condition of 
its related reaction link assembly, and replacing the rudder PCU and 
its related reaction link assembly if necessary.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of this same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    No U.S. airplanes are affected by this AD. Therefore, we find that 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and 
that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 
30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety and was not preceded by notice and an

[[Page 65614]]

opportunity for public comment. However, we invite you to send any 
written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send your comments to 
an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include docket number 
FAA-2012-1104 and Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-073-AD at the 
beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the 
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend this AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 0 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of the airplane's maintenance records..  1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85              $0             $85
Replacement...................................  12 work-hours x $85 per hour =             5,784           6,804
                                                 $1,020.
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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):

2012-21-10 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17226; Docket No. FAA-
2012-1104; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-073-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective November 14, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200LR and -300ER 
series airplanes, certificated in any category, identified in Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 777-27A0109, dated December 1, 2011.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 27, Flight controls.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of an abnormal airframe 
vibration in the aft fuselage during flight. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent excessive freeplay in the rudder control surface, which 
could cause rudder vibration, and result in structural damage severe 
enough to prevent continued safe flight and landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Review of the Maintenance Records

    Within 48 months after the effective date of this AD, review the 
airplane's maintenance records for each rudder power control unit 
(PCU) to identify the condition of its related reaction link 
assembly, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-27A0109, dated December 1, 2011.

(h) Corrective Action

    (1) For any reaction link assembly identified during the records 
review required by paragraph (g) of this AD as having Condition 4, 
as specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 777-27A0109, dated December 1, 2011: Within 48 
months after the effective date of this AD, remove the affected 
rudder PCU and its related reaction link assembly, and install a 
serviceable rudder PCU and its related reaction link assembly, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 777-27A0109, dated December 1, 2011.
    (2) The replacement PCU reaction link assembly must meet 
Condition 1, 2, or 3 of Part 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-27A0109, dated December 1, 2011. 
As an alternative, the bushings in the PCU reaction link assembly 
may be replaced in accordance with Part 3 of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-27A0109, dated 
December 1, 2011.

(i) Parts Installation Limitations

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
rudder PCU and its related reaction link assembly identified in 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-27A0109, dated December 1, 2011, 
on any airplane, unless that rudder PCU and its related reaction 
link assembly meet Condition 1, 2, or 3, of Part 1 of the 
Accomplishment

[[Page 65615]]

Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-27A0109, dated 
December 1, 2011.

(j) 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.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Kenneth Frey, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
WA 98057-3356; phone: (425) 917-6468; fax: (425) 917-6590; email: 
[email protected].

 (l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-27A0109, dated December 1, 
2011.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-
5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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.
    (5) You may view this 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 October 11, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26074 Filed 10-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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