[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8823-8825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03562]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2016-3699; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-109-AD;
Amendment 39-18402; AD 2016-04-08]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This AD requires revising the
maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to include an
airworthiness limitation for repetitive inspections of the web fastener
holes in the overwing flex-tees. This AD was prompted by a report that
certain web fastener holes in the overwing flex-tees at the wing-to-
body interface might not have been deburred properly when manufactured.
Fastener holes without the deburr chamfer applied can develop fatigue
cracking. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the
web fastener holes in the overwing flex-tees, which can weaken the
primary wing structure so it cannot sustain limit load.
DATES: This AD is effective March 9, 2016.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 9,
2016.
We must receive comments on this AD by April 8, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
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.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this final rule, contact
Boeing
[[Page 8824]]
Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P. O. Box
3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000,
extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. It
is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-3699.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
3699; 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 street address for the Docket Office (phone:
800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melanie Violette, Senior Aerospace
Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; phone: 425-917-6422; fax: 425-917-6590; email:
[email protected].
Discussion
We received a report that certain web fastener holes in the
overwing flex-tees at the wing-to-body interface might not have been
deburred properly when manufactured. A deburr chamfer should have been
applied to the fastener holes in the overwing flex-tees. Fastener holes
without the deburr chamfer applied can develop fatigue cracking before
the required supplemental structural fatigue inspections are scheduled
to begin. Such fatigue cracking, if not corrected, could result in the
primary wing structure being weakened so it cannot sustain limit load.
We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these
products.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Boeing 787 Airworthiness Limitations--Line Number
Specific, D011Z009-03-02, dated February 2015. The service information
contains airworthiness limitation tasks pertaining to inspections for
web fastener holes in the overwing flex-tees at the wing-to-body
interface.
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 the ADDRESSES section.
FAA's Determination
We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
AD Requirements
This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, to include an airworthiness limitation for repetitive
inspection of the web fastener holes in the overwing flex-tees.
This AD requires 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 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 (h) of this AD. The request should
include a description of changes to the required actions that will
ensure the continued operational safety of the airplane.
FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date
There are no products of this type currently registered in the
United States. However, this rule is necessary to ensure that the
described unsafe condition is addressed if any of these products are
placed on the U.S. Register in the future. Therefore, we find that
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and
that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than
30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2016-3699 and
Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-109-AD at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 0 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Maintenance/inspection program 1 work-hour x $85 per $0 $85 $0
revision. hour = $85.
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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.
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
[[Page 8825]]
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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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.
Adoption of 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 (AD):
2016-04-08 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-18402; Docket No. FAA-
2016-3699; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-109-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective March 9, 2016.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes, certificated in any
category, having line numbers 78 and 82.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report that certain web fastener holes
in the overwing flex-tees at the wing-to-body interface might not
have been deburred properly when manufactured. We are issuing this
AD to detect and correct cracking in the web fastener holes in the
overwing flex-tees, which can weaken the primary wing structure so
it cannot sustain limit load.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Revision to Maintenance or Inspection Program
Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the
maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the
applicable inspection requirement identified in paragraphs (g)(1)
and (g)(2) of this AD, as specified in Boeing 787 Airworthiness
Limitations--Line Number Specific, D011Z009-03-02, dated February
2015. The initial compliance time for the tasks is at the applicable
time specified in Boeing 787 Airworthiness Limitations--Line Number
Specific, D011Z009-03-02, dated February 2015.
(1) For the airplane having line number 78: Principal Structural
Element 57-10-06a_MRB9, ``Overwing Flex-Tee--Web Fastener Holes.''
(2) For the airplane having line number 82: Principal Structural
Element 57-10-06a_MRB10, ``Overwing Flex-Tee--Web Fastener Holes.''
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Settle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
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 local
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the
attention of the person identified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district 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 Commercial Airplanes Organization
Designation Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the
Manager, Seattle ACO, 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 Melanie Violette,
Senior Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle
ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-
6422; fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].
(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 787 Airworthiness Limitations--Line Number Specific,
D011Z009-03-02, dated February 2015.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management,
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-
5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
425-227-1221.
(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, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 10, 2016.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-03562 Filed 2-22-16; 8:45 am]
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