AD 2012-10-10

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of corrosion damage on the outer diameter chrome surface of the horizontal stabilizer pivot pins. Micro-cracks in the chrome plating of the pivot pin, some of which extended into the base metal, were also reported. This condition, if not corrected, could result in a fractured horizontal stabilizer pivot pin. This AD requires replacing the existing horizontal stabilizer pivot pins with new or reworked pivot pins having improved corrosion resistance, doing repetitive inspections after installing the pivot pins, and doing corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent a fractured horizontal stabilizer pivot pin, which may cause excessive horizontal stabilizer freeplay and structural damage significant enough to result in loss of control of the airplane.

Final rule.

Adoption of the Amendment \n\n\n\tAccordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: \n\nPART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES \n\n0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: \n\n\n\tAuthority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. \n\n\n\nSec. 39.13 (Amended) \n\n0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): \n\n2012-10-10 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17059; Docket No. FAA- 2011-1259; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-181-AD. \n\n(a) Effective Date \n\n\n\tThis AD is effective June 29, 2012. \n\n(b) Affected ADs \n\n\n\tNone. \n\n(c) Applicability \n\n\n\tThis AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, - 300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777- 55A0018, Revision 1, dated March 6, 2012. \n\n(d) Subject \n\n\n\tJoint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 55, Stabilizers. \n\n(e) Unsafe Condition \n\n\n\tThis AD was prompted by reports of corrosion damage on the outer diameter chrome surface of the horizontal stabilizer pivot pins. Micro-cracks in the chrome plating of the pivot pins, some of which extended into the base metal, were also reported. We are issuing this AD to prevent a fractured horizontal stabilizer pivot pin, which may cause excessive horizontal stabilizer freeplay and structural damage significant enough to result in loss of control of the airplane. \n\n(f) Compliance \n\n\n\tComply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. \n\n((Page 31169)) \n\n(g) Pivot Pin Replacement \n\n\n\tAt the applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018, Revision 1, dated March 6, 2012, except as required by paragraph (i) of this AD: Replace the pivot pins of the horizontal stabilizer with new or reworked pivot pins, including replacing the spacer with a new spacer or with one that has been determined to be without corrosion damage or other irregularities; in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777- 55A0018, Revision 1, dated March 6, 2012. \n\n(h) Repetitive Inspections \n\n\n\tAt the applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018, Revision 1, dated March 6, 2012: Do detailed inspections for cracks, corrosion damage, or other irregularity of the outer and inner pivot pins; and an ultrasonic inspection for cracking of the outer pivot pins; and do all applicable corrective actions; in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018, Revision 1, dated March 6, 2012. Corrective actions must be done before further flight. Repeat the inspections at the applicable interval specified in paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018, Revision 1, dated March 6, 2012. \n\n(i) Exception \n\n\n\tWhere paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018, Revision 1, dated March 6, 2012, specifies a compliance time ''after the Revision 1 date of this service bulletin,'' this AD requires compliance within the specified compliance time ''after the effective date of this AD.'' \n\n(j) Credit for Previous Actions \n\n\n\tThis paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018, dated July 27, 2011. \n\n(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) \n\n\n\t(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 the Related Information section of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. \n\t(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. \n\t(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used for any repair 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. For a repair method to be approved, the repair must meet the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD. \n\n(l) Related Information \n\n\n\tFor more information about this AD, contact James Sutherland, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6533; fax: 425-917-6590; email: james.sutherland@faa.gov. \n\n(m) Material Incorporated by Reference \n\n\n\tYou must use the following service information to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the following service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51: \n\t(1) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018, Revision 1, dated March 6, 2012. \n\t(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; email me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. \n\t(3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. \n\t(4) You may also review copies of the 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.

Discussion \n\n\n\tWe issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. That NPRM published in the Federal Register on December 6, 2011 (76 FR 76066). That NPRM proposed to replace the existing horizontal stabilizer pivot pins with new or reworked pivot pins having improved corrosion resistance, doing repetitive inspections after installing the pivot pins, and doing corrective actions if necessary. \n\nComments \n\n\n\tWe gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. The following presents the comments received on the proposal (76 FR 76066, December 6, 2011) and the FAA's response to each comment. \n\nRequest To Delay Rule Due to Pending Service Information \n\n\n\tFedEx and All Nippon Airways (ANA) requested that the release date of the AD be postponed until Revision 1 of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018 is issued. FedEx stated that the horizontal stabilizer jacking tool used for the pivot pin removal/installation procedure, as specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018, dated July 27, 2011, is being re-designed, and suggested that the release date of the AD be postponed until re-design of the tool is completed and Revision 1 is issued. ANA noted that Boeing does not recommend accomplishing Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018, dated July 27, 2011, until the anti-rotation plates and jacking tool are available. \n\tWe do not agree to postpone issuing the final rule, because Boeing has issued Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018, Revision 1, dated March 6, 2012. That service bulletin includes the new anti-rotation plates, and, as an alternative to having the new anti-rotation plates, a procedure for reworking the existing anti-rotation plates. The pin removal tool is an optional tool allowing operators an alternate method to remove the horizontal stabilizer pivot pins without the jacking tool. The existing tool isapplicable to line numbers 1 through 40, and Boeing has issued rework instructions for the operators to modify existing tools for all Model 777 airplanes. The scope of this AD has not been expanded. We have updated the references in paragraphs (c), (g), (h), and (i) of this AD accordingly. In paragraph (j) of this AD, we are giving credit for actions done using Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018, dated July 27, 2011. \n\nOther Changes to NPRM (76 FR 76066, December 6, 2011) \n\n\n\tThe Repeat Interval columns of tables 2 and 3 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-55A0018, Revision 1, dated March 6, 2012, are corrected to include the phrase ''after the most recent inspection.'' Therefore, we have removed the exception stated in paragraph (i)(1) of the NPRM (76 FR 76066, December 6, 2011). \n\n((Page 31168)) \n\nConclusion \n\n\n\tWe reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes: \n\t(Agr)re consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM (76 FR 76066, December 6, 2011) for correcting the unsafe condition; and \n\tDo not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM (76 FR 76066, December 6, 2011). \n\tWe also determined that these changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of the AD. \n\nCosts of Compliance \n\n\n\tWe estimate that this AD affects 155 airplanes of U.S. registry. \n\tWe estimate the following costs to comply with this AD: \n\n\n\tEstimated Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \n\tCost on U.S. \n\tAction Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Replacement of horizontal 16 work-hours x $85 $11,452 $12,812............ $1,985,860 \n\tstabilizer pivot pins. per hour = $1,360. Repetitive inspections........... 22 work-hours x $85 0 $1,870 per $289,850 per \n\tper hour = $1,870 inspection cycle. inspection cycle. \n\tper inspection \n\tcycle. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \n\n\n\tWe estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements that would be required based on the results of the inspections. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these replacements. \n\n\n\tOn-Condition Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \n\tCost per \n\tAction Labor cost Parts cost product ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pivot pin or spacer replacement.............. 16 work-hours x $85 per hour = $11,452 $12,812 \n\t$1,360. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \n\nAuthority for This Rulemaking \n\n\n\tTitle 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. \n\tWe 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. \n\nRegulatory Findings \n\n\n\tThis 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. \n\tFor the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD: \n\t(1) Is not a ''significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, \n\t(2) Is not a ''significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979), \n\t(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and \n\t(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. \n\nList of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 \n\n\n\tAir transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.