Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 68 (Monday, April 9, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15041-15043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06710]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1176; Product Identifier 2017-NM-123-AD; Amendment 
39-19237; AD 2018-07-06]
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 series airplanes. This AD was prompted 
by a report of restricted movement of the right brake pedals after 
landing rollout. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual 
(AFM) by adding an autobrake system limitation. This AD also requires 
modifying intercostal webs near a main entry door, which terminates the 
AFM limitation. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 14, 2018.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 14, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data 
Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 
90740-5600; telephone 562-797-1717; internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this service information at the 
FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
206-231-3195. It is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
1176.

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-2017-
1176; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Docket Operations, 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: Kelly McGuckin, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Section, Seattle ACO Branch, FAA, 2200 South 
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3546; 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 series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on January 2, 2018 (83 FR 80). The NPRM was prompted by a 
report of restricted movement of the right brake pedals after landing 
rollout. The NPRM proposed to require revising the AFM by adding an 
autobrake system limitation. The NPRM also proposed to require 
modifying intercostal webs near a main entry door, which would 
terminate the AFM limitation revision. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent restricted motion of the brake pedals, which can affect 
stopping performance and directional control of the airplane. This 
restricted motion can lead to high speed runway excursion or lateral 
runway excursion.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this final rule. We have considered the comment received. Boeing stated 
its support for the NPRM.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this final rule 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 for addressing the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-32A2525 RB, 
dated September 6, 2017. This service information describes procedures 
for modifying intercostal webs near main entry door 3 by drilling two 
drain holes in the station-18 intercostal web at door stop 8 and 
applying sealant at the fore-aft drain path of the upper main sill web 
at station 16 near door 3R and door 3L. 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 2 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFM revision......................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour =              $0             $85            $170
                                     $85.
Modification......................  10 work-hours x $85 per hour           (\1\)             850           1,700
                                     = $850.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ We have received no definitive data that enables us to provide parts cost estimates for the modification
  specified in this AD.


[[Page 15042]]

    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 available 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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to transport category airplanes and 
associated appliances to the Director of the System Oversight Division.

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):

2018-07-06 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-19237; Docket No. FAA-
2017-1176; Product Identifier 2017-NM-123-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective May 14, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-8 series 
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing 
Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-32A2525 RB, dated September 6, 2017, 
except for airplanes having line numbers 1443, 1451, 1453, 1456, 
1470, 1472, 1475, 1477, 1480, 1492, 1494, 1497, 1498, 1500, 1503, 
1511, 1512, 1513, and 1514.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of restricted movement of the 
brake pedals after landing rollout. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent restricted motion of the brake pedals, which can affect 
stopping performance and directional control of the airplane. This 
restricted motion can lead to high speed runway excursion or lateral 
runway excursion.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within 120 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise the 
airplane flight manual (AFM) by incorporating the limitation 
specified in figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR09AP18.000


[[Page 15043]]



(h) Terminating Action for AFM Limitation

    Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, do all 
applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
747-32A2525 RB, dated September 6, 2017, except where the 
requirements bulletin specifies applying sealant, the following type 
of sealant must be used: BMS 5-142, TYPE 2; BMS 5-95; PR-1826; or 
PR-1828. Doing the actions specified in this paragraph terminates 
the AFM limitation revision required by paragraph (g) of this AD. 
The AFM limitation required by paragraph (g) of this AD may be 
removed from the AFM after accomplishing the actions specified in 
this paragraph.

    Note 1 to paragraph (h) of this AD: Guidance for accomplishing 
the actions required by paragraph (h) of this AD can be found in 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-32A2525, dated September 6, 2017, 
which is referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-
32A2525 RB, dated September 6, 2017.

(i) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits, as described in Section 21.197 and 
Section 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 
and 21.199), are not allowed, except as provided by paragraph (j) of 
this AD.

(j) Ferry Flight Limitations

    Operators who are prohibited from further flight due to the 
autobrake system being inoperative may perform a one-time non-
revenue ferry flight to fly the airplane to a maintenance facility 
to either fix the autobrake system or incorporate the terminating 
action specified in paragraph (h) of this AD. This ferry flight must 
be performed without passengers, and with interior modifications to 
allow heated cabin air to warm the brake control cables and pulleys 
in the vicinity of door 3L and door 3R. These interior modifications 
must include, at a minimum, temporarily removing the side panels and 
insulation immediately aft of door 3L and door 3R.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle ACO Branch, 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 certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (l) 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 Branch, 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.

(l) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Kelly McGuckin, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, Seattle ACO 
Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 
and fax 206-231-3546; email: [email protected].
    (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not 
incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in 
paragraphs (m)(3) and (m)(4) of this AD.

(m) 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 Requirements Bulletin 747-32A2525 RB, dated 
September 6, 2017.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services 
(C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-
5600; telephone 562-797-1717; internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport 
Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
206-231-3195.
    (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 Des Moines, Washington, on March 22, 2018.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-06710 Filed 4-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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