Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes, 49509-49514 [2022-16607]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 154 (Thursday, August 11, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49509-49514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16607]



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Rules and Regulations
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 154 / Thursday, August 11, 2022 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 49509]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-1005; Project Identifier AD-2021-00842-T; 
Amendment 39-22127; AD 2022-15-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400 series airplanes. This AD was 
prompted by a report that after a certain circuit breaker tripped, 
power to the two pitot-static (P/S) probe heaters on the right-hand 
side was lost, and the flightcrew discovered conflicting procedures in 
the flightcrew operations manual/quick reference handbook (FCOM/QRH). 
This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to 
incorporate procedures to be applied during P/S probe heater failure 
conditions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 15, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-1005; 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: Huey Ton, Aerospace Engineer, Systems 
and Equipment Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount 
Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5320; 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 series airplanes. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on December 28, 2021 (86 FR 73694). The NPRM was 
prompted by a report that after a certain circuit breaker tripped, 
power to the two P/S probe heaters on the right-hand side was lost, and 
the flightcrew discovered conflicting procedures in the FCOM/QRH. In 
the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the existing AFM to 
incorporate procedures to be applied during P/S probe heater failure 
conditions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the conflicting 
procedures, which could result in the transmission of potentially 
inaccurate pitot static pressure data to the air data computer (ADC), 
resulting in erroneous or misleading air data being displayed, which, 
in combination with a stall, overspeed, overrun, or short/hard landing 
condition, could result in reduced ability of the flightcrew to 
maintain continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received a comment from the Air Line Pilots Association, 
International (ALPA) who supported the NPRM without change.
    The FAA received additional comments from a commenter, Cathay 
Pacific Airways Ltd. (Cathay Pacific). The following presents the 
comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment.

Request To Clarify Requirements of Paragraph (g) of the Proposed AD

    Cathay Pacific requested that the FAA clarify the requirements of 
paragraph (g) of the proposed AD to allow removing a copy of the AD 
from the AFM. Cathay Pacific commented that inserting a copy of the AD 
into the AFM is not a routine procedure, and that it also appears that 
once the AFM is revised to include the information provided in the AD, 
there is no provision within paragraph (g) of the proposed AD to remove 
the copy of the AD from the AFM. Cathay Pacific suggested revising the 
proposed AD to add a provision to permit the AD copy to be removed from 
the AFM.
    The FAA agrees to clarify the requirements but disagrees with the 
suggestion to revise this AD. Paragraph (g) of this AD requires 
revising the AFM to include the changes specified in paragraphs (g)(1) 
through (4) of this AD, and allows for inserting a copy of the AD as 
one means of complying with the requirement to revise the AFM. 
Inserting a copy of the AD is an option that has been allowed in other 
ADs. There is no need to specify removing the copy of the AD when an 
operator subsequently uses another method to comply with the AD. After 
an operator uses another method to revise the AFM to include the 
changes to the AFM text specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (4) of 
this AD, an operator may remove the copy of the AD. The FAA has not 
changed the AD in this regard.

Request To Clarify Method for Complying With Requirements of Paragraph 
(g) of the Proposed AD

    Cathay Pacific requested that the FAA clarify if a temporary 
revision to the AFM is acceptable to comply with paragraph (g) of the 
proposed AD. Cathay Pacific remarked that the manufacturer might issue 
a temporary revision to the AFM which includes the information and 
asked if using a temporary revision would be considered a means of 
compliance with paragraph (g) of the proposed AD. Cathay Pacific 
further asked that if a temporary revision is an acceptable means of 
compliance, could the FAA revise paragraph (g) of the proposed AD to 
also specify temporary revisions as a means of compliance.
    The FAA agrees to clarify but does not agree to revise the AD. A 
temporary revision to the AFM, provided it has the specified changes 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD, is a means of revising the AFM. 
The language in paragraph (g) of this AD is designed to allow revising 
the AFM to incorporate the required

[[Page 49510]]

changes through various methods, so long as the language in the revised 
AFM is identical to the changes specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through 
(4) of this AD. The FAA has not changed the 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 NPRM. None 
of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 114 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFM Revision......................  1 work-hour x $85 per  None.................             $85          $9,690
                                     hour = $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:

2022-15-07 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-22127; Docket No. FAA-
2021-1005; Project Identifier AD-2021-00842-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 15, 
2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400 series 
airplanes, certificated in any category, having a three air data 
computer (ADC) configuration, except for airplanes on which the 
Production Revision Record (PRR) 85655 has been incorporated.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 34, Navigation.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that after a certain circuit 
breaker tripped, power to the two pitot-static (P/S) probe heaters 
on the right-hand side was lost, and the flightcrew discovered 
conflicting procedures in the flightcrew operations manual/quick 
reference handbook (FCOM/QRH). The FAA is issuing this AD to address 
the conflicting procedures, which could result in the transmission 
of potentially inaccurate pitot static pressure data to the ADC, 
resulting in erroneous or misleading air data being displayed, 
which, in combination with a stall, overspeed, overrun, or short/
hard landing condition, could result in reduced ability of the 
flightcrew to maintain continued safe flight and landing of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revisions

    Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
Non-Normal Procedures Section of the existing AFM to include the 
changes specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (4) of this AD. 
Revising the existing AFM to include the changes specified in 
paragraphs (g)(1) through (4) of this AD, may be done by inserting a 
copy of figure 1 to paragraph (g)(1) through figure 4 to paragraph 
(g)(4) of this AD into the existing AFM.
    (1) In Section 2, Non-Normal Procedures, add the ``HEAT P/S 
CAPT'' paragraph to include the information in figure 1 to paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD.
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[[Page 49511]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11AU22.006


[[Page 49512]]


    (2) In Section 2, Non-Normal Procedures, add the ``HEAT P/S F/
O'' paragraph to include the information in figure 2 to paragraph 
(g)(2) of this AD.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11AU22.007


[[Page 49513]]


    (3) In Section 2, Non-Normal Procedures, add the ``HEAT P/S L 
AUX'' paragraph to include the information in figure 3 to paragraph 
(g)(3) of this AD.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11AU22.008


[[Page 49514]]


    (4) In Section 2, Non-Normal Procedures, add the ``HEAT P/S R 
AUX'' paragraph to include the information in figure 4 to paragraph 
(g)(4) of this AD.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11AU22.009

(h) 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 (i)(2) 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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Huey Ton, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Los Angeles 
ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; 
phone: 562-627-5320; email: [email protected].
    (2) For information about AMOCs, contact Frank Carreras, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Seattle ACO 
Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 
206-231-3539; email: [email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on July 15, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-16607 Filed 8-10-22; 8:45 am]
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