[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 164 (Friday, August 25, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58120-58123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17775]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1649; Project Identifier AD-2022-00905-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 747-8 and 747-8F series airplanes. 
This proposed AD was prompted by a report that all six Integrated 
Display Units (IDUs) became blank when new flight plan data was entered 
in the Flight Management System (FMS), and by a determination that 
indication of decaying airspeed in certain scenarios is required. This 
proposed AD would require installing updated software. 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 October 10, 
2023.

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 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-1649; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 
a.m. and

[[Page 58121]]

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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     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; website: myboeingfleet.com.
     You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 
216th Street, Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at 
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2023-1649.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Tsuji, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 
telephone: 206-231-3548; 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-2023-1649; Project Identifier 
AD-2022-00905-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 
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 
Douglas Tsuji, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, 
Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone: 206-231-3548; email: 
[email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives that is not 
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for 
this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA has received a report indicating all six IDUs became blank 
when new flight plan data was entered in the FMS. It was determined 
that the Jeppesen airport map database (AMDB) had an error in the data 
structure tied to the Sydney airport (YSSY). The Electronic Flight 
Instrumentation System (EFIS)/Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting 
System (EICAS) Interface Units (EIUs) were unable to process the data 
structure, resulting in the displays blanking. Jeppesen subsequently 
fixed the AMDB to address the issue with YSSY and additional airport 
codes with an incorrect data structure. The current EIU software is 
unable to process incorrect data structures, which results in an EIU 
fault that cannot be cleared by the automated reset function of an EIU. 
After five resets the EIU defaults to shut down, resulting in all six 
IDUs, which are controlled by the EIUs, becoming blank. The EIU shut 
down can also result in an autothrottle disconnect and a degraded 
autopilot mode. The problem can occur on the ground when an airport 
code with an incorrect data structure in the AMDB is entered as an 
origin or destination and the flight plan is then put into operation by 
the FMS. In flight, the problem can occur when an airport code with an 
incorrect data structure in the AMDB is entered as the selected 
diversion airport.
    Additionally, the existing software does not provide an earlier 
indication of decaying airspeed during the landing phase for flap 
settings 25 and 30. The revised software specified in this proposed AD 
provides an earlier threshold for triggering the low airspeed alerting 
EICAS Caution message.
    This condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of all 
flight deck displays (Primary Flight Display (PFD)/EICAS/Navigation 
Display (ND), not including standby displays) combined with potential 
impact to the autopilot and auto-throttle functionality and lack of 
crew visibility of any subsequent system failures, which can prevent 
continued safe flight and landing; it could also result in inadequate 
alerting of decaying airspeed, unacceptably low airspeed, and loss of 
control of the airplane.

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 747-31A2544 RB, 
dated March 31, 2020. This service information specifies procedures for 
installing Integrated Display System (IDS) 804 software in each of the 
six LCD IDUs and in each of the three EIUs, if not already installed; 
followed by installing IDS 805 software, which includes EIU software 
part number COL3F-0034-E805 and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) software 
part number 3177-COL-DL8-05.
    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 section.

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 regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1649.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 19 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 58122]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                   Labor cost          Parts cost       Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Software Installation...........  Up to 6 work-hours  Up to $650........  Up to $1,160......  Up to $22,040.
                                   x $85 per hour =
                                   Up to $510.
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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.
    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.
    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-2023-1649; Project Identifier AD-
2022-00905-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by October 10, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-8 and 747-8F 
series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in 
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-31A2544 RB, dated March 31, 
2020.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code: 31, 
Instruments.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that all six Integrated Display 
Units (IDUs) became blank when new flight plan data was entered in 
the Flight Management System (FMS), and by a determination that 
indication of decaying airspeed in certain scenarios is required. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address problems with the Electronic 
Flight Instrumentation System (EFIS)/Engine Indicating and Crew 
Alerting System (EICAS) Interface Units (EIUs), which control the 
IDUs. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in loss 
of all flight deck displays (Primary Flight Display (PFD)/EICAS/
Navigation Display (ND), not including standby displays) combined 
with potential impact to the autopilot and auto-throttle 
functionality and lack of crew visibility of any subsequent system 
failures, which can prevent continued safe flight and landing; it 
could also result in inadequate alerting of decaying airspeed, 
unacceptably low airspeed, and loss of control 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 
Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-31A2544 RB, dated March 31, 2020, do 
all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
747-31A2544 RB, dated March 31, 2020.
    Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions 
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
747-31A2544, dated March 31, 2020, which is referred to in Boeing 
Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-31A2544 RB, dated March 31, 2020.

(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

    (1) Where the Compliance Time column of the table in the 
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-
31A2544 RB, dated March 31, 2020, uses the phrase ``the original 
issue date of Requirements Bulletin 747-31A2544 RB,'' this AD 
requires using ``the effective date of this AD.''
    (2) For Group 2 airplanes identified in Boeing Alert 
Requirements Bulletin 747-31A2544 RB, dated March 31, 2020: The 
concurrent requirements specified in Action 1 of Table 1 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
747-31A2544 RB, dated March 31, 2020, do not apply.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, AIR-520 Continued Operational Safety 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) 
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, AIR-520 
Continued Operational Safety 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.

[[Page 58123]]

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Douglas Tsuji, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, 
WA 98198; telephone: 206-231-3548; email: [email protected].

(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 Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-31A2544 RB, dated 
March 31, 2020.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services 
(C&DS), 2600 Westminster Boulevard, MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 
90740-5600; telephone 562-797-1717; website: myboeingfleet.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 
South 216th Street, 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 National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, [email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on July 26, 2023.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-17775 Filed 8-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P