Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 136 (Thursday, July 16, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42012-42014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17023]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0926; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-085-AD; 
Amendment 39-18204; AD 2015-14-06]
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, which indicated that in a limited flight 
envelope with specific conditions, divergent flutter could occur during 
a high g-load maneuver in combination with certain system failures. 
This AD requires replacing the lateral control electronic (LCE) 
modules, replacing the inboard elevator power control packages (PCPs), 
installing new external compensators for the PCPs, and revising the 
maintenance or inspection program. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
certain system failures from resulting in divergent flutter, and 
subsequent loss of continued safe flight and landing.

DATES: This AD is effective August 20, 2015.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of August 20, 
2015.

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. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 425-227-1221. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0926.

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-
0926; 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: Douglas Tsuji, Senior Aerospace 
Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; 
phone: 425-917-6546; fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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 December 17, 2014 (79 FR 75100). The NPRM was 
prompted by an analysis, which indicated that in a limited flight 
envelope with specific conditions, divergent flutter could occur during 
a high g-load maneuver in combination with certain system failures. The 
NPRM proposed to require replacing the LCE modules, replacing the 
inboard elevator PCPs, installing new external compensators for the 
PCPs, and revising the maintenance or inspection program. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent certain system failures from resulting in 
divergent flutter, and subsequent loss of continued safe flight and 
landing.

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 75100, December 17, 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 75100, December 17, 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 75100, December 17, 2014).

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed the following service information.
    <bullet> Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-27A2506, dated February 
3, 2014, which describes procedures for replacing the LCE modules.
    <bullet> Boeing Service Bulletin 747-27A2513, Revision 1, dated 
July 18, 2014, which describes procedures for installing the inboard 
elevator compensator and replacing the PCP.
    We have also reviewed Boeing 747-8/8F Certification Maintenance 
Requirements (CMRs) Document D011U721-02-03, Revision December 2013, 
which contains the following tasks in Section G., ``CMR Tasks'':
    <bullet> Item Number 27-CMR-10, ``Lubricate inboard elevator hinge 
bearings.''
    <bullet> Item Number 27-CMR-11, ``Functional check of inboard 
elevator hinge bearing and power control unit rod end bearing free 
play.''
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section of this 
AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 8 airplanes of U.S. registry
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 42013]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement of LCEs...................  4 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $340          $2,720
                                         hour = $340.
Replacement of inboard elevator PCPs    57 work-hours x $85 per           44,894          49,739         397,912
 and installation of external inboard    hour = $4,845.
 elevator compensators.
Revision to maintenance or inspection   1 work-hour x $85 per                  0              85             680
 program.                                hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, all 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):

2015-14-06 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-18204; Docket No. FAA-
2014-0926; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-085-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective August 20, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company airplanes, certificated in 
any category, identified in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of 
this AD.
    (1) Model 747-8 and 747-8F series airplanes, as identified in 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-27A2506, dated February 3, 2014.
    (2) Model 747-8 and 747-8F series airplanes, as identified in 
Boeing Service Bulletin 747-27A2513, Revision 1, dated July 18, 
2014.
    (3) Model 747-8 series airplanes that are operated less than 
1,200 flight hours per calendar year.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight 
Controls.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by an analysis, which indicated that in a 
limited flight envelope with specific conditions, divergent flutter 
could occur during a high g-load maneuver in combination with 
certain system failures. We are issuing this AD to prevent certain 
system failures from resulting in divergent flutter, and subsequent 
loss of continued safe flight and landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Replacement of Lateral Control Electronic (LCE) Modules

    For airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD: Within 
12 months after the effective date of this AD, replace the LCE 
modules with new LCE modules having revised software, and do an 
operational test of the LCE modules, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
27A2506, dated February 3, 2014. If the operational test fails, 
before further flight, do corrective actions and repeat the 
operational test and applicable corrective actions until the 
operational test passes.

(h) Replacement of Inboard Elevator Power Control Packages (PCPs) and 
Installation of External Inboard Elevator Compensators

    For airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(2) of this AD: Within 
60 months after the effective date of this AD, replace both inboard 
elevator PCPs with new PCPs that have the internal compensators 
removed, install two larger external compensators for each PCP, and 
do an operational test of each inboard elevator PCP, in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 747-
27A2513, Revision 1, dated July 18, 2014. If the operational test 
fails, before further flight, do corrective actions and repeat the 
operational test and applicable corrective actions until the 
operational test passes.

(i) Revision to the Maintenance or Inspection Program

    For all airplanes: Within 90 days after the effective date of 
this AD, revise the maintenance or inspection program, as 
applicable, to incorporate Item Numbers 27-CMR-10, ``Lubricate 
inboard elevator hinge bearings,'' and 27-CMR-11, ``Functional check 
of inboard elevator hinge bearing and power control unit rod end 
bearing free play,'' of Section G., ``CMR Tasks,'' of the Boeing 
747-8/8F Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs) Document 
D011U721-02-03, Revision December 2013. The initial compliance times 
and repetitive intervals for

[[Page 42014]]

the lubrication and functional check are specified in paragraphs 
(i)(1) and (i)(2) of this AD.
    (1) For airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of 
this AD that are not identified in paragraph (c)(3) of this AD:
    (i) The initial compliance time for the lubrication of the 
inboard elevator hinge bearings is within 18 months after the most 
recent lubrication. The repetitive lubrication intervals are 
specified in Item Number 27-CMR-10, ``Lubricate inboard elevator 
hinge bearings,'' of Section G., ``CMR Tasks,'' of the Boeing 747-8/
8F Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs) Document D011U721-
02-03, Revision December 2013.
    (ii) The initial compliance time for the functional check of the 
inboard elevator hinge bearing and power control unit rod end 
bearing freeplay is within 12 months after the effective date of 
this AD. The repetitive functional check intervals are specified in 
Item Number 27-CMR-11, ``Functional check of inboard elevator hinge 
bearing and power control unit rod end bearing free play,'' of 
Section G., ``CMR Tasks,'' of the Boeing 747-8/8F Certification 
Maintenance Requirements, D011U721-02-03, Revision December 2013.
    (2) For airplanes identified in paragraph (c)(3) of this AD:
    (i) The initial compliance time for the lubrication of the 
inboard elevator hinge bearings is within 24 months after the most 
recent lubrication. Repeat the lubrication thereafter at intervals 
not to exceed 24 months.
    (ii) The initial compliance time for the functional check of the 
inboard elevator hinge bearing and power control unit rod end 
bearing freeplay is within 36 months after the effective date of 
this AD. Repeat the functional check thereafter at intervals not to 
exceed 36 months.

(j) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install on 
any airplane an LCE having part number (P/N) CA49253-001 or CA49253-
002, or an inboard elevator PCP having P/N 327400-1009.

(k) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by 
paragraph (h) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
27A2513, dated February 4, 2014, which is not incorporated by 
reference in this AD.

(l) 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 (m)(1) 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) For service information that contains steps that are labeled 
as Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraphs 
(l)(4)(i) and (l)(4)(ii) apply.
    (i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step 
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply 
with the AD. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps, 
including substeps and identified figures.
    (ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted 
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection 
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC 
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done 
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy 
condition

(m) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Douglas Tsuji, 
Senior Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6546; fax: 425-917-6590; 
email: [email protected].
    (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not 
incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in 
paragraphs (n)(3) and (n)(4) of this AD.

(n) 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 747-27A2506, dated February 3, 
2014.
    (ii) Boeing Service Bulletin 747-27A2513, Revision 1, dated July 
18, 2014.
    (iii) Boeing 747-8/8F Certification Maintenance Requirements 
(CMRs) Document D011U721-02-03, Revision December 2013.
    (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. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 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 July 1, 2015.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-17023 Filed 7-15-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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