Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 187 (Friday, September 26, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57751-57753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22468]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0343; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-077-AD; 
Amendment 39-17971; AD 2014-19-03]
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 certain 
The Boeing Company Model 747-8 and 747-8F series airplanes. This AD was 
prompted by an analysis by the manufacturer, which revealed that 
certain fuse pins for the strut-to-wing attachment of the outboard aft 
upper spar are susceptible to migration in the event of a failed fuse 
pin through bolt. This AD requires replacing the fuse pins for the 
strut-to-wing attachment of the outboard aft upper spar with new fuse 
pins, and replacing the access cover assemblies with new access cover 
assemblies. We are issuing this AD to prevent migration of these fuse 
pins, which could result in the complete disconnect and loss of the 
strut-to-wing attachment load path for the outboard aft upper spar. The 
complete loss of an outboard aft upper spar strut-to-wing attachment 
load path could result in divergent flutter in certain parts of the 
flight envelope, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective October 31, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 31, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: 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 view this referenced service information 
at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, WA 98057-3356. 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0343; 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 Docket 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: Narinder Luthra, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6513; 
fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 57752]]

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain The Boeing Company 
Model 747-8 and 747-8F series airplanes. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on June 25, 2014 (79 FR 35966). The NPRM was prompted 
by an analysis by the manufacturer, which revealed that certain fuse 
pins for the strut-to-wing attachment of the outboard aft upper spar 
are susceptible to migration in the event of a failed fuse pin through 
bolt. The NPRM proposed to require replacing the fuse pins for the 
strut-to-wing attachment of the outboard aft upper spar with new fuse 
pins, and replacing the access cover assemblies with new access cover 
assemblies. We are issuing this AD to prevent migration of these fuse 
pins, which could result in the complete disconnect and loss of the 
strut-to-wing attachment load path for the outboard aft upper spar. The 
complete loss of an outboard aft upper spar strut-to-wing attachment 
load path could result in divergent flutter in certain parts of the 
flight envelope, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We have considered the comment received. Boeing supported the 
NPRM (79 FR 35966, June 25, 2014).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD as proposed except for minor editorial changes. We have 
determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (79 FR 35966, June 25, 2014) for correcting the unsafe condition; 
and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (79 FR 35966, June 25, 2014).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 5 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement..............................  97 work-hours x $85 per          $31,076       $39,321      $196,605
                                            hour = $8,245.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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):

2014-19-03 Boeing: Amendment 39-17971; Docket No. FAA-2014-0343; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-077-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective October 31, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-8 and 747-8F 
series airplanes; certificated in any category; having a variable 
number identified in paragraph 1.A., ``Effectivity,'' of Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 747-54A2238, dated January 31, 2014; and 
variable number RC573.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 54, Nacelles/
Pylons.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by an analysis by the manufacturer, which 
revealed that the fuse pins for the strut-to-wing attachment of the 
outboard aft upper spar are susceptible to migration in the event of 
a failed fuse pin through bolt. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
migration of these fuse pins, which could result in the complete 
disconnect and loss of the strut-to-wing attachment load path for 
the outboard aft upper spar. The complete loss of the an outboard 
aft upper spar strut-to-wing attachment load path could result in 
divergent flutter in certain parts of the flight

[[Page 57753]]

envelope, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Replacement of Fuse Pins and Access Cover Assemblies

    Within 48 months after the effective date of this AD: Replace 
the fuse pins for the outboard aft upper spar and the access cover 
assemblies on struts Nos. 1 and 4, with new fuse pins and access 
cover assemblies, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions 
of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-54A2238, dated January 31, 
2014.

(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 paragraph (i) 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.
    (4) If the service information contains steps that are labeled 
as RC (Required for Compliance), those steps must be done to comply 
with this AD; any steps that are not labeled as RC are recommended. 
Those steps that are not labeled as RC may be deviated from, done as 
part of other actions, or done using accepted methods different from 
those identified in the specified service information without 
obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the steps labeled as RC can 
be done and the airplane can be put back in a serviceable condition. 
Any substitutions or changes to steps labeled as RC require approval 
of an AMOC.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Narinder Luthra, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 
98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6513; fax: 425-917-6590; email: 
[email protected].

(j) 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 747-54A2238, dated January 31, 
2014.
    (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, WA 98057-3356. 
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 September 12, 2014.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-22468 Filed 9-25-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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