Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 77 (Thursday, April 21, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23753-23755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08493]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1022; Project Identifier AD-2020-01101-T; 
Amendment 39-21995; AD 2022-07-07]
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 757-200, -200CB, and -300 series 
airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report indicating the passenger 
service units (PSUs) and life vest panels became separated from their 
attachments during several survivable accident sequences. This AD 
requires installing lanyard assemblies on the PSUs, and, for certain 
airplanes, on the life vest panels and video panels as applicable. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 26, 2022.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 26, 
2022.

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; phone: 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-2020-1022.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1022; 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: Tony Koung, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin 
Safety and Environmental Systems Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3985; 
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 757-200, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2020 (85 FR 86515). 
The NPRM was prompted by a report indicating that the PSUs and life 
vest panels became separated from their attachments during several 
survivable accident sequences. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require 
installing lanyard assemblies on the PSUs, and, for certain airplanes, 
on the life vest panels and video panels as applicable. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the PSUs, life vest panels, and video panels 
becoming detached and falling into the cabin, which could lead to 
passenger injuries and impede egress during an evacuation.
    The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) 
to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain The 
Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes. The 
SNPRM published in the Federal Register on November 17, 2021 (86 FR 
64089). The SNPRM was prompted by a report indicating that the PSUs and 
life vest panels became separated from their attachments during several 
survivable accident sequences and a determination that additional 
airplanes are also subject to the identified unsafe condition. The 
SNPRM proposed to require installing lanyard assemblies on the PSUs, 
and, for certain airplanes, on the life vest panels and video panels as 
applicable and to expand the applicability to include those additional 
airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the PSUs, life vest 
panels, and video panels becoming detached and falling into the cabin, 
which could lead to passenger injuries and impede egress during an 
evacuation.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from the Air Line Pilots Association, 
International (ALPA), and United Airlines who supported the SNPRM 
without change.
    The FAA received additional comments from Aviation Partners Boeing 
and Boeing. The following presents the comments received on the SNPRM 
and the FAA's response to each comment.

Effect of Winglets on Accomplishment of the Proposed Actions

    Aviation Partners Boeing stated that the installation of winglets 
per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01518SE does not affect the 
accomplishment of the manufacturer's service instructions.
    The FAA agrees with the commenter that STC ST01518SE does not 
affect the accomplishment of the manufacturer's service instructions. 
Therefore, the installation of STC ST01518SE does not affect the 
ability to accomplish the actions required by this AD. The FAA has not 
changed this AD in this regard.

Request To Change Certain Language

    Boeing asked that the FAA replace the word ``would'' with ``could 
potentially'' in the FAA clarification ``a PSU panel that detached and 
fell below BWL 265.7 would cause injury to passengers'' as specified in 
the Clarification for PSU Installation section of the SNPRM. Boeing 
stated that the passenger seat located below an attached PSU panel 
could be unoccupied or could be occupied by a person short in stature, 
and in those cases the PSU panel would not strike and cause injury to a 
passenger.
    The FAA acknowledges and agrees with the commenter's request, 
because the proposed language provides clarity. However, the comment 
section in the SNPRM is not carried over into this

[[Page 23754]]

final rule. Therefore, the FAA has not changed this AD in this regard.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments 
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as 
proposed. Except for minor editorial changes, and any other changes 
described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed in the SNPRM. 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 
757-25-0315 RB, Revision 2, dated March 17, 2021. This service 
information specifies procedures for installing lanyard assemblies on 
the PSUs, life vest panels, and video panels, as applicable. 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 ADDRESSES.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 367 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 on U.S.
             Action                   Labor cost          Parts cost       Cost per product        operators
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Install Lanyard Assemblies......  Up to 75            Up to $45,750.....  Up to $52,125.....  Up to $19,129,875.
                                   work[dash]hours x
                                   $85 per hour = Up
                                   to $6,375.
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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:

2022-07-07 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-21995; Docket No. FAA-
2020-1022; Project Identifier AD-2020-01101-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 26, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and 
-300 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified 
in Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 757-25-0315 RB, 
Revision 2, dated March 17, 2021.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report indicating the passenger 
service units (PSUs) and life vest panels became separated from 
their attachments during several survivable accident sequences. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to address the PSUs, life vest panels, and 
video panels becoming detached and falling into the cabin, which 
could lead to passenger injuries and impede egress during an 
evacuation.

(f) Compliance

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

(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 757-25-0315 RB, Revision 2, 
dated March 17, 2021, do all applicable actions identified in, and 
in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 757-25-0315 RB, Revision 2, 
dated March 17, 2021.
    Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions 
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 757-25-0315, Revision 2, dated March 17, 2021, which is 
referred to in Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 757-
25-0315 RB, Revision 2, dated March 17, 2021.

(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

    (1) Where Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 757-25-
0315 RB, Revision 2, dated March 17, 2021, uses the phrase ``the 
Revision 2 date of Requirements Bulletin 757-25-0315 RB,'' this AD 
requires using ``the effective date of this AD.''
    (2) The lanyard installation specified in paragraph (g) of this 
AD is not required on Model 757-200 airplanes modified per VT Mobile 
Aerospace Engineering (VT MAE) supplemental type certificates (STCs) 
ST03952AT and ST04242AT.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    For airplanes identified in Boeing Special Attention 
Requirements Bulletin 757-25-0315 RB, Revision 1, dated May 20, 
2020: This paragraph provides credit for the actions

[[Page 23755]]

specified in paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were 
performed before the effective date of this AD using Boeing Special 
Attention Requirements Bulletin 757-25-0315 RB, Revision 1, dated 
May 20, 2020.

(j) Parts Installation Limitation

    As of the applicable time specified in paragraph (j)(1) or (2) 
of this AD, no person may install on any airplane any PSU, life vest 
panel, or video panel without an updated lanyard assembly installed.
    (1) For airplanes that have PSUs, life vest panels, or video 
panels without the updated lanyard assemblies installed as of the 
effective date of this AD: After modification of the airplane as 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (2) For airplanes that do not have PSUs, life vest panels, or 
video panels without the updated lanyard assemblies installed as of 
the effective date of this AD: As of the effective date of this AD.

(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 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.

(l) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Tony Koung, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Section, 
FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
phone and fax: 206-231-3985; email: [email protected].

(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 Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 757-25-0315 
RB, Revision 2, dated March 17, 2021.
    (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; phone: 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 protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on March 17, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-08493 Filed 4-20-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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