Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes, 18479-18481 [2021-07328]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 67 / Friday, April 9, 2021 / Proposed Rules
Federal Register on March 25, 2021.
More specifically, AHRI requested
additional time to consider the issues
raised in the early assessment RFI for
consumer boilers.
On April 2, 2021, APGA also
submitted a request 2 for a 30-day
extension of the public comment period
for the consumer boilers early
assessment RFI, for similar reasons to
those expressed in the AHRI request.
After carefully considering these
submissions, DOE has determined that
it is appropriate to grant these requests
to extend the comment period by 30
days to allow additional time for
interested parties to prepare and submit
comments. Therefore, DOE is extending
the comment period for the consumer
boilers early assessment RFI and will
accept comments, data, and information
on this matter received on and before
May 26, 2021. Accordingly, DOE will
consider any comments received by this
date to be timely submitted.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of
Energy was signed on April 2, 2021, by
Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal
Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting
Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy, pursuant to
delegated authority from the Secretary
of Energy. That document with the
original signature and date is
maintained by DOE. For administrative
purposes only, and in compliance with
requirements of the Office of the Federal
Register, the undersigned DOE Federal
Register Liaison Officer has been
authorized to sign and submit the
document in electronic format for
publication, as an official document of
the Department of Energy. This
administrative process in no way alters
the legal effect of this document upon
publication in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on April 6,
2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021–07301 Filed 4–8–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
2 Available at https://www.regulations.gov/
comment/EERE-2019-BT-STD-0036-0003.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:14 Apr 08, 2021
Jkt 253001
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2021–0263; Project
Identifier AD–2020–01702–T]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing
Company Airplanes
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
The FAA proposes to adopt a
new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
The Boeing Company Model 777
airplanes. This proposed AD was
prompted by a report that an operator
found solid rivets with missing heads at
the left buttock line 25 on the sloping
pressure deck web. This proposed AD
would require doing a detailed
inspection of the left and right side
sloping pressure deck at certain stations
for any damaged solid rivets, and
applicable on-condition actions. The
FAA is proposing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments
on this proposed AD by May 24, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments,
using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202–493–2251.
• Mail: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail
address above between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
For service information identified in
this NPRM, 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 referenced 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 on the internet
at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA–2021–0263.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
18479
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at
https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA–2021–0263; 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
NPRM, any comments received, and
other information. The street address for
Docket Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luis
Cortez, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe
Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198;
phone and fax: (206) 231–3958; email:
Luis.A.Cortez-Muniz@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any
written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send
your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No.
FAA–2021–0263; Project Identifier AD–
2020–01702–T’’ at the beginning of your
comments. The most helpful comments
reference a specific portion of the
proposal, explain the reason for any
recommended change, and include
supporting data. The FAA will consider
all comments received by the closing
date and may amend this proposal
because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business
Information (CBI) as described in the
following paragraph, and other
information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments
received, without change, to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report
summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and
actually treated as private by its owner.
Under the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt
from public disclosure. If your
comments responsive to this NPRM
contain commercial or financial
information that is customarily treated
as private, that you actually treat as
private, and that is relevant or
responsive to this NPRM, it is important
that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each
page of your submission containing CBI
as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such
marked submissions as confidential
under the FOIA, and they will not be
placed in the public docket of this
NPRM. Submissions containing CBI
E:\FR\FM\09APP1.SGM
09APP1
18480
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 67 / Friday, April 9, 2021 / Proposed Rules
should be sent to Luis Cortez, Aerospace
Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA,
Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th
St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and
fax: (206) 231–3958; email:
Luis.A.Cortez-Muniz@faa.gov. Any
commentary that the FAA receives
which is not specifically designated as
CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA has received a report
indicating that an operator found solid
rivets with missing heads at the left
buttock line 25 on the sloping pressure
deck web. The Model 777–300 airplane
had 23 solid rivet locations with
missing manufactured heads; the
airplane had accumulated 21,343 total
flight cycles and 53,979 total flight
hours at time of discovery. A fleet-wide
multiple operator message (MOM)
request found four more Model 777–300
airplanes and one retired Model 777–
200 airplane with missing solid rivet
heads. Boeing analysis showed the root
cause to be the 7050 aluminum solid
rivets used on the sloping pressure deck
web, which were inadequate for the
complex tension loading environment,
and led to premature fatigue cracking of
the solid rivets. This condition, if not
addressed, could result in undetected
damaged or missing rivet heads on the
sloping pressure deck web, which could
result in loss of sloping pressure deck
panels, causing decompression and
pressure loss, and loss of the hydraulic
systems in the area for wheel brakes
(both normal and alternate) and
steering, and potentially leading to
runway departure and adversely
affecting the structural integrity of the
airplane.
FAA’s Determination
The FAA is issuing this NPRM after
determining that the unsafe condition
described previously is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same
type design.
Related Service Information Under 1
CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert
Requirements Bulletin 777–53A0093
RB, dated November 24, 2020. This
service information specifies procedures
for doing a detailed inspection of the
left and right side sloping pressure deck
from station (STA) 1245 to STA 1287 for
any damaged (i.e. missing solid rivet
heads, cracking or deformation of the
solid rivet, or gaps between the solid
rivet head and the sloping pressure deck
surface) solid rivets, and applicable oncondition actions. On-condition actions
include repeating the detailed
inspection of the left and right side
sloping pressure deck from STA 1245 to
STA 1287 for any damaged solid rivet;
repetitive detailed inspections of two
rows of blind fasteners and solid rivets
common to the affected stiffener for any
damaged solid rivet or damaged blind
fastener; replacing solid rivets or blind
fasteners; and repair.
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.
Proposed AD Requirements in This
NPRM
This proposed AD would require
accomplishing the actions specified in
the service information already
described, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the
regulatory text of this proposed AD. For
information on the procedures and
compliance times, see this service
information at https://
www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA–2021–
0263.
Explanation of Requirements Bulletin
The FAA worked in conjunction with
industry, under the Airworthiness
Directive Implementation Aviation
Rulemaking Committee (AD ARC), to
enhance the AD system. One
enhancement is a process for annotating
which steps in the service information
are ‘‘required for compliance’’ (RC) with
an AD. Boeing has implemented this RC
concept into Boeing service bulletins.
In an effort to further improve the
quality of ADs and AD-related Boeing
service information, a joint process
improvement initiative was worked
between the FAA and Boeing. The
initiative resulted in the development of
a new process in which the service
information more clearly identifies the
actions needed to address the unsafe
condition in the ‘‘Accomplishment
Instructions.’’ The new process results
in a Boeing Requirements Bulletin,
which contains only the actions needed
to address the unsafe condition (i.e.,
only the RC actions).
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if
adopted as proposed, would affect 224
airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA
estimates the following costs to comply
with this proposed AD:
ESTIMATED COSTS
Action
Labor cost
Detailed inspections ......
Up to 384 work-hours × $85 per hour = Up to
$32,640.
The FAA estimates the following
costs to do any necessary replacements
or inspections that would be required
Parts cost
Cost per product
$0
based on the results of the proposed
inspection. The agency has no way of
determining the number of aircraft that
Cost on U.S. operators
Up to $32,640 ..............
Up to $7,311,360.
might need these replacements or
inspections:
ON-CONDITION COSTS
Action
Labor cost
Parts cost
Replacement (solid fastener)
Replacement (blind fastener).
Repetitive inspections of
fastener rows.
338 work-hours × $85 per hour = $28,730 ...................
328 work-hour × $85 per hour = $27,880 .....................
Up to $3,200 ......................
Up to $450 .........................
Up to $31,930.
Up to $28,330.
326 work-hours × $85 per hour = $27,710 per inspection cycle.
$0 per inspection cycle .....
$27,710 per inspection
cycle.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:14 Apr 08, 2021
Jkt 253001
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
E:\FR\FM\09APP1.SGM
09APP1
Cost per product
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 67 / Friday, April 9, 2021 / Proposed Rules
The FAA has received no definitive
data on which to base the cost estimates
for the on-condition repairs specified in
this proposed AD.
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
The FAA determined that this
proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order
13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation:
(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ under Executive Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate
aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority
delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part
39 as follows:
PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS
DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39
continues to read as follows:
■
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:14 Apr 08, 2021
Jkt 253001
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
§ 39.13
[Amended]
2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding
the following new airworthiness
directive:
■
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA–
2021–0263; Project Identifier AD–2020–
01702–T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this
airworthiness directive (AD) by May 24,
2021.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all The Boeing
Company Model 777–200, –200LR, –300,
–300ER, and 777F airplanes, certificated in
any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of
America Code 53, Fuselage.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report that an
operator found solid rivets with missing
heads at the left buttock line 25 on the
sloping pressure deck web. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address damaged or
missing solid rivet heads on the sloping
pressure deck web, which could result in loss
of sloping pressure deck panels, causing
decompression and pressure loss, and loss of
the hydraulic systems in the area for wheel
brakes (both normal and alternate) and
steering, and potentially leading to runway
departure and adversely affecting the
structural integrity of the airplane.
(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 Alert
Requirements Bulletin 777–53A0093 RB,
dated November 24, 2020, do all applicable
actions identified in, and in accordance with,
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin 777–53A0093
RB, dated November 24, 2020.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for
accomplishing the actions required by this
AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 777–53A0093, dated November 24,
2020, which is referred to in Boeing Alert
Requirements Bulletin 777–53A0093 RB,
dated November 24, 2020.
(h) Exceptions to Service Information
Specifications
(1) Where Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin 777–53A0093 RB, dated November
24, 2020, uses the phrase ‘‘the original issue
date of 777–53A0093 RB’’ or ‘‘the original
issue date of Requirements Bulletin 777–
53A0093 RB,’’ this AD requires using ‘‘the
effective date of this AD,’’ except where Alert
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
18481
Requirements Bulletin 777–53A0093 RB,
dated November 24, 2020, uses the phrase
‘‘the original issue date of Requirements
Bulletin 777–53A0093 RB’’ in a note or flag
note.
(2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin 777–53A0093 RB, dated November
24, 2020, specifies contacting Boeing for
repair instructions: This AD requires doing
the repair using a method approved in
accordance with the procedures specified in
paragraph (i) 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 Related Information.
Information may be emailed to: 9-ANMSeattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.
(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 Luis Cortez, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch,
2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA
98198; phone and fax: (206) 231–3958; email:
Luis.A.Cortez-Muniz@faa.gov.
(2) 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. You may view this
referenced 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.
Issued on March 30, 2021.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives,
Compliance & Airworthiness Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–07328 Filed 4–8–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
E:\FR\FM\09APP1.SGM
09APP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 67 (Friday, April 9, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18479-18481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07328]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0263; Project Identifier AD-2020-01702-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD was
prompted by a report that an operator found solid rivets with missing
heads at the left buttock line 25 on the sloping pressure deck web.
This proposed AD would require doing a detailed inspection of the left
and right side sloping pressure deck at certain stations for any
damaged solid rivets, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 24,
2021.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, 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 referenced 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 on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0263.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0263; 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 NPRM, any comments
received, and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luis Cortez, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: (206) 231-3958; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0263; Project Identifier
AD-2020-01702-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI
[[Page 18480]]
should be sent to Luis Cortez, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section,
FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198;
phone and fax: (206) 231-3958; email: [email protected]. Any
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA has received a report indicating that an operator found
solid rivets with missing heads at the left buttock line 25 on the
sloping pressure deck web. The Model 777-300 airplane had 23 solid
rivet locations with missing manufactured heads; the airplane had
accumulated 21,343 total flight cycles and 53,979 total flight hours at
time of discovery. A fleet-wide multiple operator message (MOM) request
found four more Model 777-300 airplanes and one retired Model 777-200
airplane with missing solid rivet heads. Boeing analysis showed the
root cause to be the 7050 aluminum solid rivets used on the sloping
pressure deck web, which were inadequate for the complex tension
loading environment, and led to premature fatigue cracking of the solid
rivets. This condition, if not addressed, could result in undetected
damaged or missing rivet heads on the sloping pressure deck web, which
could result in loss of sloping pressure deck panels, causing
decompression and pressure loss, and loss of the hydraulic systems in
the area for wheel brakes (both normal and alternate) and steering, and
potentially leading to runway departure and adversely affecting the
structural integrity of the airplane.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-53A0093 RB,
dated November 24, 2020. This service information specifies procedures
for doing a detailed inspection of the left and right side sloping
pressure deck from station (STA) 1245 to STA 1287 for any damaged (i.e.
missing solid rivet heads, cracking or deformation of the solid rivet,
or gaps between the solid rivet head and the sloping pressure deck
surface) solid rivets, and applicable on-condition actions. On-
condition actions include repeating the detailed inspection of the left
and right side sloping pressure deck from STA 1245 to STA 1287 for any
damaged solid rivet; repetitive detailed inspections of two rows of
blind fasteners and solid rivets common to the affected stiffener for
any damaged solid rivet or damaged blind fastener; replacing solid
rivets or blind fasteners; and repair.
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.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information already described, except for any
differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this
proposed AD. For information on the procedures and compliance times,
see this service information at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0263.
Explanation of Requirements Bulletin
The FAA worked in conjunction with industry, under the
Airworthiness Directive Implementation Aviation Rulemaking Committee
(AD ARC), to enhance the AD system. One enhancement is a process for
annotating which steps in the service information are ``required for
compliance'' (RC) with an AD. Boeing has implemented this RC concept
into Boeing service bulletins.
In an effort to further improve the quality of ADs and AD-related
Boeing service information, a joint process improvement initiative was
worked between the FAA and Boeing. The initiative resulted in the
development of a new process in which the service information more
clearly identifies the actions needed to address the unsafe condition
in the ``Accomplishment Instructions.'' The new process results in a
Boeing Requirements Bulletin, which contains only the actions needed to
address the unsafe condition (i.e., only the RC actions).
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 224 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Detailed inspections........... Up to 384 work-hours x $0 Up to $32,640..... Up to $7,311,360.
$85 per hour = Up to
$32,640.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacements or inspections that would be required based on the results
of the proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the
number of aircraft that might need these replacements or inspections:
On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement (solid fastener)....... 338 work-hours x $85 per Up to $3,200.......... Up to $31,930.
hour = $28,730.
Replacement (blind fastener)....... 328 work-hour x $85 per Up to $450............ Up to $28,330.
hour = $27,880.
Repetitive inspections of fastener 326 work-hours x $85 per $0 per inspection $27,710 per inspection
rows. hour = $27,710 per cycle. cycle.
inspection cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 18481]]
The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost
estimates for the on-condition repairs specified in this proposed AD.
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
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2021-0263; Project Identifier AD-
2020-01702-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by May 24, 2021.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR,
-300, -300ER, and 777F airplanes, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report that an operator found solid
rivets with missing heads at the left buttock line 25 on the sloping
pressure deck web. The FAA is issuing this AD to address damaged or
missing solid rivet heads on the sloping pressure deck web, which
could result in loss of sloping pressure deck panels, causing
decompression and pressure loss, and loss of the hydraulic systems
in the area for wheel brakes (both normal and alternate) and
steering, and potentially leading to runway departure and adversely
affecting the structural integrity of the airplane.
(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
Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-53A0093 RB, dated November 24, 2020,
do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin
777-53A0093 RB, dated November 24, 2020.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
777-53A0093, dated November 24, 2020, which is referred to in Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-53A0093 RB, dated November 24, 2020.
(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications
(1) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-53A0093 RB,
dated November 24, 2020, uses the phrase ``the original issue date
of 777-53A0093 RB'' or ``the original issue date of Requirements
Bulletin 777-53A0093 RB,'' this AD requires using ``the effective
date of this AD,'' except where Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-
53A0093 RB, dated November 24, 2020, uses the phrase ``the original
issue date of Requirements Bulletin 777-53A0093 RB'' in a note or
flag note.
(2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-53A0093 RB,
dated November 24, 2020, specifies contacting Boeing for repair
instructions: This AD requires doing the repair using a method
approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph
(i) 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 Related Information. 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 Luis Cortez,
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: (206) 231-
3958; email: [email protected].
(2) 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. You may view this referenced 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.
Issued on March 30, 2021.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-07328 Filed 4-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
