Rule2023-28855
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
January 3, 2024
Effective
February 7, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a reported quality escapement where the seat track fitting nuts were under-torqued on some flight attendant seats in production. This AD requires re-torquing each free-standing attendant seat track fitting nut. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 2 (Wednesday, January 3, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 3, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 246-248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28855]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1648; Project Identifier AD-2022-01501-T;
Amendment 39-22637; AD 2023-25-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes.
This AD was prompted by a reported quality escapement where the seat
track fitting nuts were under-torqued on some flight attendant seats in
production. This AD requires re-torquing each free-standing attendant
seat track fitting nut. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective February 7, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 7,
2024.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1648; 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.
[[Page 247]]
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For service information identified in this final rule,
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> under Docket No. FAA-2023-1648.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tony Koung, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3985;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#faae959483d4b1958f949dba9c9b9bd49d958c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fca8939285d2b79389929bbc9a9d9dd29b938a">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. The NPRM published in
the Federal Register on August 22, 2023 (88 FR 57012). The NPRM was
prompted by a reported quality escapement where the seat track fitting
nuts were under-torqued on some flight attendant seats in production.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require re-torquing each free-standing
attendant seat track fitting nut. The FAA is issuing this AD to address
under-torqued seat track fitting nuts. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could result in the forward-facing flight attendant seats
breaking free in a high load event, causing injury to flight attendants
and blocking the exits during emergency egress.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received comments from Boeing and United Airlines who
supported the NPRM without change.
The FAA received additional comments from American Airlines (AAL).
The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's
response to each comment.
Request To Increase the Work Hours
AAL requested that the FAA increases the work-hour estimate
provided in the Costs of Compliance section of the proposed AD to 3
hours.
The FAA agrees with the commenter's request. The FAA has revised
the Costs of Compliance section of this AD accordingly.
Request To Extend the Compliance Time to One Year
AAL requested the compliance time for the actions (re-torquing each
free-standing attendant seat track fitting nut) be revised to one year
after the effective date of this AD. AAL noted that a one-year
compliance time would provide flexibility and allow the task to be
accomplished during the A-checks within the AAL maintenance program.
AAL also noted it has accomplished maintenance review board (MRB) task
25-146-00 on 85% of its affected airplanes with zero reports of
findings. AAL stated the MRB task specifies to verify the seat track
fittings are fully installed and cannot be moved manually and to
correctly torque the seat track fitting if it is not tight. However,
AAL acknowledged that MRB task 25-146-00 does not require a torque
check. AAL stated that a one-year compliance window is a reasonable
compliance time and will maintain the desired level of safety.
The FAA does not agree with the commenter's request to revise the
compliance time from six months to one year. The FAA does not base
compliance intervals on nonspecific intervals such as an A-check as
those intervals are operator specific. Further, MRB task 25-146-00 does
not check any torques of any of the fitting nuts that are identified in
Boeing Service Letter 787-SL-25-025, dated September 6, 2022, which is
the appropriate source of service information for accomplishing the re-
torquing of each free-standing attendant seat track fitting nut
required by this AD. The MRB task only checks for looseness of the
fitting, which means the seat jumped the tracks. For the MRB task, if
the seat did not move and the fitting was in the track, no actual
checking of the nut torque was accomplished; therefore, the seat track
fitting nut still needs to be re-torqued. The FAA has determined that
accomplishing the re-torquing of each free-standing attendant seat
track fitting nut within 6 months after the effective date of this AD
is necessary to address the identified unsafe condition. Therefore, the
FAA has not changed this AD in this regard.
Conclusion
The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as
proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, and
any other changes described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed
in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on
any operator.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Service Letter 787-SL-25-025, dated
September 6, 2022. This service information specifies procedures for
re-torquing each free-standing attendant seat track fitting nut to 140-
150 in-lbs. 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.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 134 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
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Re-Torque seat track fitting Up to 3 work-hours x $0 Up to $255........ Up to $34,170.
nuts. $85 per hour = Up to
$255.
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The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all the costs of this
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected operators.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue
[[Page 248]]
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:
2023-25-10 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-22637; Docket No. FAA-
2023-1648; Project Identifier AD-2022-01501-T.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 7, 2024.
(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 Service Letter 787-SL-25-025, dated September 6, 2022.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
furnishings.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a reported quality escapement where the
seat track fitting nuts were under-torqued on some flight attendant
seats in production. The FAA is issuing this AD to address under-
torqued seat track fitting nuts. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could result in the forward-facing flight attendant seats
breaking free in a high load event, causing injury to flight
attendants, and blocking the exits during emergency egress.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Re-torque Seat Track Fitting Nuts
Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, re-torque
each free-standing attendant seat track fitting nut in accordance
with Steps 2., 3., and 4. of ``Suggested Operator Action'' of Boeing
Service Letter 787-SL-25-025, dated September 6, 2022.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety Branch,
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or
responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the certification office,
send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)
of this AD. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c8f1e5898685e59bada9bcbca4ade5898b87e58985878be59aadb9bdadbbbcbb88aea9a9e6afa7be"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="81b8acc0cfccacd2e4e0f5f5ede4acc0c2ceacc0cccec2acd3e4f0f4e4f2f5f2c1e7e0e0afe6eef7">[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, AIR-520
Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, to make those findings. To
be approved, the repair method, modification deviation, or
alteration deviation must meet the certification basis of the
airplane, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD.
(i) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Tony Koung, Aviation
Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198;
phone: 206-231-3985; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#194d7677603752766c777e597f7878377e766f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a1f5cecfd88feaced4cfc6e1c7c0c08fc6ced7">[email protected]</span></a>.
(j) 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 Service Letter 787-SL-25-025, dated September 6,
2022.
(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 material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1472663a7d7a67647177607d7b7a547a7566753a737b62"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="264054084f4855564345524f4948664847544708414950">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on December 14, 2023.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-28855 Filed 1-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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