AD 2012-09-14

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of fractured and missing latch pin retention bolts that secure the latch pins on the forward cargo door. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections for fractured or missing latch pin retention bolts, replacement of existing titanium bolts with new Inconel bolts, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fractured and missing latch pin retention bolts, which could result in potential separation of the cargo door from the airplane and catastrophic decompression 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\nSec. 39.13 (Amended) \n\n0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): \n\n2012-09-14 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17049; Docket No. FAA- 2012-0105; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-123-AD. \n\n(a) Effective Date \n\n\n\tThis AD is effective June 21, 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- 52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010. \n\n(d) Subject \n\n\n\tJoint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association (ATA)of America Code 52, Doors. \n\n(e) Unsafe Condition \n\n\n\tThis AD was prompted by reports of fractured and missing latch pin retention bolts that secure the latch pins on the forward cargo door. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fractured and missing latch pin retention bolts, which could result in potential separation of the cargo door from the airplane and catastrophic decompression of the airplane. \n\n(f) Compliance \n\n\n\tComply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. \n\n(g) Inspect Retention Bolt of Latch Pin Fittings No. 1 Through No. 8 \n\n\n\tAt the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010, except as specified in paragraph (i) of this AD: Do a detailed inspection for fractured and/or \n\n((Page 29214)) \n\nmissing latch pin retention bolts of the latch pin fittings of the lower sill of the forward large cargo door, and do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777- 52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010, except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD. Do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions at the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010. Repeat the inspection thereafter at the applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010, except as specified in paragraph (j) of this AD. \n\n(h) Repair \n\n\n\tIf any cut, crack, or damage is found during any inspection required by this AD, and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010, specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate action: Before further flight, repair the cut, crack, or damage in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, Seattle, Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA. 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(i) Exception to Compliance Time \n\n\n\tWhere Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010, specifies a compliance time after the date on that service bulletin, this AD requires compliance within the specified compliance time after the effective date of this AD. \n\n(j) Optional Terminating Action for Repetitive Inspections \n\n\n\tReplacing latch pin retention bolts made of titanium with new Inconel bolts, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010, terminates the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (g) of this AD at Stations 509.10, 522.75, 537.50, 554.30, 562.90, 579.70, 591.25, and 604.90, latch pin fittings No. 1 through No. 8. \n\n(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) \n\n\n\t(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO, 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\n(l) Related Information \n\n\n\tFor more information about this AD, contact Ana Martinez Hueto, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6592; fax: 425- 917-6590; email: ana.m.hueto@faa.gov. \n\n(m) Material Incorporated by Reference \n\n\n\t(1) You 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 of the following service information: \n\t(i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-52A0038, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2010. \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 referenced 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 February 8, 2012 (77 FR \n\n((Page 29213)) \n\n6522). That NPRM proposed to require repetitive detailed inspections for fractured or missing latch pin retention bolts, replacement of existing titanium bolts with new Inconel bolts, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. \n\nComments \n\n\n\tWe gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We have considered the comments received. Boeing and American Airlines support the NPRM (77 FR 6522, February 8, 2012). \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. \n\nCosts of Compliance \n\n\n\tWe estimate that this AD affects 148 airplanes of U.S. registry. \n\tWe estimate the following costs to comply with this AD: \n\n\n\tEstimated Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \n\tCost per Cost on U.S. \n\tAction Labor cost Parts cost product operators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inspection........................ 1 work-hour x $85 per $0 $85 $12,580 \n\thour = $85. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \n\n\n\tWe estimate the following costs to do any necessary repairs that would be required based on the results of the inspection. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these repairs: \n\n\n\tOn-Condition Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \n\tCost per \n\tAction Labor cost Parts cost product ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross-bolt replacement............... 2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $170..... $50 $220 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \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.