Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36433-36436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12847]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2958; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-248-AD; 
Amendment 39-18545; AD 2016-11-18]
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

[[Page 36434]]

Boeing Company Model 787 airplanes. This AD was prompted by the 
disclosure that the inner diameters of some batches of landing gear 
pins were not shot peened in accordance with design specifications, and 
need to be replaced. This AD requires inspection for improperly 
manufactured landing gear pins, and replacement if necessary. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct insufficient shot peening that 
could lead to stress corrosion cracking and failure of the landing gear 
pin, and cause landing gear collapse and inability to control the 
airplane at high speeds on the ground.

DATES: This AD is effective July 12, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 12, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
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-2015-
2958.

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-2015-
2958; 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: Melanie Violette, Senior Aerospace 
Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; phone: 425-917-6422; 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 all The Boeing Company 
Model 787 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 
23, 2015 (80 FR 43642) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by a 
report indicating that the inner diameters of some batches of landing 
gear pins were not shot peened and need to be replaced. The NPRM 
proposed to require inspection for improperly manufactured landing gear 
pins, and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect 
and correct insufficient shot peening that could lead to stress 
corrosion cracking and failure of the landing gear pin, and cause 
landing gear collapse and inability to control the airplane at high 
speeds on the ground.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and 
the FAA's response to each comment.

Request To Use Revised Service Information

    One commenter, Junji Miura, found several errors in Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB320022-00, Issue 001, dated November 14, 
2014, and requested that we include a reference to the upcoming 
corrections. The commenter stated that Boeing will correct these errors 
in the next revision, and that referencing this revision in this AD 
will avoid the need for a global alternative method of compliance 
(AMOC).
    We agree with the request. Boeing has issued Alert Service Bulletin 
B787-81205-SB320022-00, Issue 002, dated April 6, 2016. We have 
reviewed this service information, which was issued to correct 
typographical errors and part numbers, and to update statements, but 
adds no new actions. The changes in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-
81205-SB320022-00, Issue 002, dated April 6, 2016, address the 
commenter's concerns. We have revised the service information 
references throughout this final rule to refer to Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB320022-00, Issue 002, dated April 6, 2016, and we 
have added a new paragraph (h) to this AD to provide credit for the 
original service information. We have redesignated subsequent 
paragraphs accordingly.

Request for Correction to Paragraphs (g) and (h) of This AD

    Boeing requested a correction to paragraphs (g) and (h) of the 
proposed AD to replace the word ``or'' with the word ``and'' in the 
phrase ``part number or serial number.''
    We agree to correct the applicable paragraphs of this AD because 
the intent was to require replacement of the pin only if both the part 
number and serial number are identified in Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB320022-00, Issue 002, dated April 6, 2016. In 
paragraphs (g) and (i) of this AD, we revised the phrase ``part number 
or serial number'' to ``part number and serial number.''

Request for Clarification of Airplanes Affected by Inspection 
Requirements

    One commenter, Raja Rehman, requested that we clarify the required 
actions for airplanes that are covered by this AD, but not listed in 
the ``Effectivity'' section of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-
81205-SB320022-00, Issue 001, dated November 14, 2014. The commenter 
asked if the inspection requirements of the proposed AD would apply to 
all delivered and to-be-delivered Model 787 airplanes, and if Boeing 
intends to issue a revision to the service bulletin that will cover the 
additional airplanes. The commenter also asked if an airplane that did 
not have the affected pins installed at production/delivery, and had 
never replaced the pins during service would comply with the AD.
    We agree that clarification is necessary. The landing gear pin is a 
removable structural component (rotable part). Through maintenance 
action, the affected (discrepant) pins could be installed on airplanes 
that were initially delivered with acceptable pins. Therefore, the 
applicability of this AD is all Model 787 airplanes--both those that 
are currently delivered and future deliveries--because the affected 
pins could be installed on any Model 787 airplane. It is not necessary 
for the applicability of the AD to match the effectivity of Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB320022-00, Issue 001, dated 
November 14, 2014, or Issue 002, dated April 6, 2016. This difference 
has been coordinated with Boeing.
    We have modified paragraph (g) to require the inspections only for 
airplanes that received their original airworthiness certificate or 
original export certificate of airworthiness on or before the effective 
date of this AD. These are the airplanes that either had the affected 
(discrepant) pins installed

[[Page 36435]]

in production, or may have had them installed through maintenance 
action. Paragraph (i), which remains applicable to all Model 787 
airplanes, prohibits installation of the affected pins in the future.

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> [Agr]re consistent with the intent that was proposed in 
the NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.
    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-SB320022-00, 
Issue 002, dated April 6, 2016. The service information describes 
procedures to inspect and replace certain landing gear pins. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 13 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection........................  3 work-hours x $85 per                 $0             $255           $3,315
                                     hour = $255.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement..........................  Up to 19 work[dash]hours x            $35,569   Up to $37,184
                                        $85 per hour = $1,615.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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):

2016-11-18 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-18545; Docket No. FAA-
2015-2958; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-248-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective July 12, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 787 airplanes, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Landing 
Gear.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the disclosure that the inner diameters 
of some batches of landing gear pins were not shot peened in 
accordance with design specifications, and need to be replaced. We 
are issuing this AD to detect and correct insufficient shot peening 
that could lead to stress corrosion cracking and failure of the 
landing gear pin, and cause landing gear collapse and inability to 
control the airplane at high speeds on the ground.

[[Page 36436]]

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection and Replacement

    For airplanes on which the original airworthiness certificate or 
the original export certificate of airworthiness was issued on or 
before the effective date of this AD: At the applicable time 
specified in paragraph 5, ``Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB320022-00, Issue 002, dated April 6, 2016, do 
a landing gear pin part number and serial number inspection, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB320022-00, Issue 002, dated April 6, 
2016. A review of airplane maintenance or delivery records is 
acceptable in lieu of this inspection if the part number and serial 
number of the installed landing gear pins can be conclusively 
determined from that review.
    (1) If the part number and serial number do not match the list 
of affected pin numbers: No further action is required by this 
paragraph at that pin location.
    (2) If the part number and serial number match the list of 
affected pin numbers: At the applicable time specified in paragraph 
5, ``Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-
SB320022-00, Issue 002, dated April 6, 2016, replace the affected 
pin with a pin that does not have an affected part number and serial 
number, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB320022-00, Issue 002, dated 
April 6, 2016.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD, using Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-
81205-SB320022-00, Issue 001, dated November 14, 2014. This service 
information is not incorporated by reference in this AD.

(i) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install on 
any airplane a landing gear pin having an affected part number and 
serial number identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-
81205-SB320022-00, Issue 002, dated April 6, 2016.

(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 paragraph (k) 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, modification, or alteration 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. To be approved, the 
repair method, modification deviation, or alteration deviation 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 
(j)(4)(i) and (j)(4)(ii) of this AD 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.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Melanie Violette, 
Senior Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle 
ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-
6422; 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 B787-81205-SB320022-00, Issue 
002, dated April 6, 2016.
    (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 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 May 24, 2016.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-12847 Filed 6-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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