E8-4677. Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767 Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 767 airplanes. This AD requires the following actions for the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer: Repetitive detailed inspections for discrepancies and loose ball bearings; repetitive lubrication of the ballnut and ballscrew; repetitive measurements of the freeplay between the ballnut and the ballscrew; and corrective action if necessary. This AD also requires initial and repetitive inspections of the ballscrew-to-ballnut freeplay for certain airplanes. This AD results from a report of extensive corrosion of a ballscrew in the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer on a similar airplane model. We are issuing this AD to prevent an undetected failure of the primary load path for the ballscrew in the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer and subsequent wear and failure of the secondary load path, which could lead to loss of control of the horizontal stabilizer and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

DATES:

This AD becomes effective April 16, 2008.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of April 16, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; 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 (telephone [phone]) is the Document 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:

Kelly McGuckin, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Airplane Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to all Boeing Model 767 airplanes. That supplemental NPRM was published in the Federal Register on August 21, 2007 (72 FR 46576). That supplemental NPRM proposed to require the following actions for the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer: Repetitive detailed inspections for discrepancies and loose ball bearings; repetitive lubrication of the ballnut and ballscrew; repetitive measurements of the freeplay between the ballnut and the ballscrew; and corrective action if necessary. That supplemental NPRM also proposed to require initial and repetitive inspections of the ballscrew-to-ballnut freeplay for certain airplanes.

Comments

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.

Supportive Comment

Boeing concurs with the content of the supplemental NPRM.

Request To Allow the Use of New Tool Kits

Japan Airlines (JAL) asks that we allow use of new tool kits A55001-42 (the horizontal stabilizer lock equipment) and A55001-34, as specified in the tool change bulletin (Boeing Message Number 1-203914627-1). JAL notes that Boeing plans to revise Boeing Service Bulletin 767-27A0194 to permit the usage of both A55001-34 and A55001-42 tool kits.

We acknowledge JAL's concern and we have verified with Boeing that tool kit A55001-42 is acceptable to use when accomplishing the actions required by the AD. Tool kit A55001-34 is identified in Boeing Service Bulletins 767-27A0194 and 767-27A0195, both Revision 2, both dated July 13, 2006. Those service bulletins are referred to in the supplemental NPRM as the appropriate sources of service information for accomplishing the specified actions. Therefore, the tool kits identified by JAL can be used when accomplishing the actions required by the AD. No change to the AD is necessary in this regard.

Conclusion

We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the comments received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed in the supplemental NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

There are about 941 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 411 airplanes of U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to comply with this AD, per cycle.

Estimated Costs

Repetitive actions	Work hours	Average labor rate per hour	Cost per airplane	Number of U.S.-registered airplanes	Fleet cost
Detailed inspection	1	$80	$80	411	$32,880
Lubrication	1	80	80	411	32,880
Freeplay measurement	3	80	240	411	98,640

The ballscrew-to-ballnut freeplay inspection will take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of this inspection on U.S. operators is $32,880, or $80 per airplane, per inspection cycle.

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); 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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

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

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2008-06-06 Boeing: Amendment 39-15418. Docket No. FAA-2005-22623; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-80-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This AD becomes effective April 16, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to all Boeing Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and -400ER series airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD was prompted by a report of extensive corrosion of a ballscrew in the horizontal stabilizer of a similar airplane model. We are issuing this AD to prevent an undetected failure of the primary load path for the ballscrew in the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer and subsequent wear and failure of the secondary load path, which could lead to loss of control of the horizontal stabilizer and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

Compliance

(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.

Repetitive Detailed Inspections/Lubrications/Freeplay Measurement/Corrective Action

(f) Do all the applicable actions, including any applicable corrective action, specified in Work Packages 1, 2, and 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 767-27A0194 (for Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes) or Boeing Service Bulletin 767-27A0195 (for Model 767-400ER series airplanes), both Revision 1, both dated July 21, 2005; or both Revision 2, both dated July 13, 2006; as applicable. Do the actions at the applicable compliance time specified in Table 1 of paragraph 1.E. “Compliance” of the service bulletins; except, where the service bulletins specify a compliance time relative to the original issue date of the service bulletin, this AD requires compliance relative to the effective date of this AD. Where the service bulletins specify a compliance time relative to the delivery date of the airplane, this AD requires compliance relative to the date of issuance of the original standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the original export certificate of airworthiness. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight. Repeat the actions at the applicable repeat interval specified in Table 1 of paragraph 1.E “Compliance” of the applicable service bulletin. As of the effective date of this AD only Revision 2 of the service bulletins may be used.

Repetitive Ballscrew-to-Ballnut Freeplay Inspections

(g) For airplanes on which the A55001-22 lock equipment was used to do the ballscrew-to-ballnut freeplay inspection, and the maintenance records do not show that the tool was correctly adjusted in accordance with Appendix A, Step 1.E.3, of Boeing Service Bulletin 767-27A0194 or 767-27A0195, both Revision 1, both dated July 21, 2005: Do the ballscrew-to-ballnut freeplay inspection specified in Work Package 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service bulletin, including any applicable corrective action, at the time specified in Table 1 of paragraph 1.E. “Compliance” of Boeing Service Bulletin 767-27A0194 or 767-27A0195, both Revision 2, both dated July 13, 2006, as applicable. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight. Repeat the inspection thereafter at the intervals specified in Table 1 of paragraph 1.E “Compliance” of the applicable service bulletin.

Previously Accomplished Actions

(h) For airplanes on which the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer was replaced before the effective date of this AD with a drive mechanism that was not new or overhauled, and the detailed and freeplay inspections were not accomplished in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-27A0194 or 767-27A0195, both dated August 21, 2003: Within 3,500 flight hours or 24 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever is first, accomplish the inspections and perform all applicable corrective actions before further flight in accordance with Work Package 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 767-27A0194 or Boeing Service Bulletin 767-27A0195, both Revision 1, both dated July 21, 2005; or both Revision 2, both dated July 13, 2006; as applicable. As of the effective date of this AD only Revision 2 of the service bulletins may be used.

(i) For Model 767 airplanes that have line numbers 002 through 175 inclusive: Accomplishing the initial inspection, applicable corrective action, and lubrication before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-27A0185, dated July 10, 2003; is considered acceptable for compliance with the applicable actions required by paragraph (f) of this AD.

Note 1:

Boeing Service Bulletins 767-27A0194 and 767-27A0195, both Revision 2, both dated July 13, 2006, refer to the applicable Boeing 767 Airplane Maintenance Manuals as additional sources of service information for accomplishing the detailed inspections, lubrications, freeplay measurements, and corrective action.

Parts Installation

(j) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install on any airplane a horizontal stabilizer trim actuator unless it is new or has been overhauled as specified in Boeing Service Bulletins 767-27A0194 and 767-27A0195, both Revision 2, both dated July 13, 2006; or has been inspected, lubricated, and measured in accordance with paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(k)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

(2) To request a different method of compliance or a different compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(l) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 767-27A0194, Revision 2, dated July 13, 2006; or Boeing Service Bulletin 767-27A0195, Revision 2, dated July 13, 2006; as applicable; to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of these documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207 for a copy of this service information. You may review copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; or 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 February 28, 2008.

Ali Bahrami,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.