[Federal Register: December 17, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 241)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 71212-71214]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17de07-6]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-28854; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-109-AD;
Amendment 39-15307; AD 2007-26-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and
-300ER Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
[[Page 71213]]
Boeing Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. This
AD requires doing initial and repetitive inspections for cracking of
the elevator actuator fittings, and replacing any cracked fitting with
a new fitting. This AD results from a report that a cracked left
elevator actuator fitting was found on a Model 777 airplane. We are
issuing this AD to detect and correct a cracked actuator fitting, which
could detach from the elevator and lead to an unrestrained elevator and
an unacceptable flutter condition, which could result in loss of
airplane control.
DATES: This AD becomes effective January 22, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of January 22,
2008.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The address for the
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management
Facility, 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: Gary Oltman, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
917-6443; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to all Boeing Model 777-
200, -200LR, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. That NPRM was published
in the Federal Register on August 2, 2007 (72 FR 42326). That NPRM
proposed to require doing initial and repetitive inspections for
cracking of the elevator actuator fittings, and replacing any cracked
fitting with a new fitting.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.
Request To Revise Incorrect Wording
Two commenters, Boeing and Continental Airlines, request that we
revise an incorrect word in the NPRM. The commenters state that, under
the Relevant Service Information section of the NPRM, the third
bulleted item, which reads, in part, ``before the accumulation of
10,000 total flight cycles or within 12 months after the date on the
service bulletin, whichever occurs first,'' should actually read ``* *
* whichever occurs later.'' The commenters request that we make this
change so the NPRM will conform to the actual compliance time specified
by Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0015, dated April 19, 2007,
which is cited as the appropriate source of service information for
accomplishing the proposed requirements of the NPRM.
We partially agree with this request. We agree that the specified
word ``first'' should be ``later,'' to conform to the service bulletin.
However, the Relevant Service Information section of the NPRM is not
carried forward in the final rule; therefore, it is not necessary to
change the AD in this regard.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 619 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 138 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The required inspections take about 4 work hours per airplane, per
inspection cycle, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based
on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is
$44,160, or $320 per airplane, per inspection cycle.
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.
We are 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
We have determined that 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
2007-26-05 Boeing: Amendment 39-15307. Docket No. FAA-2007-28854;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-109-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective January 22, 2008.
[[Page 71214]]
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all Boeing Model 777-200, -200LR, -300,
and -300ER series airplanes, certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report that a cracked left elevator
actuator fitting was found on a Model 777 airplane. We are issuing
this AD to detect and correct a cracked actuator fitting, which
could detach from the elevator and lead to an unrestrained elevator
and an unacceptable flutter condition, which could result in loss of
airplane control.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Inspections
(f) At the applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E.
``Compliance'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0015, dated
April 19, 2007, do an initial dye penetrant or high-frequency eddy
current (HFEC) inspection for cracking of the elevator actuator
fittings, and, thereafter, do repetitive dye penetrant, HFEC, or
detailed inspections at the applicable times specified in paragraph
1.E. ``Compliance.'' Before further flight, replace any fitting
found to be cracked during any inspection required by this AD with a
new fitting having the same part number, or an optional part number
as identified in the service bulletin. Thereafter, do initial and
repetitive inspections of the replacement fitting as described in
paragraph 1.E. of the service bulletin. Do all inspections and
actions described in this paragraph in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin; except, where
the service bulletin specifies a compliance time after the date on
the service bulletin, this AD requires compliance within the
specified compliance time after the effective date of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair required by this AD, if it is approved by an
Authorized Representative for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Delegation Option Authorization Organization who has been authorized
by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make those findings. For a repair
method to be approved, the repair must meet the certification basis
of the airplane, and the approval must specifically refer to this
AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(h) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0015,
dated April 19, 2007, to perform the actions that are required by
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this
document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207, for a copy of this service information. You
may review copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the National Archives
and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the
availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to:
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 10, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-24338 Filed 12-14-07; 8:45 am]
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