[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 30, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34656-34660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13932]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0457; Project Identifier AD-2020-01461-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 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that during a 
fleet sampling inspection, cracks were found on the inner cylinder 
pivot pins of the left and right main landing gear (MLG) on one of the 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive lubrications of 
the left and right MLG truck beam and inner cylinder pivot joint, 
reviewing the maintenance program documentation to verify certain 
lubrication tasks are incorporated, doing repetitive inspections of the 
MLG inner cylinder pivot pins and inner cylinder bushings of the MLG 
truck beam and inner cylinder joint for any friction, heat damage, 
excessive wear, cracking and smearing of bushing material, and 
applicable on-condition actions. 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 August 16, 
2021.

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 https://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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, 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; internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may 
view this referenced service information 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 on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0457.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0457; 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allen Rauschendorfer, Senior Aerospace 
Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th 
St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and

[[Page 34657]]

fax: 206-231-3528; email: [email protected].

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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0457; Project Identifier 
AD-2020-01461-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 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 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 Allen 
Rauschendorfer, Senior Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, 
Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone 
and fax: 206-231-3528; email: [email protected]. Any 
commentary that the FAA receives which 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 during a fleet 
sampling inspection, cracks were found on the inner cylinder pivot pins 
of the left and right MLG on one of the airplanes. The pins exhibited 
cracking of the high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) tungsten carbide-
cobalt-chrome coating. Removal of the outer diameter coating disclosed 
cracking of the custom 465 CRES substrate. The cause of the cracking 
was determined to be heat damage due to in-service friction. This 
condition, if not addressed, could result in a fractured pivot pin, 
which could lead to loss of all or part of the pivot pin assembly, and 
subsequent collapse of the MLG and reduced controllability of the 
airplane during takeoff and landing.

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.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 9, 2020. This service 
information specifies procedures for repetitive lubrication of the left 
and right MLG truck beam and inner cylinder pivot joint with MIL-PRF-
32014 grease, reviewing the maintenance program documentation to verify 
that it includes lubrication tasks for the left and right MLG truck 
beam and inner cylinder pivot joint with MIL-PRF-32014 grease, 
repetitive detailed and fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPI) of the 
left and right MLG pivot pin outer diameter (OD) surface for any 
friction and heat damage, repetitive detailed inspections of the left 
and right MLG inner cylinder bushing inner diameter (ID) surface for 
any excessive wear, cracking and smearing of bushing material, and 
applicable on-condition actions.
    On-condition actions include updating the maintenance program to 
incorporate lubrication tasks for the left and right MLG truck beam and 
inner cylinder pivot joint with MIL-PRF-32014 grease, detailed and FPI 
inspections on the inner cylinder lug bore for any heat and friction 
damage, installing a new pivot pin, applying lubrication using MIL-PRF-
32014 grease and making sure lubrication passages are clear, installing 
new aluminum-nickel-bronze inner cylinder bushings, installing new 
copper-nickel-tin inner cylinder bushings, and repair.
    The service information also specifies terminating actions for the 
repetitive inspections. The terminating actions include the 
installation of certain parts and incorporation of the lubrications 
tasks into the maintenance program.
    The FAA also reviewed Boeing 787 Certification Maintenance 
Requirements (CMRs), D011Z009-03-03, dated June 2020. This service 
information specifies procedures for, among other actions, for CMR item 
number 32-CMR-01, to lubricate the main landing gear truck beam pivot 
joint.
    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 ADDRESSES.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information 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 
service information at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0457.
    Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue 
001, dated November 9, 2020, specifies updating the maintenance program 
to incorporate lubrication tasks for the left and right MLG truck beam 
and inner cylinder pivot joint with MIL-PRF-32014 grease. Operators 
have different methods of updating the maintenance program. If 
operators want to terminate the repetitive lubrications required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, only revising the maintenance or inspection 
program, as applicable, to incorporate CMR item number 32-CMR-01 of 
Section G, ``Certification Maintenance Requirement Task,'' of Boeing 
787 Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs), D011Z009-03-03, 
dated June 2020, is terminating action.
    This proposed AD includes an optional action that would include 
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 proposed 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 (l) of this proposed AD.

[[Page 34658]]

Explanation of Requirements Bulletin

    The FAA worked in conjunction with industry, under the 
Airworthiness Directive Implementation Aviation Rulemaking Committee 
(AD ARC), to enhance the AD system. One enhancement is a process for 
annotating which steps in the service information are ``required for 
compliance'' (RC) with an AD. Boeing has implemented this RC concept 
into Boeing service bulletins.
    In an effort to further improve the quality of ADs and AD-related 
Boeing service information, a joint process improvement initiative was 
worked between the FAA and Boeing. The initiative resulted in the 
development of a new process in which the service information more 
clearly identifies the actions needed to address the unsafe condition 
in the ``Accomplishment Instructions.'' The new process results in a 
Boeing Requirements Bulletin, which contains only the actions needed to 
address the unsafe condition (i.e., only the RC actions).

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 131 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
              Action                    Labor cost        Parts cost     Cost per  product        operators
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Repetitive lubrications..........  1 work-hour x $85                $0  $85 per lubrication  $11,135 per
                                    per hour = $85 per                   cycle.               lubrication cycle.
                                    lubrication cycle.
Verification of lubrication tasks  1 work-hour x $85                 0  $85................  $11,135.
                                    per hour = $85.
Repetitive inspections...........  40 work-hours x $85               0  $3,400 per           $445,400 per
                                    per hour = $3,400                    inspection cycle.    inspection cycle.
                                    per inspection
                                    cycle.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition actions that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need these on-condition actions:

                                               On-Condition Costs
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                                                                                                     Cost per
                 Action                           Labor cost                  Parts cost              product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation of new pivot pin...........  8 work-hours x $85 per      $97,517 per pivot pin              $98,197
                                           hour = $680.                component assembly.
Installation of new bushings............  1 work-hour x $85 per hour  $5,968 per bushing........           6,053
                                           = $85.
Lubrication and making sure lubrication   1 work-hour x $85 per hour  $0........................              85
 passages are clear.                       = $85.
Detailed and FPI inspections on the       2 work-hour x $85 per hour  $0........................             170
 inner cylinder lug bore.                  = $170.
Update lubrication tasks (except for CMR  1 work-hour x $85 per hour  $0........................              85
 item number 32-CMR-01 incorporation).     = $85.
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    The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost 
estimates for the on-condition repairs specified in this proposed AD.
    For the optional action to revise the maintenance or inspection 
program by incorporating CMR item number 32-CMR-01, as applicable, the 
FAA has determined that revising the existing maintenance or inspection 
program takes an average of 90 work-hours per operator, although the 
agency recognizes that this number may vary from operator to operator. 
In the past, the FAA has estimated that this action takes 1 work-hour 
per airplane. Since operators incorporate maintenance or inspection 
program changes for their affected fleet(s), the FAA has determined 
that a per-operator estimate is more accurate than a per-airplane 
estimate. Therefore, the FAA estimates the average total cost per 
operator to be $7,650 (90 work-hours x $85 per work-hour).
    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some or all of the costs of 
this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the 
cost impact on affected operators.

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.

[[Page 34659]]

    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.

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-2021-0457; Project Identifier AD-
2020-01461-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by August 16, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 
787-10 airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in 
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue 
001, dated November 9, 2020.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 32, Main landing 
gear.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that during a fleet sampling 
inspection, cracks were found on the inner cylinder pivot pins of 
the left and right main landing gear (MLG) on one of the airplanes. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address any heat damage and cracking 
to the MLG inner cylinder pivot pin, which could result in a 
fractured pivot pin and lead to loss of all or part of the pivot pin 
assembly, and subsequent collapse of the MLG and reduced 
controllability of the airplane during takeoff and landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this AD: At the 
applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing 
Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, 
dated November 9, 2020, do all applicable actions identified in, and 
in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 
Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated 
November 9, 2020. Actions identified as terminating action in Boeing 
Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, 
dated November 9, 2020, terminate the applicable required actions of 
this AD, provided the terminating action is done in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 9, 
2020.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g):  Guidance for accomplishing the actions 
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
B787-81205-SB320045-00, Issue 001, dated November 9, 2020, which is 
referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 9, 2020.

(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

    (1) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 9, 2020, uses the phrase 
``the Issue 001 date of Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320045-00 
RB,'' this AD requires using ``the effective date of this AD.''
    (2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-
SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 9, 2020, specifies 
contacting Boeing for repair instructions: This AD requires doing 
the repair using a method approved in accordance with the procedures 
specified in paragraph (l) of this AD.
    (3) Where the action for ``CONDITION 2'' in Table 7 of the 
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-
81205-SB320045-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 9, 2020, specifies 
``Do a detailed FPI inspection of the inner cylinder lug bore for 
heat and friction damage,'' for this AD, the action is ``Do a 
detailed and FPI inspection on the inner cylinder lug bore for heat 
and friction damage.''

(i) Optional Terminating Action

    Revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as 
applicable, to incorporate the information in CMR item number 32-
CMR-01 of Section G, ``Certification Maintenance Requirement Task,'' 
of Boeing 787 Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs), 
D011Z009-03-03, dated June 2020, terminates the repetitive 
lubrications required by paragraph (g) of this AD.

(j) No Alternative Actions and Intervals

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

(k) Parts Installation Prohibition

    At the applicable time specified in paragraph (k)(1) or (2) of 
this AD, do not install an aluminum-nickel-bronze inner cylinder 
bushing on a MLG inner cylinder on any airplane.
    (1) For airplanes with aluminum-nickel-bronze inner cylinder 
bushings installed on a MLG inner cylinder as of the effective date 
of this AD: After the bushing has been replaced with a copper-
nickel-tin inner cylinder bushing.
    (2) For airplanes with copper-nickel-tin inner cylinder bushings 
installed on a MLG inner cylinder as of the effective date of this 
AD: As of the effective date of this AD.

(l) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle ACO 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 Related Information. 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 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, Seattle 
ACO 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.

(m) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Allen 
Rauschendorfer, Senior Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, 
Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
phone and fax: 206-231-3528; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information 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; internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service 
information 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.


[[Page 34660]]


    Issued on June 6, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-13932 Filed 6-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P