Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 133 (Thursday, July 15, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37224-37226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15027]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0258; Project Identifier AD-2020-01565-T; 
Amendment 39-21637; AD 2021-14-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series 
airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of burned Boeing Material 
Specification (BMS) 8-39 urethane foam found in certain locations on 
the airplane; investigation revealed that the fire-retardant properties 
degrade with age. This AD requires inspecting the insulation blankets 
in certain areas of the forward cargo compartment for exposed BMS 8-39 
urethane foam, not encapsulated by a protective fire resistant barrier, 
and for seal integrity, and replacing the BMS 8-39 urethane foam and 
seal if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 19, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 19, 
2021.

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, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety 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 at 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0258.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0258; 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, any 
comments received, and other information. The address for Docket 
Operations is 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: Julie Linn, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin 
Safety and Environmental Systems Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3584; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA 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 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series airplanes. The 
NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2021 (86 FR 19160). 
The NPRM was prompted by reports of burned BMS 8-39 urethane foam found 
in certain locations on the airplane; investigation revealed that the 
fire-retardant properties degrade with age. In the NPRM, the FAA 
proposed to require inspecting the insulation blankets in certain areas 
of the forward cargo compartment for exposed BMS 8-39 urethane foam, 
not encapsulated by a protective fire resistant barrier, and for seal 
integrity, and replacing the BMS 8-39 urethane foam and seal if 
necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address degraded BMS 8-39 
urethane foam used in seals, which may fail to maintain sufficient 
halon concentrations in the cargo compartments to extinguish or contain 
fire or smoke, and may fail to prevent penetration of fire or smoke in 
areas of the airplane that are difficult to access for fire and smoke 
detection or suppression, which could result in loss of control of the 
airplane.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from Air Line Pilots Association, 
International (ALPA), who supported the NPRM without change.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment 
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as 
proposed. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as 
proposed in the NPRM.

[[Page 37225]]

None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 
747-25-3725 RB, dated October 27, 2020. This service information 
specifies procedures for doing a general visual inspection of the 
insulation blankets in the area between station (STA) 960 and STA 1000 
on the left and right sides of the forward cargo compartment for 
exposed BMS 8-39 urethane foam, not encapsulated by a protective fire 
resistant barrier, and seal integrity, and replacing any BMS 8-39 
urethane foam that is found exposed and any seal that does not have 
acceptable integrity for a smoke barrier. 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

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 109 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection............................  3 work-hours x $85 per                $0            $255         $27,795
                                         hour = $255.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition actions that are required. The FAA has no way of determining 
the number of aircraft that might need these on-condition actions:

                                     Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Labor cost                            Parts cost                      Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85 per         Minimal.......................  $85 per finding.
 finding.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    The FAA is 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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.

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:

2021-14-10 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-21637; Docket No. FAA-
2021-0258; Project Identifier AD-2020-01565-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 19, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400, 747-400D, 
and 747-400F series airplanes, certificated in any category, as 
identified in Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 747-25-
3725 RB, dated October 27, 2020.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
furnishings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of burned Boeing Material 
Specification (BMS) 8-39 urethane foam found in certain locations on 
the airplane; investigation revealed that the fire-retardant 
properties degrade with age. The FAA is issuing this AD to address 
degraded BMS 8-39 urethane foam used in seals, which may fail to 
maintain sufficient halon concentrations in the cargo compartments 
to extinguish or contain fire or smoke, and may fail to prevent 
penetration of fire or smoke in areas of the airplane that are 
difficult to access for fire and smoke detection or suppression, 
which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

[[Page 37226]]

(g) Required Actions

    Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this AD: At the 
applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing 
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 747-25-3725 RB, dated 
October 27, 2020, do all applicable actions identified in, and in 
accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special 
Attention Requirements Bulletin 747-25-3725 RB, dated October 27, 
2020.
    Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions 
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 747-25-3725, dated October 27, 2020, which is referred to 
in Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 747-25-3725 RB, 
dated October 27, 2020.

(h) Exception to Service Information Specifications

    Where Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 747-25-3725 
RB, dated October 27, 2020, uses the phrase ``after the Original 
Issue date of Requirements Bulletin 747-25-3725 RB,'' this AD 
requires using ``the effective date of this AD.''

(i) 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 responsible Flight Standards 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 (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 responsible Flight Standards 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 Company Organization Designation 
Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle 
ACO Branch, FAA, 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Julie Linn, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Section, 
FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
phone and fax: 206-231-3584; email: [email protected].
    (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not 
incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in 
paragraphs (k)(3) and (4) of this AD.

(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 Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 747-25-3725 
RB, dated October 27, 2020.
    (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, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety 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, email [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on June 25, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-15027 Filed 7-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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