[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 133 (Thursday, July 15, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37219-37221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15028]



[[Page 37219]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1030; Project Identifier AD-2020-01079-T; 
Amendment 39-21607; AD 2021-13-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain The Boeing Company Model 777-300ER series airplanes. This AD 
was prompted by a report that a production design change to certain 
insulation blankets inadvertently opened up leakage paths for halon and 
smoke to escape from the aft cargo compartment in the event of a fire. 
This AD requires installation of an insulation blanket assembly on top 
of existing insulation blankets in certain areas of the forward endwall 
in the aft cargo compartment. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 19, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 19, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
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 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 at 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2020-1030.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1030; 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 final rule, any 
comments received, and other information. The address for Docket 
Operations is 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: Courtney Kronenberger, Aerospace 
Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Section, FAA, Seattle 
ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 
206-231-3986; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain The Boeing 
Company Model 777-300ER series airplanes. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on December 29, 2020 (85 FR 85557). The NPRM was 
prompted by report indicating that a production design change to 
certain insulation blankets inadvertently opened up leakage paths for 
halon and smoke to escape from the aft cargo compartment in the event 
of a fire. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require installation of an 
insulation blanket assembly on top of existing insulation blankets in 
certain areas of the forward endwall in the aft cargo compartment. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to address increased leakage paths, which, in 
the event of a fire, could result in loss of fire suppressant in the 
cargo compartment, and could lead to an uncontained fire and subsequent 
loss of the airplane.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from one commenter, Boeing, who supported 
the NPRM without change.
    The FAA received additional comments from one commenter, United 
Airlines. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and 
the FAA's response to each comment.

Request for Update to Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC)

    United Airlines stated that it agrees with the intent of the 
proposed AD. United Airlines also recommended that Boeing update the 
applicable IPC to show configuration control of the new part numbers 
that are installed during the accomplishment of the actions specified 
in the referenced service information. United Airlines noted that the 
update would provide proper configuration control and documentation 
support to maintain the new insulation blanket installation changes 
made prior to the release of the AD. United Airlines also asserted that 
the change could mitigate incorrect blanket installation.
    The FAA acknowledges the commenter's recommendation and reasoning. 
However, the FAA does not control or require changes to the IPC. The 
FAA has not changed this AD in this regard.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments 
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as 
proposed. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as 
proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic 
burden on any operator.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 
777-25-0753 RB, dated July 31, 2020. This service information specifies 
procedures for installing an insulation blanket assembly on top of 
existing insulation blankets on the left and right side corner of the 
forward endwall in the aft cargo compartment. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 22 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Insulation blanket installation.......  1 work-hour x $85 per               $240            $325          $7,150
                                         hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 37220]]

    According to the manufacturer, some or all of the costs of this AD 
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected operators. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for 
affected operators. As a result, the FAA has included all known costs 
in the cost estimate.

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

    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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

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 PROJECT NO. 15021-000


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] Project No. 15021-000

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2021-13-02 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-21607; Docket No. FAA-
2020-1030; Project Identifier AD-2020-01079-T.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 19, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-300ER series 
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing 
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 777-25-0753 RB, dated July 
31, 2020.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
Furnishings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that a production design change 
to certain insulation blankets inadvertently opened up leakage paths 
for halon and smoke to escape from the aft cargo compartment in the 
event of a fire. The FAA is issuing this AD to address increased 
leakage paths, which, in the event of a fire, could result in loss 
of fire suppressant in the cargo compartment, and could lead to an 
uncontained fire and subsequent loss of the airplane.

(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 
Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 777-25-0753 RB, dated July 
31, 2020, do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance 
with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention 
Requirements Bulletin 777-25-0753 RB, dated July 31, 2020.
    Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions 
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 777-25-0753, dated July 31, 2020, which is referred to in 
Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 777-25-0753 RB, dated 
July 31, 2020.

(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

    Where Boeing Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 777-25-0753 
RB, dated July 31, 2020, uses the phrase ``the original issue date 
of the Requirements Bulletin 777-25-0753 RB,'' this AD requires 
using ``the effective date of this AD.''

(i) 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 paragraph (j)(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 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Courtney 
Kronenberger, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental 
Systems Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3986; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not 
incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in 
paragraphs (k)(3) and (4) of this AD.

(k) 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 Special Attention Requirements Bulletin 777-25-0753 
RB, dated July 31, 2020.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) 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.
    (4) You may view this 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.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the

[[Page 37221]]

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information 
on the availability of this material at NARA, email 
[email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on June 9, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-15028 Filed 7-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P