Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 93154-93157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27596]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2008; Project Identifier AD-2024-00122-T; 
Amendment 39-22876; AD 2024-22-05]
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 all 
The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. This AD 
was prompted by a report that during manufacture of drag brace lower 
lock link assemblies for the main landing gear (MLG), a certain 
required

[[Page 93155]]

inspection was not performed. This AD requires doing a check of 
maintenance records or an inspection to determine if certain drag brace 
lower lock link assemblies are installed, and applicable on-condition 
actions. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 31, 2024.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 31, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-2008; 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 material 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.
    <bullet> You may view this material 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-2024-2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Hodgin, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3962; 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 all The Boeing Company 
Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on August 1, 2024 (89 FR 62685). The NPRM was prompted 
by a report that during manufacture of drag brace lower lock link 
assemblies for the MLG, a certain required inspection was not 
performed. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require doing a check of 
maintenance records or an inspection to determine if certain drag brace 
lower lock link assemblies are installed, and applicable on-condition 
actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address unsafe condition on 
these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from an individual who supported the NPRM 
without change.
    The FAA received additional comments from three commenters, 
including Boeing, United Airlines, and American Airlines. The following 
presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to 
each comment.

Request To Correct Part Number

    American Airlines, United Airlines, and Boeing requested that the 
affected landing gear drag brace lower lock link assembly part number 
be corrected from part number 531Z2010-501, to part number 513Z2010-
501. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Boeing stated that 
paragraph (i) of the proposed AD contains a typo for the affected 
landing gear drag brace lower lock link assembly part number. The 
commenters stated that the part number listed in the proposed AD is 
531Z2010-501, the correct part number is 513Z2010-501. American 
Airlines stated it reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-
81205-SB320048-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023, and confirmed 
that the correct part number is 513Z2010-501. Boeing noted that the 
part number in the proposed AD does not match Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB320048-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023.
    The FAA agrees that the correct affected landing gear drag brace 
lower lock link assembly part number is 513Z2010-501. The FAA has 
revised paragraph (i) of this AD to reflect the correct part number.

Request To Withdraw the NPRM

    American Airlines stated that it appears that an airworthiness 
directive is not necessary as the safety issue is being addressed 
between Boeing and the affected operator(s) via the alert service 
bulletin. American Airlines also stated that compliance will require 
the unnecessary burden at all worldwide operators and MROs (i.e., 
certified repair stations) to create safeguards to look for these four 
serial numbers any time maintenance is performed on the life limited 
part component of the lock link assembly, the lower lock link assembly 
itself, the next higher assembly lock link assembly, the next higher 
assembly drag brace assembly, the next higher level landing gear, and 
the airplane throughout the remaining life of the entire 787 worldwide 
fleet. The FAA infers that American Airlines is requesting that the 
NPRM be withdrawn.
    The FAA disagrees with the request to withdraw the NPRM. Operators 
are not required to accomplish Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-
81205-SB320048-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023, until an AD 
mandates accomplishment. This AD addresses the identified unsafe 
condition by mandating the actions in that material, which ensures that 
the affected (unsafe) parts are removed from the airplanes identified 
in paragraph (g) of this AD. In addition, due to rotability of the 
affected parts, the parts installation prohibition specified in 
paragraph (i) of this AD is the only way to ensure the affected parts 
are not installed on all airplanes identified in paragraph (c) of this 
AD. 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. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, and 
any other changes described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed 
in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on 
any operator.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB320048-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023. This material 
specifies procedures for doing a check of maintenance records or an 
inspection of the drag brace lower lock link assembly on the right and 
left MLG for affected serial numbers and applicable on-condition 
actions. On-condition actions include replacing any affected drag brace 
lower lock link assembly on the MLG with a serviceable drag brace lower 
lock link assembly.
    This material 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 156 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.

[[Page 93156]]

The 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection or records check...........  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85         $13,260
                                         hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement of one drag brace lower lock link   18 work-hours x $85 per hour =           $39,119         $40,649
 assembly.                                       $1,530.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of 
this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact 
on affected operators.

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:

2024-22-05 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-22876; Docket No. FAA-
2024-2008; Project Identifier AD-2024-00122-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 31, 
2024.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, 
and 787-10 airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that during manufacture of drag 
brace lower lock link assemblies for the main landing gear (MLG), a 
certain inspection was not performed. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address undetected cracks that could lead to fracture of the drag 
brace lower lock link assembly. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in MLG collapse, which could result in loss 
of directional control while the airplane is on the ground, with the 
potential for off-runway excursion or penetration of the wing box 
fuel tank.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    For airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or 
original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before the 
effective date of this AD: Except as specified by paragraph (h) of 
this AD, at the applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' 
paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320048-
00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023, do all applicable actions 
identified in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB320048-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023. The actions 
specified in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320048-
00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023, apply to airplanes not 
listed in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320048-00 
RB, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g):  Guidance for accomplishing the actions 
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
B787-81205-SB320048-00, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023, which is

[[Page 93157]]

referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB320048-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023.

(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

    Where the Compliance Time column of the table in the 
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-
81205-SB320048-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023, refers to 
the Issue 001 date of Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320048-00 
RB, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.

(i) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
drag brace lower lock link assembly, part number 513Z2010-501 and 
serial number 19ZHQ00772, 19ZHQ00773, 19ZHQ00890, or 19ZHQ00891, on 
any airplane.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety 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 
(k)(1) 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 that has been authorized by the Manager, AIR-520, 
Continued Operational Safety 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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Joseph Hodgin, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 
98198; phone: 206-231-3962; email: [email protected].
    (2) Material identified in this AD that is not incorporated by 
reference is available at the address specified in paragraph (l)(3) 
of this AD.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320048-00 
RB, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For the material 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 material 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 material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/[email protected]">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/[email protected].

    Issued on October 24, 2024.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-27596 Filed 11-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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