Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 2, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52939-52941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21474]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0777; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-088-AD; 
Amendment 39-18257; AD 2015-17-24]
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 787-8 airplanes. This AD was prompted by 
numerous reports of failures of the proximity sensor within the slat 
skew detection mechanism assembly (DMA) leading to slats up landing 
events. This AD requires replacing the slat skew DMAs with new slat 
skew DMAs, and marking the existing identification plates on the slat 
with the new part number. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 
the proximity sensor, which could result in the slats being shut down 
and a slats up high speed landing. This condition, in combination with 
abnormal landing conditions such as a short runway or adverse weather 
conditions, could result in a runway excursion.

DATES: This AD is effective October 7, 2015.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 7, 
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-
0777.

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-
0777; 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, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; 
telephone: 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

[[Page 52940]]

Model 787-8 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
November 28, 2014 (79 FR 70802). The NPRM was prompted by numerous 
reports of failures of the proximity sensor within the slat skew DMA 
leading to slats up landing events. The NPRM proposed to require 
replacing the slat skew DMAs with new slat skew DMAs, and marking the 
existing identification plates on the slat with the new part number. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the proximity sensor, which 
could result in the slats being shut down and a slats up high speed 
landing. This condition, in combination with abnormal landing 
conditions such as a short runway or adverse weather conditions, could 
result in a runway excursion.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM (79 
FR 70802, November 28, 2014) and the FAA's response to each comment.

Support for the NPRM (79 FR 70802, November 28, 2014)

    United Airlines (UAL) stated that it supports the NPRM (79 FR 
70802, November 28, 2014).

Requests To Correct the Location of the Part Numbers Affected

    Boeing and UAL requested a correction of the location of the 
identified part numbers affected in paragraphs (h)(2) and (h)(3) of the 
proposed AD (79 FR 70802, November 28, 2014). UAL stated that the part 
numbers affected in paragraphs (h)(2) and (h)(3) of the proposed AD are 
the wing leading edge slat assemblies, not the DMA. Boeing also 
commented that the part numbers are for a complete slat assembly 
(structure with DMA installed) and not just the DMA.
    We agree with the request. The intent of this AD is to prohibit 
installation of a defective slat skew DMA. Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB270021-00, Issue 001, dated March 20, 2014, 
provides instructions to modify the existing slat assembly by replacing 
the defective slat skew DMA and then marking the existing slat assembly 
identification plate with a new part number. Therefore, we have revised 
paragraphs (h)(2) and (h)(3) of this AD to remove the text ``slat skew 
DMA in'' and just refer to the existing part numbers of the slat 
assembly, which contain the defective slat skew DMA.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this 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 (79 FR 70802, November 28, 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 70802, November 28, 2014).
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB270021-00, 
Issue 001, dated March 20, 2014. The service information describes 
procedures for replacing the slat skew DMAs with new slat skew DMAs, 
and marking the existing identification plates on the slat with the new 
part number. 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 15 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.......................  11 work-hours X $85 per                $0             $935          $14,025
                                     hour = $935.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

[[Page 52941]]

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):

2015-17-24 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-18257 ; Docket No. FAA-
2014-0777; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-088-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective October 7, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes, 
certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB270021-00, Issue 001, dated March 20, 2014.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by numerous reports of failures of the 
proximity sensor within the slat skew detection mechanism assembly 
(DMA) leading to slats up landing events. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the proximity sensor, which could result in the 
slats being shut down and a slats up high speed landing. This 
condition, in combination with abnormal landing conditions such as a 
short runway or adverse weather conditions, could result in a runway 
excursion.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Replacement

    Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD: Replace 
the slat skew DMAs in slat number 5 and slat number 8 with new slat 
skew DMAs, and mark the existing identification plates on the slat 
with the new part number, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB270021-
00, Issue 001, dated March 20, 2014.

(h) Parts Installation Prohibitions

    (1) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
slat skew DMA, part number P683A0001-03, on any airplane.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install 
on any airplane, a slat assembly number 5, having part number 
145Z0201-11-8, 145Z0201-21-4, 145Z0201-21-3, 145Z0201-21-5, 
145Z0201-21-8, 145Z0201-21-9, 145Z0201-31-1, or 145Z0201-33-1.
    (3) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install 
on any airplane, a slat assembly number 8, having part number 
145Z0201-12-8, 145Z0201-22-4, 145Z0201-22-3, 145Z0201-22-5, 
145Z0201-22-8, 145Z0201-22-9, 145Z0201-32-1, or 145Z0201-34-1.

(i) 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 (j) 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.

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Douglas Tsuji, 
Senior Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, 
FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone: 425-917-6546; fax: 425-917-6590; 
email: [email protected].

(k) 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 B787-81205-SB270021-00, Issue 
001, dated March 20, 2014.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Boeing 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 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.
    (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 August 21, 2015.
Kevin Hull,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21474 Filed 9-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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