Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 22, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 83665-83667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26614]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-6672; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-022-AD; 
Amendment 39-18706; AD 2016-22-17]
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 a 
report that the grounding jumpers between the environmental control 
system (ECS) bracket and the current return network (CRN) straps near 
certain passenger entry doors were not bonded correctly during 
manufacturing. This AD requires changing the configuration of the 
grounding jumpers connecting the ECS brackets and CRN straps; measuring 
the bond resistance; and doing related investigative and corrective 
actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 27, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 27, 
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-2016-
6672.

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-2016-
6672; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday,

[[Page 83666]]

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: Brendan Shanley, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; phone: 425-917-6492; 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 787-8 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
June 3, 2016 (81 FR 35655) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by a 
report that the grounding jumpers between the ECS bracket and the CRN 
straps near passenger 1 left and 1 right entry doors were not bonded 
correctly during manufacturing. The NPRM proposed to require changing 
the configuration of the grounding jumpers connecting the ECS brackets 
and CRN straps; measuring the bond resistance; and doing related 
investigative and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent an incorrectly bonded jumper between the ECS bracket and 
the CRN strap, which does not provide proper grounding to the door 
frames at doors 1 left and 1 right. If a fault occurs, an electrical 
shock hazard can exist and could result in serious or fatal injury to 
passengers and flight crew.

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.

Support for the NPRM

    Boeing stated that it concurs with the content of the NPRM. United 
Airlines (UAL) stated that the 12-month compliance time is a safe and 
reasonable timeframe.

Requests To Reference New Service Information and Add Credit

    All Nippon Airways and UAL requested that we revise the NPRM to 
reference Boeing Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB530025-00, Issue 002, 
dated June 2, 2016 (``B787-81205-SB530025-00 Issue 002''), and give 
credit for actions accomplished using Boeing Service Bulletin B787-
81205-SB530025-00, Issue 001, dated July 17, 2014 (``B787-81205-
SB530025-00 Issue 001'').
    We agree with the commenters' requests. B787-81205-SB530025-00 
Issue 002 clarifies instructions and specifies the category of fay seal 
application. No additional work is required by B787-81205-SB530025-00 
Issue 002. B787-81205-SB530025-00 Issue 002 has steps that are labeled 
as Required for Compliance (RC).
    We have revised paragraphs (c) and (g) of this AD to reference 
B787-81205-SB530025-00 Issue 002, and added new paragraph (h) of this 
AD to provide credit for actions accomplished prior to the effective 
date of this AD using B787-81205-SB530025-00 Issue 001. We have 
redesignated subsequent paragraphs accordingly. We have added new 
paragraph (i)(4) of this AD to address the steps marked RC in B787-
81205-SB530025-00 Issue 002.

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 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 B787-81205-SB530025-00 Issue 002. The service 
information describes procedures for changing the configuration of the 
grounding jumpers connecting the ECS brackets and CRN straps; measuring 
the bond resistance; and related investigative and corrective actions 
if necessary. 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 6 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation........................  6 work-hours x $85 per             $100             $610           $3,660
                                       hour = $510.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.
    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.

[[Page 83667]]

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):

2016-22-17 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-18706; Docket No. FAA-
2016-6672; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-022-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective December 27, 2016.

(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 Service 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB530025-00, Issue 002, dated June 2, 2016 
(``B787-81205-SB530025-00 Issue 002'').

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53; Fuselage.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that the grounding jumpers 
between the environmental control system (ECS) bracket and the 
current return network (CRN) straps near passenger 1 left and 1 
right entry doors were not bonded correctly during manufacturing. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent an incorrectly bonded jumper between 
the ECS bracket and the CRN strap, which does not provide proper 
grounding to the door frames at doors 1 left and 1 right. If a fault 
occurs, an electrical shock hazard can exist and could result in 
serious or fatal injury to passengers and flight crew.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Grounding Jumper Revision

    Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD: Change the 
configuration of the grounding jumpers connecting the ECS brackets 
and CRN straps, including measuring the bond resistance and doing 
all applicable related investigative and corrective actions, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of B787-81205-
SB530025-00 Issue 002. Do all applicable related investigative and 
corrective actions before further flight.

(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 Service Bulletin B787-81205-
SB530025-00, Issue 001, dated July 17, 2014.

(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.
    (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 
(i)(4)(i) and (i)(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. If a step or substep is labeled ``RC Exempt,'' then the 
RC requirement is removed from that step or substep. 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.

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Brendan Shanley, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6492; 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 Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB530025-00, Issue 002, 
dated June 2, 2016.
    (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 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 October 25, 2016.
Dionne Palermo,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-26614 Filed 11-21-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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