Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 241 (Friday, December 16, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76922-76924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27302]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0985; Project Identifier AD-2022-00096-T; 
Amendment 39-22260; AD 2022-25-04]
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 and 747-8 series airplanes. 
This AD was prompted by reports of three opened door 5 right ceiling 
stowage boxes that fell freely and injured a flight attendant in each 
event. This AD requires replacing certain snubbers of the door 5 
ceiling stowage boxes on certain airplanes, and replacing certain 
snubbers and changing the location of the snubber attachments on 
certain other airplanes. This AD also requires an operation check of 
the stowage boxes or snubber, as applicable, and applicable on-
condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 20, 2023.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 20, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-0985; 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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> 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; website myboeingfleet.com.
    <bullet> 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 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2022-0985.

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: 206-231-3684; 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 and 747-8 series airplanes. The NPRM published in 
the Federal Register on September 20, 2022 (87 FR 57422).
    The NPRM was prompted by reports of an opened door 5 right ceiling 
stowage box that fell freely approximately 12 inches on a Model 747-8 
airplane, and two additional door 5 ceiling stowage box free fall 
events on Model 747-400 airplanes. In one reported occurrence, an 
opened door 5 ceiling stowage box fell freely approximately 10 inches; 
in another, the stowage box fell freely approximately 8 inches. In each 
occurrence, a flight attendant was injured. Boeing and the supplier 
have since investigated and analyzed affected snubbers, part number (P/
N) SP5378, used on the door 5 ceiling stowage boxes on Model 747-400 
and 747-8 airplanes. It was determined that over time, air can get into 
the cylinder of the affected snubber and delay its damping 
functionality, which means the affected snubber will not meet the 
requirement of the door 5 ceiling stowage boxes to open at a rate of 
not more than 15 degrees per second, when open more than 2.5 inches. 
The supplier has designed a replacement snubber, P/N SP26172, which 
meets those requirements.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require replacing certain snubbers 
of the door 5 ceiling stowage boxes on certain airplanes, and replacing 
certain snubbers and changing the location of the snubber attachments 
on certain other airplanes. The NPRM also proposed to require an 
operation check of the stowage boxes or snubber, as applicable, and 
applicable on-condition actions.
    The FAA is issuing this AD to address an unlatched door 5 ceiling 
stowage box, which can open and fall freely more than 2.5 inches, 
possibly resulting in injury to the flightcrew or maintenance 
personnel.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

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

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments 
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as 
proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this 
AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. 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 
747-25-3726 RB, dated January 6, 2022. This service information 
specifies procedures for replacing certain snubbers of the door 5 
ceiling stowage boxes on certain airplanes, and replacing certain 
snubbers and changing the location of the snubber attachments on other 
airplanes. The service information also specifies procedures for an 
operation check of the stowage boxes or snubbers, as applicable, to 
ensure that the free-fall distance is no greater than 2.5 inches, and 
applicable on-condition actions including a post-snubber-replacement 
check until eventual replacement of any affected snubber. 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 45 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The

[[Page 76923]]

FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
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Snubber replacement and operation       2 work-hours x $85 per            $3,712          $3,882        $174,690
 check.                                  hour = $170.
Snubber replacement, snubber            7 work-hours x $85 per             4,232           4,827         217,215
 attachment relocation, and operation    hour = $595.
 check.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacement actions that would be required based on the results of the 
required inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need this replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Snubber replacement...........................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85            $928          $1,013
Post-snubber-replacement check................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85               0              85
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

2022-25-04 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-22260; Docket No. FAA-
2022-0985; Project Identifier AD-2022-00096-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 20, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and 747-8 
series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in 
Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 747-25-3726 RB, dated 
January 6, 2022.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of three opened door 5 right 
ceiling stowage boxes that fell freely and injured a flight 
attendant in each event. The FAA is issuing this AD to address an 
unlatched door 5 ceiling stowage box, which can open and fall freely 
more than 2.5 inches, possibly resulting in injury to the flightcrew 
or maintenance personnel.

(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 747-25-3726 RB, dated 
January 6, 2022, do all applicable actions identified in, and in 
accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special 
Attention Requirements Bulletin 747-25-3726 RB, dated January 6, 
2022.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g):  Guidance for accomplishing the actions 
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 747-25-3726, dated January 6, 2022, which is referred to in 
Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 747-25-3726 RB, dated 
January 6, 2022.

(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

    Where the Compliance Time columns of the tables in the 
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Special Attention Requirements 
Bulletin 747-25-3726 RB, dated January 6, 2022, use the phrase ``the 
original issue date of Requirements Bulletin 747-25-3726 RB,''

[[Page 76924]]

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 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

    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: 206-231-3684; 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 Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 747-25-3726 
RB, dated January 6, 2022.
    (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; website 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 www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on November 28, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-27302 Filed 12-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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