[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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P