Proposed Rule2021-13932
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Primary source
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Published
June 30, 2021
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that during a fleet sampling inspection, cracks were found on the inner cylinder pivot pins of the left and right main landing gear (MLG) on one of the airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive lubrications of the left and right MLG truck beam and inner cylinder pivot joint, reviewing the maintenance program documentation to verify certain lubrication tasks are incorporated, doing repetitive inspections of the MLG inner cylinder pivot pins and inner cylinder bushings of the MLG truck beam and inner cylinder joint for any friction, heat damage, excessive wear, cracking and smearing of bushing material, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 123 (Wednesday, June 30, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 30, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34656-34660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13932]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0457; Project Identifier AD-2020-01461-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that during a
fleet sampling inspection, cracks were found on the inner cylinder
pivot pins of the left and right main landing gear (MLG) on one of the
airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive lubrications of
the left and right MLG truck beam and inner cylinder pivot joint,
reviewing the maintenance program documentation to verify certain
lubrication tasks are incorporated, doing repetitive inspections of the
MLG inner cylinder pivot pins and inner cylinder bushings of the MLG
truck beam and inner cylinder joint for any friction, heat damage,
excessive wear, cracking and smearing of bushing material, 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 August 16,
2021.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> 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 <a href="https://www.myboeingfleet.com">https://www.myboeingfleet.com</a>. 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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0457.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0457; 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: Allen Rauschendorfer, Senior Aerospace
Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th
St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and
[[Page 34657]]
fax: 206-231-3528; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2e4f42424b40005c4f5b5d4d464b404a415c484b5c6e484f4f00494158"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="89e8e5e5ece7a7fbe8fcfaeae1ece7ede6fbefecfbc9efe8e8a7eee6ff">[email protected]</span></a>.
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-2021-0457; Project Identifier
AD-2020-01461-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
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, 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 should be sent to Allen
Rauschendorfer, Senior Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA,
Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone
and fax: 206-231-3528; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0d6c61616863237f6c787e6e65686369627f6b687f4d6b6c6c236a627b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f1909d9d949fdf839084829299949f959e83979483b1979090df969e87">[email protected]</span></a>. 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 during a fleet
sampling inspection, cracks were found on the inner cylinder pivot pins
of the left and right MLG on one of the airplanes. The pins exhibited
cracking of the high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) tungsten carbide-
cobalt-chrome coating. Removal of the outer diameter coating disclosed
cracking of the custom 465 CRES substrate. The cause of the cracking
was determined to be heat damage due to in-service friction. This
condition, if not addressed, could result in a fractured pivot pin,
which could lead to loss of all or part of the pivot pin assembly, and
subsequent collapse of the MLG and reduced controllability of the
airplane during takeoff and landing.
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 B787-81205-
SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 9, 2020. This service
information specifies procedures for repetitive lubrication of the left
and right MLG truck beam and inner cylinder pivot joint with MIL-PRF-
32014 grease, reviewing the maintenance program documentation to verify
that it includes lubrication tasks for the left and right MLG truck
beam and inner cylinder pivot joint with MIL-PRF-32014 grease,
repetitive detailed and fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPI) of the
left and right MLG pivot pin outer diameter (OD) surface for any
friction and heat damage, repetitive detailed inspections of the left
and right MLG inner cylinder bushing inner diameter (ID) surface for
any excessive wear, cracking and smearing of bushing material, and
applicable on-condition actions.
On-condition actions include updating the maintenance program to
incorporate lubrication tasks for the left and right MLG truck beam and
inner cylinder pivot joint with MIL-PRF-32014 grease, detailed and FPI
inspections on the inner cylinder lug bore for any heat and friction
damage, installing a new pivot pin, applying lubrication using MIL-PRF-
32014 grease and making sure lubrication passages are clear, installing
new aluminum-nickel-bronze inner cylinder bushings, installing new
copper-nickel-tin inner cylinder bushings, and repair.
The service information also specifies terminating actions for the
repetitive inspections. The terminating actions include the
installation of certain parts and incorporation of the lubrications
tasks into the maintenance program.
The FAA also reviewed Boeing 787 Certification Maintenance
Requirements (CMRs), D011Z009-03-03, dated June 2020. This service
information specifies procedures for, among other actions, for CMR item
number 32-CMR-01, to lubricate the main landing gear truck beam pivot
joint.
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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0457.
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue
001, dated November 9, 2020, specifies updating the maintenance program
to incorporate lubrication tasks for the left and right MLG truck beam
and inner cylinder pivot joint with MIL-PRF-32014 grease. Operators
have different methods of updating the maintenance program. If
operators want to terminate the repetitive lubrications required by
paragraph (g) of this AD, only revising the maintenance or inspection
program, as applicable, to incorporate CMR item number 32-CMR-01 of
Section G, ``Certification Maintenance Requirement Task,'' of Boeing
787 Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs), D011Z009-03-03,
dated June 2020, is terminating action.
This proposed AD includes an optional action that would include
revisions to certain operator maintenance documents to include new
actions (e.g., inspections). Compliance with these actions is required
by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have been previously modified,
altered, or repaired in the areas addressed by this proposed AD, the
operator may not be able to accomplish the actions described in the
revisions. In this situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the
operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance
according to paragraph (l) of this proposed AD.
[[Page 34658]]
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 131 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
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Repetitive lubrications.......... 1 work-hour x $85 $0 $85 per lubrication $11,135 per
per hour = $85 per cycle. lubrication cycle.
lubrication cycle.
Verification of lubrication tasks 1 work-hour x $85 0 $85................ $11,135.
per hour = $85.
Repetitive inspections........... 40 work-hours x $85 0 $3,400 per $445,400 per
per hour = $3,400 inspection cycle. inspection cycle.
per inspection
cycle.
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition actions 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 on-condition actions:
On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation of new pivot pin........... 8 work-hours x $85 per $97,517 per pivot pin $98,197
hour = $680. component assembly.
Installation of new bushings............ 1 work-hour x $85 per hour $5,968 per bushing........ 6,053
= $85.
Lubrication and making sure lubrication 1 work-hour x $85 per hour $0........................ 85
passages are clear. = $85.
Detailed and FPI inspections on the 2 work-hour x $85 per hour $0........................ 170
inner cylinder lug bore. = $170.
Update lubrication tasks (except for CMR 1 work-hour x $85 per hour $0........................ 85
item number 32-CMR-01 incorporation). = $85.
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The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost
estimates for the on-condition repairs specified in this proposed AD.
For the optional action to revise the maintenance or inspection
program by incorporating CMR item number 32-CMR-01, as applicable, the
FAA has determined that revising the existing maintenance or inspection
program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator, although the
agency recognizes that this number may vary from operator to operator.
In the past, the FAA has estimated that this action takes 1 work-hour
per airplane. Since operators incorporate maintenance or inspection
program changes for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has determined
that a per-operator estimate is more accurate than a per-airplane
estimate. Therefore, the FAA estimates the average total cost per
operator to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-hour).
The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of
this proposed 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
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.
[[Page 34659]]
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-2021-0457; Project Identifier AD-
2020-01461-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by August 16, 2021.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and
787-10 airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue
001, dated November 9, 2020.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Main landing
gear.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report that during a fleet sampling
inspection, cracks were found on the inner cylinder pivot pins of
the left and right main landing gear (MLG) on one of the airplanes.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address any heat damage and cracking
to the MLG inner cylinder pivot pin, which could result in a
fractured pivot pin and lead to loss of all or part of the pivot pin
assembly, and subsequent collapse of the MLG and reduced
controllability of the airplane during takeoff and landing.
(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 B787-81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001,
dated November 9, 2020, do all applicable actions identified in, and
in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert
Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated
November 9, 2020. Actions identified as terminating action in Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001,
dated November 9, 2020, terminate the applicable required actions of
this AD, provided the terminating action is done in accordance with
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 9,
2020.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
B787-81205-SB320045-00, Issue 001, dated November 9, 2020, which is
referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 9, 2020.
(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications
(1) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 9, 2020, uses the phrase
``the Issue 001 date of Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00
RB,'' this AD requires using ``the effective date of this AD.''
(2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 9, 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 (l) of this AD.
(3) Where the action for ``CONDITION 2'' in Table 7 of the
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-
81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 9, 2020, specifies
``Do a detailed FPI inspection of the inner cylinder lug bore for
heat and friction damage,'' for this AD, the action is ``Do a
detailed and FPI inspection on the inner cylinder lug bore for heat
and friction damage.''
(i) Optional Terminating Action
Revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, to incorporate the information in CMR item number 32-
CMR-01 of Section G, ``Certification Maintenance Requirement Task,''
of Boeing 787 Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs),
D011Z009-03-03, dated June 2020, terminates the repetitive
lubrications required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
(j) No Alternative Actions and Intervals
After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been
revised as required by paragraph (i) of this AD, no alternative
actions (e.g., inspections) and intervals may be used unless the
actions and intervals are approved as an alternative method of
compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in
paragraph (l) of this AD.
(k) Parts Installation Prohibition
At the applicable time specified in paragraph (k)(1) or (2) of
this AD, do not install an aluminum-nickel-bronze inner cylinder
bushing on a MLG inner cylinder on any airplane.
(1) For airplanes with aluminum-nickel-bronze inner cylinder
bushings installed on a MLG inner cylinder as of the effective date
of this AD: After the bushing has been replaced with a copper-
nickel-tin inner cylinder bushing.
(2) For airplanes with copper-nickel-tin inner cylinder bushings
installed on a MLG inner cylinder as of the effective date of this
AD: As of the effective date of this AD.
(l) 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#635a4e222d2e4e30060217170f064e22202c4e222e2c204e3106121606101710230502024d040c15"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="291004686764047a4c485d5d454c04686a66046864666a047b4c585c4c5a5d5a694f4848074e465f">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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.
(m) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Allen
Rauschendorfer, Senior Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA,
Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198;
phone and fax: 206-231-3528; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f99895959c97d78b988c8a9a919c979d968b9f9c8bb99f9898d79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="01606d6d646f2f736074726269646f656e73676473416760602f666e77">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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 <a href="https://www.myboeingfleet.com">https://www.myboeingfleet.com</a>. 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.
[[Page 34660]]
Issued on June 6, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-13932 Filed 6-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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