81 FR 17369 - Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 60 (March 29, 2016)

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of fuel leaking onto the hot exhaust portion of an engine as a result of an unintended leak path from the leading edge through the pylon. This AD requires installing new seal dams in the inboard and outboard corners of the aft pylon frame on the left and right engines, including an inspection for damage of the outboard blade seal and applicable corrective actions. We are issuing this AD to prevent fuel leaking from an unintended drain path from the leading edge through either the left or right pylon and onto the hot engine parts or brakes, which could lead to a major ground fire.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 29, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17369-17372]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06401]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2966; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-051-AD; 
Amendment 39-18441; AD 2016-06-10]
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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a 
report of fuel leaking onto the hot exhaust portion of an engine as a 
result of an unintended leak path from the leading edge through the 
pylon. This AD requires installing new seal dams in the inboard and 
outboard corners of the aft pylon frame on the left and right engines, 
including an inspection for damage of the outboard blade seal and 
applicable corrective actions. We are issuing this AD to prevent fuel 
leaking from an unintended drain path from the leading edge through 
either the left or right pylon and onto the hot engine parts or brakes, 
which could lead to a major ground fire.

DATES: This AD is effective May 3, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publication listed in this AD as of May 3, 2016.

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-2015-
2966.

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-2015-
2966; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m.

[[Page 17370]]

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: Sherry Vevea, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-
6514; fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We 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 787-8 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
July 30, 2015 (80 FR 45460) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by a 
report of fuel leaking onto the hot exhaust portion of an engine as a 
result of an unintended leak path from the leading edge through the 
pylon. The NPRM proposed to require installing new seal dams in the 
inboard and outboard corners of the aft pylon frame on the left and 
right engines, including an inspection for damage of the outboard blade 
seal and applicable corrective actions. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent fuel leaking from an unintended drain path from the leading 
edge through either the left or right pylon and onto the hot engine 
parts or brakes, which could lead to a major ground fire.

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. United Airlines concurred with the 
content of the NPRM.

Request To Add Revised Service Information

    Boeing and All Nippon Airways (ANA) asked that we reference Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB540004-00, Issue 002, dated 
December 3, 2015, for accomplishing the actions in the NPRM. ANA stated 
that there are several errors in the referenced service information. 
Boeing stated that a revision would be issued to incorporate minor 
clarifications, and to update the effectivity.
    We agree to reference Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-
SB540004-00, Issue 002, dated December 3, 2015, in this AD. Since we 
published the NPRM, Boeing issued Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-
SB540004-00, Issue 002, dated December 3, 2015. That revision removes 
three airplanes from the effectivity, and clarifies certain 
instructions as a result of feedback reported by operators after 
incorporation of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB540004-00, 
Issue 001, dated October 24, 2014. Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-
81205-SB540004-00, Issue 001, dated October 24, 2014, was specified as 
the appropriate source of service information for accomplishing the 
actions in the NPRM.
    We have changed paragraphs (c) and (g) of this AD to specify Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB540004-00, Issue 002, dated 
December 3, 2015. We have also added a new paragraph (h) of this AD to 
give credit for actions done before the effective date of this AD using 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB540004-00, Issue 001, dated 
October 24, 2014; and redesignated subsequent paragraphs accordingly.

Request To Reduce the Compliance Time

    The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) International asked that we 
reduce the compliance time specified in the proposed AD (the proposed 
compliance time is within 60 months after the effective date of this 
AD). ALPA stated that the severity of a fuel leak from the leading edge 
through the pylon and onto the hot exhaust part of the engines warrants 
a shorter compliance time to correct this problem.
    We do not agree with the commenter's request to reduce the 
compliance time. In developing an appropriate compliance time, we 
considered the safety implications and normal maintenance schedules for 
timely installation of inboard and outboard seal dams. In consideration 
of all of these factors, we determined that the compliance time, as 
proposed, represents an appropriate interval in which the inboard and 
outboard seal dams can be installed in a timely manner within the 
fleet, while still maintaining an adequate level of safety. Most ADs, 
including this one, permit operators to accomplish the requirements of 
an AD at a time earlier than the specified compliance time; therefore, 
an operator may choose to install the inboard and outboard seal dams 
before the 60-month compliance time specified in paragraph (g) of this 
AD. If additional data are presented that would justify a shorter 
compliance time, we may consider further rulemaking on this issue. We 
have not changed 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 Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB540004-00, 
Issue 002, dated December 3, 2015. This service information describes 
procedures for installing new seal dams in the inboard and outboard 
corners of the aft pylon frame on the left and right engines, doing a 
general visual inspection to detect damage of the outboard blade seal, 
and doing corrective actions. 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 17 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 17371]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                   Labor cost          Parts cost       Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation of seal dams.......  Up to 22 work-      Up to $14,611.....  Up to $16,481.....  Up to $280,177.
                                   hours x $85 per
                                   hour = $1,870.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.

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

    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):

2016-06-10 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-18441; Docket No. FAA-
2015-2966; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-051-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective May 3, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes, 
certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin B787-81205-SB540004-00, Issue 002, dated December 3, 2015.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 54, Nacelles/
pylons.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of fuel leaking onto the hot 
exhaust portion of the engine as a result of an unintended leak path 
from the leading edge through the pylon. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent fuel leaking from an unintended drain path from the leading 
edge through either the left or right pylon and onto the hot engine 
parts or brakes, which could lead to a major ground fire.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Installation of Inboard and Outboard Seal Dams

    Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, install 
new seal dams in the inboard and outboard corners of the aft pylon 
frame on the left and right engines, including a general visual 
inspection to detect damage of the outboard blade seal, and do all 
applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB540004-
00, Issue 002, dated December 3, 2015. Do all applicable corrective 
actions before further flight, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB540004-
00, Issue 002, dated December 3, 2015.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph 
(g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective 
date of this AD using Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-
SB540004-00, Issue 001, dated October 24, 2014; which is not 
incorporated by reference in this AD.

(i) 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 (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 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Sherry Vevea, 
Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle ACO, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6514; 
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 (k)(3) and (k)(4) of this AD.

[[Page 17372]]

(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 Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB540004-00, Issue 
002, dated December 3, 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 March 14, 2016.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-06401 Filed 3-28-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P