Proposed Rule2024-30918
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Primary source
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Published
December 27, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report indicating that an airplane experienced a glideslope (G/S) beam anomaly during an instrument landing system (ILS) approach, which resulted in a higher-than-expected descent rate during the final segment of an ILS approach. The flightcrew might follow misleading flight director (F/D) guidance after disconnecting the autopilot, without reference to the other available information and flight deck indications. This proposed AD would require installing new autopilot flight director computer (AFDC) operational program software (OPS) and doing a software configuration check. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 248 (Friday, December 27, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 248 (Friday, December 27, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 105485-105487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30918]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2713; Project Identifier AD-2024-00328-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 777-200, -200LR, -300, -300ER, and
777F series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report
indicating that an airplane experienced a glideslope (G/S) beam anomaly
during an instrument landing system (ILS) approach, which resulted in a
higher-than-expected descent rate during the final segment of an ILS
approach. The flightcrew might follow misleading flight director (F/D)
guidance after disconnecting the autopilot, without reference to the
other available information and flight deck indications. This proposed
AD would require installing new autopilot flight director computer
(AFDC) operational program software (OPS) and doing a software
configuration check. 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 February
25, 2025.
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-2024-2713; 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 Boeing material identified in this proposed 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>.
<bullet> You may view this material 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-2024-2713.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Closson, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3973; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#410c28222920242d6f116f022d2e32322e2f012720206f262e37"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f7ba9e949f96929bd9a7d9b49b9884849899b7919696d9909881">[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 the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-2713;
Project Identifier AD-2024-00328-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
[[Page 105486]]
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
Michael Closson, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St.,
Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3973; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#337e5a505b52565f1d631d705f5c40405c5d735552521d545c45"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f9b4909a91989c95d7a9d7ba95968a8a9697b99f9898d79e968f">[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 indicating that a Model 787-8
airplane captured an anomalous G/S beam during an ILS approach, which
resulted in a higher-than-expected descent rate during the final
segment of an ILS approach due to persistent inertial coasting, which
can result in misleading flight director guidance. When the autopilot
was disconnected, the F/D continued to command a flight path away from
the G/S without warning, which the flightcrew appeared to follow. Both
GLIDESLOPE and TOO LOW TERRAIN alerts annunciated while the airplane
continued to descend. Ultimately, the flightcrew was able to recover
the airplane and conducted a Go-Around procedure. No injuries to
passengers or crew, or damage to the airframe, was reported.
It has been determined that Model 777 airplanes can experience the
same anomaly. G/S beam anomalies that occur in a discrete G/S capture
window can result in reversion to inertial paths in which the auto-
flight vertical guidance diverges from the G/S beam at higher-than-
expected descent rates. The flightcrew may follow the misleading F/D
guidance after disconnecting the A/P, without reference to the other
available information and flight deck indications. This condition, if
not addressed, could result in a late touchdown, a runway excursion, or
controlled flight into terrain.
Related Rulemaking
The FAA may consider issuing additional rulemaking to address the
identified unsafe condition on additional Boeing airplane models with
the same G/S issue.
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.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-22A0046 RB,
dated October 25, 2022. This material specifies procedures for
installing new AFDC OPS, doing a software configuration check, and
making sure that the correct software part number is installed in the
correct location. This material is reasonably available because the
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the material 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
material at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2024-2713.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 266 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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Software installation and configuration 2 work-hours x $85 per $13 $183 $48,678
check. hour = $170.
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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.
[[Page 105487]]
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-2024-2713; Project Identifier AD-
2024-00328-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by February 10, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -
300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes, certificated in any
category, as identified in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-
22A0046 RB, dated October 25, 2022.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 22, Auto flight.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report indicating that an airplane
experienced a glideslope (G/S) beam anomaly during an instrument
landing system (ILS) approach, which resulted in a higher-than-
expected descent rate during the final segment of an ILS approach.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address misleading flight director
guidance that the flightcrew might follow after disconnecting the
autopilot, without reference to the other available information and
flight deck indications. The unsafe condition, if not addressed,
could result in a late touchdown, a runway excursion, or controlled
flight into terrain.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: At the
applicable times specified in paragraph 3., ``Compliance,'' of
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-22A0046 RB, dated October 25,
2022, do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance
with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin 777-22A0046 RB, dated October 25, 2022.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
777-22A0046, dated October 25, 2022, which is referred to in Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-22A0046 RB, dated October 25, 2022.
(h) Exception to Service Information Specifications
Where the Compliance Time column of the table in the
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-
22A0046 RB, dated October 25, 2022, refers to ``the Original Issue
date of Requirements Bulletin 777-22A0046 RB,'' this AD requires
using the effective date of this AD.
(i) 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
(j)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#31707c7e72715750501f565e47"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="26676b69656640474708414950">[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.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Michael Closson,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA
98198; phone: 206-231-3973; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eaa78389828b8f86c4bac4a9868599998584aa8c8b8bc48d859c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="206d49434841454c0e700e634c4f53534f4e604641410e474f56">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Material identified in this AD that is not incorporated by
reference is available at the address specified in paragraph (k)(3)
of this AD.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 777-22A0046 RB, dated
October 25, 2022.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For Boeing material 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 material 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#f89e8ad691968b889d9b8c919796b896998a99d69f978e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5f392d7136312c2f3a3c2b3630311f313e2d3e71383029">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on December 19, 2024.
Suzanne Masterson,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-30918 Filed 12-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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