80234 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

Dated: December 17, 2015. 

Melvin L. Watt, 

Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency. 

[FR Doc. 2015–32199 Filed 12–23–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8070–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–1281; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–NM–241–AD; Amendment 

39–18346; AD 2015–25–08] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all The 

Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. 

This AD was prompted by an evaluation 

by the design approval holder (DAH) 

indicating that the lap splices of the aft 

pressure bulkhead webs are subject to 

widespread fatigue damage (WFD) on 

aging Model 777 airplanes that have 

accumulated at least 38,000 total flight 

cycles. This AD requires repetitive 

inspections for any crack in the aft webs 

of the radial lap splices of the aft 

pressure bulkhead, and, if necessary, 

corrective actions. We are issuing this 

AD to detect and correct fatigue 

cracking in the aft webs of the radial lap 

splices of the aft pressure bulkhead; 

such cracking could result in reduced 

structural integrity of the airplane, 

decompression of the cabin, and 

collapse of the floor structure. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 28, 

2016. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of January 28, 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– 

1281. 

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– 

1281; 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 (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: Eric 

Lin, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe 

Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 

Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057– 

3356; phone: 425–917–6412; fax: 425– 

917–6590; email: Eric.Lin@faa.gov. 

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 all The Boeing Company Model 

777 airplanes. The NPRM published in 

the Federal Register on May 12, 2015 

(80 FR 27116). The NPRM was 

prompted by an evaluation by the DAH 

indicating that the lap splices of the aft 

pressure bulkhead webs are subject to 

WFD on aging Model 777 airplanes that 

have accumulated at least 38,000 total 

flight cycles. The NPRM proposed to 

require repetitive inspections for any 

crack in the aft webs of the radial lap 

splices of the aft pressure bulkhead, 

and, if necessary, corrective actions. We 

are issuing this AD to detect and correct 

fatigue cracking in the aft webs of the 

radial lap splices of the aft pressure 

bulkhead; such cracking could result in 

reduced structural integrity of the 

airplane, decompression of the cabin, 

and collapse of the floor structure. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the NPRM (80 FR 27116, 

May 12, 2015) and the FAA’s response 

to each comment. 

FedEx Express stated: 

• All of its Boeing Model 777s would 

be affected. 

• The proposed inspection threshold 

and intervals would fit into its 

maintenance schedule. 

• The number of man-hours and 

elapsed time to accomplish the 

inspections would not impact the 

overall span-time of its maintenance 

schedule. 

• The proposed inspections do not 

require any special inspection 

techniques, training, or tooling. 

Request To Clarify Unsafe Condition 

Boeing requested that the unsafe 

condition statement in the NPRM (80 FR 

27116, May 12, 2015) be revised to 

specify that the unsafe condition exists 

on aging airplanes, rather than new 

airplanes. Boeing stated that its analysis 

concluded that airplanes would have to 

accumulate at least 38,000 total flight 

cycles before the lap splices of the aft 

pressure bulkhead webs would be 

subject to WFD. 

We agree with Boeing’s request and 

have revised the unsafe condition 

statement in the preamble and 

regulatory text of this final rule 

accordingly. 

Request To Exclude a Service 

Information Action 

American Airlines (AA) requested 

that the first action specified in step 

3.B.5. of the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 777–53A0078, dated December 

5, 2014, be omitted from the 

requirements of the proposed AD (80 FR 

27116, May 12, 2015). The action is to 

put the airplane back into a serviceable 

condition. AA stated that this action 

does not address the unsafe condition 

addressed by the proposed rule and that 

most operators would accomplish the 

proposed AD requirements during a 

maintenance visit. AA stated that in the 

context of a maintenance visit, returning 

the airplane to a serviceable condition 

immediately after completion of the 

inspections and any associated 

corrective actions would not be 

possible. AA indicated that an operator 

would wait until all of the maintenance 

items scheduled for that visit would 

have been completed before putting the 

airplane back into a serviceable 

condition. 

We agree with the commenter’s 

statement that this action does not need 

to be required by this final rule; several 

other FAA regulations require restoring 

the airplane to a serviceable condition 

before further flight. However, the step 

of returning the airplane to a serviceable 

condition is not marked required for 

compliance (‘‘RC’’) in Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 777–53A0078, dated 

December 5, 2014; therefore, as noted in 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 80235 

paragraph (i)(4)(ii) of this AD, this step 

may be delayed using an accepted 

method in accordance with the 

operator’s maintenance or inspection 

program without obtaining approval of 

an alternative method of compliance 

(AMOC). We have not changed this AD 

in this regard. 

Request for Clarification of 

Relationship Between the NPRM (80 FR 

27116, May 12, 2015) and AD 2012–07– 

06, Amendment 39–17012 (77 FR 

21429) 

Air New Zealand requested 

clarification regarding the relationship 

between the NPRM (80 FR 27116, May 

12, 2015) and AD 2012–07–06, 

Amendment 39–17012 (77 FR 21429, 

April 10, 2012). Specifically, the 

commenter asked if the NPRM would 

supersede AD 2012–07–06; if the AMOC 

approval included in AD 2012–07–06 

would be included in the NPRM; and if 

the proposed inspections in the NPRM 

should be done in lieu of or in addition 

to the existing inspections required by 

AD 2012–07–06. 

We agree with the commenter’s 

request for clarification. This is a new 

AD applicable to all The Boeing 

Company Model 777 airplanes and 

requires repetitive inspections for 

cracking in the aft webs of the radial lap 

splices of the aft pressure bulkhead, and 

corrective actions if necessary. AD 

2012–07–06, Amendment 39–17012 (77 

FR 21429, April 10, 2012), is applicable 

to certain Model 777 airplanes and 

requires revising the maintenance 

program to update inspection 

requirements to detect fatigue cracking 

of principal structural elements 

throughout the airplane. 

An AMOC for AD 2012–07–06, 

Amendment 39–17012 (77 FR 21429, 

April 10, 2012), was issued so operators 

could use the corresponding compliance 

times and inspections specified in 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777– 

53A0078, dated December 5, 2014, for 

the inspection requirements for the 

corresponding locations specified in 

Boeing Model 777 Structural Significant 

Item 53–80–I13A and paragraphs (g) and 

(h) of AD 2012–07–06. The information 

regarding this AMOC is included in 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777– 

53A0078, dated December 5, 2014. 

Operators are required to accomplish 

the requirements in this new AD in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 777–53A0078, dated December 

5, 2014. If the actions of this new AD 

are done, the requirements of AD 2012– 

07–06 are met only for areas inspected 

in accordance with Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 777–53A0078, dated December 

5, 2014. 

Regarding the question about whether 

the AMOC approval included in AD 

2012–07–06, Amendment 39–17012 (77 

FR 21429, April 10, 2012), would be 

included in this AD, paragraph (i) of 

this AD contains the AMOC approval 

procedures for this AD. However, 

because the existing inspections 

required by AD 2012–07–06 are not 

sufficient to preclude WFD in this area, 

we have not included previous AMOCs 

issued for AD 2012–07–06 as AMOCs 

for this AD. 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 (80 FR 

27116, May 12, 2015) for correcting the 

unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 27116, 

May 12, 2015). 

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 777–53A0078, dated December 

5, 2014. This service information 

describes procedures for inspections of 

the lap splices in the web of the aft 

pressure bulkhead for cracking, and 

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 193 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators 

Inspection ............... 9 work-hours × $85 per hour = 

$765 per inspection cycle.

$0 $765 per inspection cycle ........... $147,645 per inspection cycle 

We have received no definitive data 

that would enable us to provide cost 

estimates for the on-condition actions 

specified in this AD. 

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. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
80236 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

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 FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

2015–25–08 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–18346; Docket No. 

FAA–2015–1281; Directorate Identifier 

2014–NM–241–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective January 28, 2016. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all The Boeing 

Company Model 777–200, –200LR, –300, 

–300ER, and 777F series airplanes, 

certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53, Fuselage. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by an evaluation by 

the design approval holder indicating that 

the lap splices of the aft pressure bulkhead 

webs are subject to widespread fatigue 

damage on aging Model 777 airplanes that 

have accumulated at least 38,000 total flight 

cycles. We are issuing this AD to detect and 

correct fatigue cracking in the aft webs of the 

radial lap splices of the aft pressure 

bulkhead; such cracking could result in 

reduced structural integrity of the airplane, 

decompression of the cabin, and collapse of 

the floor structure. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Inspection of Lap Splice in the Web of the 

Aft Pressure Bulkhead 

Except as required by paragraph (h) of this 

AD: At the times specified in paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 777–53A0078, dated December 5, 

2014, do a medium frequency eddy current 

inspection for any cracking in the aft webs 

of the radial lap splices of the aft pressure 

bulkhead, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 777–53A0078, dated 

December 5, 2014. Repeat the inspection 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 8,400 

flight cycles from the previous inspection. If 

any crack is found during any inspection 

required by this AD, do the applicable 

corrective actions, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 777–53A0078, dated 

December 5, 2014. If a corrective action 

described in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

777–53A0078, dated December 5, 2014, 

specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate 

action: Before further flight, repair using a 

method approved in accordance with the 

procedures specified in paragraph (i) of this 

AD. 

(h) Exception to Service Information 

Specifications 

Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777– 

53A0078, dated December 5, 2014, specifies 

a compliance time ‘‘after the original issue 

date of this service bulletin,’’ this AD 

requires compliance within the specified 

compliance time after the effective date of 

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) of this AD. Information may be 

emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOCRequests@faa.gov. 

(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. 

(4) For service information that contains 

steps that are labeled as Required for 

Compliance (RC), the provisions of 

paragraphs (i)(4)(i) and (1)(4)(ii) of this AD 

apply. 

(i) The steps labeled as RC, including 

substeps under an RC step and any figures 

identified in an RC step, must be done to 

comply with the AD. An AMOC is required 

for any deviations to RC steps, including 

substeps and identified figures. 

(ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be 

deviated from using accepted methods in 

accordance with the operator’s maintenance 

or inspection program without obtaining 

approval of an AMOC, provided the RC steps, 

including substeps and identified figures, can 

still be done as specified, and the airplane 

can be put back in an airworthy condition. 

(j) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Eric Lin, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle 

ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6412; fax: 425– 

917–6590; email: Eric.Lin@faa.gov. 

(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 777– 

53A0078, dated December 5, 2014. 

(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/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

December 10, 2015. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–31715 Filed 12–23–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2014–0625; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–NM–044–AD; Amendment 

39–18343; AD 2015–25–05] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, 

Inc. Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 


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