Proposed Rule2023-06042
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 27, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) that found the force limiter assemblies for the lateral control mechanism are not breaking out within the maximum design force requirements. This proposed AD would require inspecting or doing a records review to determine if a certain part number force limiter assembly is installed, and replacing affected force limiter assemblies with serviceable force limiter assemblies. The AD would also prohibit the installation of affected parts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 58 (Monday, March 27, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18099-18101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06042]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-0429; Project Identifier AD-2022-00775-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 all The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD was
prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) that
found the force limiter assemblies for the lateral control mechanism
are not breaking out within the maximum design force requirements. This
proposed AD would require inspecting or doing a records review to
determine if a certain part number force limiter assembly is installed,
and replacing affected force limiter assemblies with serviceable force
limiter assemblies. The AD would also prohibit the installation of
affected parts. 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 11,
2023.
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="http://regulations.gov">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.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2023-0429; 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For The Boeing Company 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; website
<a href="http://myboeingfleet.com">myboeingfleet.com</a>.
<bullet> You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2023-0429.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Y. Tsuji, Senior Aerospace
Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206 231 3548; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#21654e54464d40520f7552544b48614740400f464e57"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="02466d77656e63712c567177686b426463632c656d74">[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-2023-0429; Project Identifier
AD-2022-00775-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="http://regulations.gov">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 Douglas
Y. Tsuji, Senior Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section,
FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198;
phone: 206-231-3548; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7c3813091b101d0f52280f0916153c1a1d1d521b130a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0c4863796b606d7f22587f7966654c6a6d6d226b637a">[email protected]</span></a>. Any commentary that
the FAA receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will be
placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA has received a report from Boeing that it found an issue in
production with the force limiter assemblies for the lateral control
mechanism on the Model 777 airplanes not breaking out within the
maximum design force requirements. The force limiter assemblies have a
pre-loaded spring that lets them compress or extend when higher than
normal forces are applied to a control wheel. During normal flight
conditions, the force limiter assemblies are set in their neutral
position and supply the load path for roll control. If there is a jam
of a control wheel, the breakout mechanism from the force limiter
assemblies lets the other control wheel operate and continue roll
control. When a jam/restriction occurs on one side of the lateral
controls, the pilot may not be able to override the jam preventing
lateral control from the wheel. An investigation by Boeing found that
too much BMS3-23 Corrosion Inhibiting Compound (CIC) was used during
the assembly of the force limiter which resulted in an increase in
their breakout forces. This condition, if not addressed, could result
in the loss of lateral control from the wheel and potentially affect
continued safe flight 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 777-27A0124 RB,
dated October 27, 2021. This service information specifies procedures
for replacing the lower and upper force limiter assemblies, part number
(P/N) 253W1263-1, with force limiter assemblies, P/N 253W1263-3.
This service information is reasonably available because the
interested parties
[[Page 18100]]
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 inspecting or doing a records review
to determine if a certain part number force limiter assembly is
installed, and as applicable, accomplishing the actions specified in
the service information already described, except as discussed under
``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Service Information''
and except for any differences identified as exceptions in the
regulatory text of this proposed AD. This proposed AD would also
prohibit the installation of affected parts. For information on the
procedures and compliance times, see this service information at
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2023-0429.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information
The effectivity of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-27A0124
RB, dated October 27, 2021, is limited to Model 777-200LR, -300ER, and
777F series airplanes, line numbers 1531 through 1707 inclusive.
However, the applicability of this proposed AD includes all Boeing
Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes. Because
the affected parts are rotable parts, the FAA has determined that these
parts could later be installed on airplanes that were initially
delivered with acceptable parts, thereby subjecting those airplanes to
the unsafe condition. The FAA has confirmed with Boeing that the
Accomplishment Instructions in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-
27A0124 RB, dated October 27, 2021, are applicable to the expanded
group of airplanes.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 353 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Inspection or records review........ 1 work-hour x $85 per $0 $85 $30,005
hour = $85.
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On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
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Replacement.................................. 7 work-hours x $85 per hour = $8,960 $9,555
$595.
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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.
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-2023-0429; Project Identifier AD-
2022-00775-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by May 11, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR,
-300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight
Controls.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval
holder that the force limiter assemblies for the lateral control
mechanism are not breaking out within the
[[Page 18101]]
maximum design force requirements. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address the force limiter assemblies not breaking out within the
maximum design force requirements. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could result in the loss of lateral control from the
wheel and potentially affect continued safe flight and landing.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
(1) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD,
inspect the force limiter assembly to determine whether part number
(P/N) 253W1263-1 is installed. A review of airplane maintenance
records is acceptable in lieu of this inspection if the part number
of the force limiter assembly can be conclusively determined from
that review.
(2) If, during an inspection or records review required by
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, any force limiter assembly, part number
(P/N) 253W1263-1, is found, at the applicable times specified in the
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-
27A0124 RB, dated October 27, 2021, except as specified by paragraph
(h) of this AD, do all applicable actions identified in, and in
accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert
Requirements Bulletin 777-27A0124 RB, dated October 27, 2021.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
777-27A0124 RB, dated October 27, 2021, which is referred to in
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-27A0124 RB, dated October 27,
2021.
(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications
Where the Compliance Time columns of the tables in the
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-
27A0124 RB, dated October 27, 2021, use the phrase ``the original
issue date of Requirements Bulletin 777-27A0124 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
force limiter assembly, P/N 253W1263-1, on any airplane.
(j) 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 (k) of this AD. Information may be emailed
to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2a13076b646707794f4b5e5e464f076b6965076b67656907784f5b5f4f595e596a4c4b4b044d455c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="447d69050a0969172125303028216905070b6905090b07691621353121373037042225256a232b32">[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.
(k) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Douglas Y. Tsuji,
Senior Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA,
Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198;
phone: 206 231 3548; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#befad1cbd9d2dfcd90eacdcbd4d7fed8dfdf90d9d1c8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="56123923313a3725780225233c3f1630373778313920">[email protected]</span></a>.
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-27A0124 RB, dated
October 27, 2021.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services
(C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-
5600; telephone 562-797-1717; website <a href="http://myboeingfleet.com">myboeingfleet.com</a>.
(4) You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability
of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4224306c2b2c31322721362b2d2c022c2330236c252d34"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="076175296e6974776264736e6869476966756629606871">[email protected]</span></a>, or go to: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html</a>.
Issued on March 5, 2023.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06042 Filed 3-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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