[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 170 (Thursday, September 1, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60248-60252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20825]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-3702; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-103-AD; 
Amendment 39-18634; AD 2016-18-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-24-12 for 
all The Boeing Company Model 747-8 and 747-8F airplanes. AD 2013-24-12 
required repetitive ultrasonic or dye penetrant inspections for 
cracking of the barrel nuts and bolts on each forward engine mount, and 
related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD 
retains the requirements of AD 2013-24-12 and also requires installing 
new barrel nuts at the forward engine mounts; or identifying the part 
number of the barrel nuts, inspecting affected barrel nuts for gaps of 
the strut bulkhead and forward engine mount, and doing related 
investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD also 
removes airplanes from the applicability. This new AD also requires 
revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to 
include a new structurally significant item. This AD was prompted by 
our determination that it is necessary to mandate the installation of 
new barrel nuts or new inspections to adequately address the unsafe 
condition. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracked barrel 
nuts on a forward engine mount, which could result in reduced load 
capacity of the forward engine mount, separation of an engine under 
power from the airplane, and consequent loss of control of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective October 6, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of October 6, 
2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of 
December 17, 2013 (78 FR 71989, December 2, 2013).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
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. 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-
3702.

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-
3702; 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 (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Docket 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: Nathan Weigand, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-
6428; fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to supersede AD 2013-24-12, Amendment 39-17686 (78 FR 71989, 
December 2, 2013) (``AD 2013-24-12''). AD 2013-24-12 applied to all The 
Boeing Company Model 747-8 and 747-8F airplanes. The NPRM published in 
the Federal Register on February 25, 2016 (81 FR 9370) (``the NPRM''). 
The NPRM was prompted by our determination that it is necessary to 
mandate the installation of new barrel nuts or new inspections to 
adequately address the unsafe condition. The NPRM proposed to retain 
the requirements of AD 2013-24-12 and also require installing new 
barrel nuts at the forward engine mounts; or identifying the part 
number of the barrel nuts, inspecting affected barrel nuts for gaps of 
the strut bulkhead and forward engine mount, and doing related 
investigative and corrective actions if necessary. The NPRM also 
proposed to remove airplanes from the applicability. The NPRM also 
proposed to require revising the maintenance or inspection program, as 
applicable, to include a new structurally significant item. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct cracked barrel nuts on a forward 
engine mount, which could result in reduced load capacity of the 
forward engine mount, separation of an engine under power from the 
airplane, and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and 
the FAA's response to each comment.

Support for the NPRM

    Boeing stated that it supports the NPRM.

Request To Revise Applicability

    The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) requested that we 
revise the applicability of the proposed AD to ensure that all 
necessary actions are applied on all applicable airplanes. CAAC 
explained that it compared the effectivity between Boeing Service 
Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015, which is referred 
to in the applicability of the proposed AD, and Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015 
(which is referred to as the appropriate source of service information 
for doing the actions specified in paragraph (k) of the proposed AD). 
CAAC explained that there are more airplanes in Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015, 
than in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated May 28, 
2015.
    We agree to clarify and revise the applicability of this AD. The 
difference in effectivity between Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, 
Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015, and Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 747-71-2332, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015,

[[Page 60249]]

is that there are six additional airplanes in Boeing Special Attention 
Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015--four of 
these airplanes are foreign-registered, and the other two airplanes 
have not been delivered yet. We have revised paragraph (c) of this AD 
to refer to Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, 
Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015. We have also revised paragraph (g) of 
this AD to specify that only airplanes identified in Boeing Service 
Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015, are affected by 
that paragraph.

Request for Explanation of Change in Applicability From AD 2013-24-12

    The CAAC requested that we explain the change in the applicability 
paragraph of the proposed AD from that of AD 2013-24-12. The CAAC 
explained that the applicability paragraph of AD 2013-24-12 applies to 
all The Boeing Company Model 747-8 and 747-8F series airplanes. The 
CAAC stated that the NPRM would retain the requirements of AD 2013-24-
12, but the applicability paragraph of the proposed AD only applies to 
The Boeing Company Model 747-8 and 747-8F airplanes identified in 
Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015.
    We agree to clarify. AD 2013-24-12 was issued as an interim action. 
Boeing developed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, 
dated September 27, 2013 (currently at Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015), 
which contains a newly designed barrel nut. The effectivity in Boeing 
Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015, 
identifies the airplanes that did not have the newly designed barrel 
nuts installed upon delivery. Because this AD does not include 
airplanes that have the newly designed barrel nuts installed during 
production, the applicability of AD 2013-24-12 was reduced. No changes 
have been made to this AD in this regard.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD with the changes described previously and minor editorial 
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed the following service information:
     Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated May 
28, 2015. The service information describes procedures for inspecting 
for cracked bolts and barrel nuts on the forward engine mounts, 
replacing cracked bolts and barrel nuts, and sending the inspection 
results and cracked parts to Boeing.
     Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, 
Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015. The service information describes 
procedures for installing new barrel nuts, inspecting the barrel nuts 
at the forward engine mount to determine the part number, inspecting 
for gaps of the strut bulkhead and forward engine mount, and doing 
applicable related investigative and corrective actions.
     Boeing 747-8/-8F Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs), 
Document Number D011U721-02-01, dated September 2015, which includes a 
limitation for Structurally Significant Item (SSI) 54-50-003c. The 
service information describes procedures for structural inspections.
    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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 7 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                     Labor cost          Parts cost     Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspections (retained actions    Up to 24 work-hours x                $0  Up to $2,040 per    Up to $14,280 per
 from AD 2013-24-12).             $85 per hour = $2,040                    inspection cycle.   inspection cycle.
                                  per inspection cycle.
Installation (new action)......  17 work-hours x $85 per           6,384  7,829.............  Up to $54,803.
                                  hour = $1,445.
Inspections (new alternative     4 work-hours x $85 per                0  340...............  Up to $2,380.
 actions).                        hour = $340.
Maintenance program revision     1 work-hour x $85 per                 0  85................  595.
 (new requirement).               hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
cost estimates for the bootstrap installation specified in this AD. We 
estimate the following costs to do other necessary related 
investigative and corrective actions that would be required based on 
the results of the inspection. We have no way of determining the number 
of aircraft that might need these actions:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                  Action                                Labor cost                 Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ultrasonic inspection.....................  5 work-hours x $85 per hour = $425              $0             $425
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be 
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected 
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject

[[Page 60250]]

to penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 
collection of information displays a current valid OMB control number. 
The control number for the collection of information required by this 
AD is 2120-0056. The paperwork cost associated with this AD has been 
detailed in the Costs of Compliance section of this document and 
includes time for reviewing instructions, as well as completing and 
reviewing the collection of information. Therefore, all reporting 
associated with this AD is mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy 
of this burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be 
directed to the FAA at 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, 
ATTN: Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

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),
    (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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2013-24-12, Amendment 39-17686 (78 FR 71989, December 2, 2013), and 
adding the following new AD:

2016-18-04 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-18634; Docket No. FAA-
2016-3702; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-103-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective October 6, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2013-24-12, Amendment 39-17686 (78 FR 71989, 
December 2, 2013) (``AD 2013-24-12'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-8 and 747-8F 
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, Revision 1, dated 
May 28, 2015.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 71, Powerplant.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of cracked barrel nuts found on 
a forward engine mount, and by the determination that additional 
actions are necessary to address the unsafe condition. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct cracked barrel nuts on a 
forward engine mount, which could result in reduced load capacity of 
the forward engine mount, separation of an engine under power from 
the airplane, and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Retained Repetitive Inspections and Corrective Actions, With 
Revised Service Information

    This paragraph restates the actions required by paragraph (g) of 
AD 2013-24-12, with revised service information. For airplanes 
identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated 
May 28, 2015: Except as required by paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, at 
the time specified in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, dated September 27, 2013, do the 
inspection specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, and 
do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, dated September 27, 2013; or Boeing 
Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015. Do all 
applicable related investigative and corrective actions before 
further flight. Repeat the inspection thereafter at the times 
specified in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 747-71A2329, dated September 27, 2013. As of the effective 
date of this AD, use only Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, 
Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015.
    (1) Ultrasonic inspection for cracking of the barrel nuts on 
each forward engine mount, except as required by paragraph (h)(2) of 
this AD.
    (2) Dye penetrant inspection for cracking of the bolts and 
barrel nuts. Whenever a dye penetrant inspection is done, all the 
bolts and barrel nuts on that engine mount must be removed and 
replaced with new or serviceable parts.

(h) Retained Exceptions to Service Information Specifications, With 
Revised Service Information References

    (1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, dated 
September 27, 2013; or Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 
1, dated May 28, 2015; specify a compliance time ``after the 
original issue date of this service bulletin,'' this AD requires 
compliance within the specified compliance time after December 17, 
2013 (the effective date of AD 2013-24-12).
    (2) Where Appendix B of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
71A2329, dated September 27, 2013, and Appendix B of Boeing Service 
Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015, state that 
alternate instruments and transducers can be used, this AD requires 
that only equivalent instruments and transducers can be used.
    (3) Where Appendix A of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
71A2329, dated September 27, 2013, and Appendix A of Boeing Service 
Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015, state to 
record flight hours and flight cycles, record the flight hours and 
flight cycles on the airplane and the flight hours and flight cycles 
for each engine since change or removal.

(i) Retained Reporting and Sending Parts, With Revised Service 
Information

    After any inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD: 
Submit a report of the inspection results (both positive and

[[Page 60251]]

negative), and return all cracked bolts and barrel nuts, at the 
applicable time specified in paragraph (i)(1) or (i)(2) of this AD. 
The report must include the information requested in Appendix A of 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, dated September 27, 2013, 
or Appendix A of Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, 
dated May 28, 2015, except as required by paragraph (h)(3) of this 
AD. Both the report and all cracked bolts and barrel nuts must be 
sent to the address specified in Appendix A of Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 747-71A2329, dated September 27, 2013, or Appendix A of 
Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015.
    (1) For airplanes on which an ultrasonic inspection was done and 
no cracking was found, do the required actions at the time specified 
in paragraph (i)(1)(i) or (i)(1)(ii) of this AD, as applicable.
    (i) If the inspection was done on or after December 17, 2013 
(the effective date of AD 2013-24-12): Submit the report within 10 
days after the inspection.
    (ii) If the inspection was done before December 17, 2013 (the 
effective date of AD 2013-24-12): Submit the report within 10 days 
after December 17, 2013 (the effective date of AD 2013-24-12).
    (2) For airplanes on which a dye penetrant inspection was done, 
do the required actions at the time specified in paragraph (i)(2)(i) 
or (i)(2)(ii) of this AD, as applicable.
    (i) If the inspection was done on or after December 17, 2013 
(the effective date of AD 2013-24-12): Submit the report and return 
all cracked bolts and barrel nuts within 10 days after replacing the 
bolts and barrel nuts with new or serviceable bolts and barrel nuts 
in accordance with Part 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, dated September 27, 2013; 
or Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated May 28, 
2015.
    (ii) If the inspection was done before December 17, 2013 (the 
effective date of AD 2013-24-12): Submit the report and return all 
cracked bolts and barrel nuts within 10 days after December 17, 2013 
(the effective date of AD 2013-24-12).

(j) Retained Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement, With No Changes

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to 
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 
collection of information displays a current valid Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number. The OMB Control Number 
for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for 
this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 
minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
completing and reviewing the collection of information. All 
responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments 
concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing 
the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. 
SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, AES-200.

(k) New Installation or Inspections

    At the applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E., 
``Compliance,'' of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-
2332, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015, except as required by 
paragraph (o)(1) of this AD: Do the actions specified in paragraph 
(k)(1) or (k)(2) of this AD, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-
2332, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015, except as required by 
paragraph (o)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Install new barrel nuts using the bootstrap installation 
method identified in Part 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, Revision 1, 
dated May 28, 2015.
    (2) Do a general visual inspection to determine the part number 
(P/N) of the barrel nuts at the forward engine mount. If any barrel 
nut P/N SL4081C14SP1 is installed, before further flight, do a 
general visual inspection for gaps of the strut bulkhead and forward 
engine mount to determine if the nut-by-nut method identified in 
Part 4 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, Revision 1, dated May 28, 
2015, can be used, and do all applicable related investigative and 
corrective actions. Do all applicable related investigative and 
corrective actions before further flight, including the nut-by-nut 
replacement identified in Part 4 of the Accomplishment Instructions 
of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, Revision 
1, dated May 28, 2015. If the nut-by-nut replacement identified in 
Part 4 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, Revision 1, dated May 28, 
2015, cannot be accomplished, install new nuts, in accordance with 
paragraph (k)(1) of this AD.

(l) Maintenance or Inspection Program Revision

    Within 30 days after accomplishment of the actions required by 
paragraph (k) of this AD, or within 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs later: Revise the maintenance or 
inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate Structurally 
Significant Item (SSI) 54-50-003c specified in Boeing 747-8/-8F 
Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs), Document Number D011U721-02-01, 
dated September 2015.

(m) Terminating Action

    Accomplishment of the actions required by paragraphs (k) and (l) 
of this AD terminate the requirements of paragraphs (g) and (i) of 
this AD.

(n) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install or 
reinstall any barrel nut P/N SL4081C14SP1 at the forward engine 
mount assembly on any airplane; and only P/N SL4750NA may be 
installed.

(o) New Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

    (1) Where Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, 
Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015, specifies a compliance time ``after 
the original issue date of this service bulletin,'' this AD requires 
compliance within the specified compliance time after the effective 
date of this AD.
    (2) Where Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, 
Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015, specifies to contact Boeing for 
appropriate action: Before further flight, repair using a method 
approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph 
(r) of this AD.

(p) No Alternative Actions or Intervals

    After the maintenance or inspection program has been revised as 
required by paragraph (l) of this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., 
inspections) or intervals may be used unless the actions or 
intervals are approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) 
in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (r) of this 
AD.

(q) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (k) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 747-71-2332, dated May 30, 2014, which is not incorporated 
by reference in this AD.

(r) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle 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 (s)(1) 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.
    (4) AMOCs approved for AD 2013-24-12 are approved as AMOCs for 
the corresponding provisions of this AD.
    (5) Except as required by paragraph (o)(2) of this AD: For 
service information that contains steps that are labeled as Required 
for Compliance (RC), the provisions of

[[Page 60252]]

paragraphs (r)(5)(i) and (r)(5)(ii) of this AD apply.
    (i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step 
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply 
with the AD. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps, 
including substeps and identified figures.
    (ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted 
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection 
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC 
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done 
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy 
condition.

(s) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Nathan Weigand, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle ACO, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6428; 
fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].
    (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not 
incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in 
paragraphs (t)(5) and (t)(6) of this AD.

(t) 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.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
October 6, 2016.
    (i) Boeing Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, Revision 1, dated May 
28, 2015.
    (ii) Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-71-2332, 
Revision 1, dated May 28, 2015.
    (iii) Boeing 747-8/-8F Airworthiness Limitation (AWL), Document 
Number D011U721-02-01, dated September 2015.
    (4) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
December 17, 2013 (78 FR 71989, December 2, 2013).
    (i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-71A2329, dated September 
27, 2013.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (5) 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.
    (6) You may view this 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.
    (7) 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 August 19, 2016.
Dorr M. Anderson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-20825 Filed 8-31-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P