Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 22 / Thursday, February 1, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 6413 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 

410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206– 

231–3225; email dan.rodina@faa.gov. 

(m) 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 this AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2023–0091, dated May 5, 2023. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA AD 2023–0091, contact 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 

000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; website 

easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD 

on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

206–231–3195. 

(5) You may view this material at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, 

visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov. 

Issued on January 2, 2024. 

Caitlin Locke, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–01965 Filed 1–31–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–1041; Project 

Identifier AD–2022–01223–T; Amendment 

39–22657; AD 2024–01–06] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 737–600, 

737–700, and 737–800 series airplanes. 

This AD was prompted by an evaluation 

by the design approval holder (DAH) 

indicating the fuselage skin repairs at 

the double row of fasteners centered on 

certain stringers have inadequate 

inspection requirements for continuing 

airworthiness following repair 

accomplishment. This AD is intended to 

complete certain programs to support 

the airplane reaching its limit of validity 

(LOV). This AD requires repetitive 

inspections for cracks of skin repairs at 

Stringer S–17, and corrective actions if 

necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 7, 

2024. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of March 7, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2023–1041; or in person at 

Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 

5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this final rule, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

address for Docket Operations is U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 

20590. 

Material Incorporated by Reference: 

• For service information identified 

in this final rule, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: 

Contractual & Data Services (C&DS), 

2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110–SK57, 

Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600; telephone 

562–797–1717; website 

myboeingfleet.com. 

• You may view this service 

information at the FAA, Airworthiness 

Products Section, Operational Safety 

Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 206–231–3195. It is also available at 

regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA– 

2023–1041. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill 

Ashforth, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, 

WA 98198; telephone 206–231–3520; 

email Bill.Ashforth@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA 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 

(Boeing) Model 737–600, 737–700, and 

737–800 series airplanes. The NPRM 

was published in the Federal Register 

on May 25, 2023 (88 FR 33849). The 

NPRM was prompted by an evaluation 

by the DAH indicating the fuselage skin 

repairs at the double row of fasteners 

centered on certain stringers have 

inadequate inspection requirements for 

continuing airworthiness following 

repair accomplishment, which could 

result in fatigue cracking of the repair 

going undetected. 

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 

require repetitive inspections for 

cracking of the skin repairs at S–17, and 

corrective actions if necessary. The FAA 

is issuing this AD to address this fatigue 

cracking, which, if not addressed, could 

grow to a critical length and result in 

rapid decompression and loss of the 

airplane’s structural integrity. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received comments from the 

Air Line Pilots Association, 

International (ALPA) who supported the 

NPRM without change. 

The FAA also received comments 

from Aviation Partners Boeing (APB), 

Boeing, Southwest Airlines (Southwest), 

and SunExpress Airline (SunExpress). 

Compliance With AMOC Procedures 

APB determined that the 

incorporation of supplemental type 

certificate (STC) ST00830SE for 

installation of split scimitar winglets 

affects compliance with the mandated 

actions in the proposed rule, but the 

extent of the impact to compliance is 

not fully known at this time. APB noted 

that paragraph (h) of the proposed AD 

would replace the provisions in Boeing 

Service Bulletin 737–53A1217 R1 that 

specify contacting Boeing for an 

alternative method of compliance 

(AMOC) for alternative inspections and 

corrective actions, and instead would 

require using a method approved in 

accordance with paragraph (i) of the 

proposed AD. APB stated that for 

affected airplanes with these winglets, 

approval of any alternative inspections 

and corrective actions for Zone 3 and 

Zone 4 repairs must be obtained from 

the Manager, AIR–520 Continued 

Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 

through the means described in 

paragraph (i)(1) of the proposed AD. 

APB asserted that Boeing does not have 

delegation to approve repairs in areas 

affected by the configuration of STC 

ST00830SE and cannot use ODA 

approval as specified in paragraph (i)(3) 

of the proposed AD. 

The FAA acknowledges APB’s 

comment. Paragraph (h)(1) of this AD 

states that AMOC approval be obtained 

using a method approved in accordance 

with the procedures specified in 

‘‘paragraph (i)’’ of this AD, and does not 

limit approvals to the provisions of 

paragraph (i)(1) or (3) of this AD. 

Therefore, no change to this AD is 

necessary. 


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6414 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 22 / Thursday, February 1, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

Request To Correct Service Bulletin 

Reference 

Boeing reported that the Background 

section of the NPRM incorrectly 

identified the original service 

information as Boeing Service Bulletin 

‘‘737–53A1217,’’ but that document was 

not an alert service bulletin and should 

have been identified as Service Bulletin 

‘‘737–53–1217.’’ 

The FAA agrees; no change to the 

final rule is necessary because that 

reference is not used. 

Request To Specify Service Bulletin 

Revision Level 

The NPRM’s Background section 

explained that certain existing postrepair inspections are inadequate to 

address the unsafe condition, and that 

the actions in paragraph (g) of the 

proposed AD would apply only to 

airplanes on which a repair has been 

done as specified in ‘‘Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–53A1217.’’ Boeing 

requested that the statement be clarified 

by adding the revision level and date of 

the service bulletin. Boeing further 

stated that Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–53A1217, Revision 1, dated 

September 8, 2022, was issued to add 

the post-repair inspections to airplanes 

on which a repair has been done. 

The FAA disagrees. In this context, 

the revision level and date of the service 

bulletin were intentionally omitted so 

the Background section of the NPRM 

would refer to any repair–including a 

repair done using a method other than 

the service bulletin (at any revision 

level). No change is necessary to this 

final rule. 

Request To Revise Unsafe Condition 

Boeing requested changes to 

paragraph (e) of the proposed AD, 

which implied the unsafe condition is 

the potential for cracking. Boeing stated 

that the proposed AD would require 

only post-repair inspections, and 

asserted that the unsafe condition is 

actually the lack of post-repair 

inspections because it could result in 

undetected post-repair fatigue cracks. 

The FAA agrees and has incorporated 

the relevant changes. 

Request To Revise Compliance Time 

Southwest and SunExpress stated that 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737– 

53A1217 provides no grace period for 

airplanes that have exceeded the 

threshold, and requested that the 

proposed AD be revised to provide a 

grace period or optional threshold 

value. 

The FAA notes that paragraph (g) of 

this AD mandates only Tables 3 through 

6 of paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737– 

53A1217, Revision 1, dated September 

8, 2022. For those actions, the service 

bulletin specifies a compliance time of 

50,000 total flight cycles, with a grace 

period of 4,000 flight cycles after the 

repair. Therefore, no change is 

necessary to the AD. 

Request To Clarify Configuration 

Description 

Southwest requested clarification of 

the affected airplanes and 

corresponding requirements for Tables 1 

through 3 of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 737–53A1217, Revision 1, 

dated September 8, 2022. Southwest 

noted that paragraphs 1.A.1. and 1.D. 

define Groups 1 through 3, 

Configuration 3, as ‘‘airplanes that have 

installed a repair,’’ but tables 1 through 

3 of paragraph 1.E list conditions for 

airplanes that both have and have not 

accomplished a repair. 

The FAA provides the following 

clarification. The tables apply to any 

airplanes that have performed a repair, 

whether the repair was done in 

accordance with ‘‘SB 737–53–1217 

Original Issue’’ or in accordance with 

some other method. So the condition 

‘‘Airplanes that have not accomplished 

a repair in accordance with ‘SB 737–53– 

1217 Original Issue’ applies to airplanes 

that have been repaired using some 

method other than ‘SB 737–53–1217 

Original Issue.’ ’’ Groups 1 through 3, 

Configuration 3, include any airplane on 

which a repair has been accomplished 

in one of the zones specified in the 

service information. No changes to this 

AD are necessary as a result of this 

comment. 

Request To Use BMS 3–35 or BMS 3– 

23 Compound 

Southwest noted that Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–53A1217, Revision 

1, dated September 8, 2022, specifies 

the use of BMS 3–23 corrosioninhibiting compound (CIC) for repairs. 

Southwest requested that the proposed 

AD be revised to allow the use of BMS 

3–35 CIC due to the faster drying time 

compared to BMS 3–23 CIC. Southwest 

stated that Boeing Corrosion Prevention 

Manual (CPM) 20–60–00 and Boeing 

Service Request (SR) SWA–SWA–10– 

1232–02B approve BMS 3–35 for use on 

all Boeing commercial airplanes 

including those no longer in production. 

The FAA agrees that either BMS 3–35 

or BMS 3–23 CIC is acceptable because 

both provide an adequate level of safety. 

Paragraph (h)(2) of this AD has been 

added to allow use of either CIC. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the received comments, and 

determined that air safety requires 

adopting this AD as proposed, with 

limited changes as previously stated. 

Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. Except for minor editorial 

changes, and any other changes 

described previously, this AD is 

adopted as proposed in the NPRM. 

None of the changes will increase the 

economic burden on any operator. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–53A1217, Revision 

1, dated September 8, 2022. This service 

information specifies procedures for, 

among other actions, repetitive internal 

and external detailed inspections, low 

frequency eddy current (LFEC) 

inspections, and medium frequency 

eddy current (MFEC) inspections for 

cracks of the skin repair of S–17, station 

(STA) 360 to STA 380, and STA 888 to 

STA 907, left and right sides of the 

airplane. Corrective actions include 

repair. 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 

ADDRESSES. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 106 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following costs 

to comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

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

operators 

External Post Repair Inspection ... 56 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,760 per inspection cycle.$0 $4,760 per inspection cycle.$504,560 per inspection cycle. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 22 / Thursday, February 1, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 6415 

ESTIMATED COSTS—Continued 

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

operators 

Internal Post Repair Inspections .. 52 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,420 per inspection cycle.0 $4,420 per inspection cycle.$468,520 per inspection cycle. 

The FAA has received no definitive 

data on which to base the cost estimates 

for the repairs 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. 

The FAA is 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

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: 

2024–01–06 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–22657; Docket No. 

FAA–2023–1041; Project Identifier AD– 

2022–01223–T. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective March 7, 2024. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to The Boeing Company 

Model 737–600, 737–700, and 737–800 series 

airplanes, certificated in any category, as 

identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–53A1217, Revision 1, dated September 

8, 2022. 

(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 (DAH) indicating 

the fuselage skin repairs at the double row of 

fasteners centered on certain stringers have 

inadequate inspection requirements for 

continuing airworthiness following repair 

accomplishment, which could result in 

fatigue cracking of the repair going 

undetected. The FAA is issuing this AD to 

address the inadequacy of post-repair 

inspection requirements at certain repair 

fastener locations centered on stringer S–17L 

and S–17R, at station (STA) 360 to STA 380 

and at STA 888 to STA 907. Such inspection 

inadequacy could result in post-repair fatigue 

cracks going undetected. Fatigue cracking, if 

not addressed, could grow to a critical length, 

which could result in rapid decompression 

and loss of structural integrity of the 

airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this 

AD: For Group 1 through 3, Configuration 3 

airplanes as identified in Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–53A1217, Revision 1, 

dated September 8, 2022, at the applicable 

times specified in Tables 3 through 6 of 

paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing 

Alert Service Bulletin 737–53A1217, 

Revision 1, dated September 8, 2022, do all 

applicable actions identified as ‘‘RC’’ 

(required for compliance) in, and in 

accordance with, the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–53A1217, Revision 1, dated September 

8, 2022. 

(h) Exceptions to Service Information 

Specifications 

(1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–53A1217, Revision 1, dated September 

8, 2022, specifies contacting Boeing for repair 

instructions or for alternative inspections: 

This AD requires doing the repair, or doing 

the alternative inspections and applicable oncondition actions, using a method approved 

in accordance with the procedures specified 

in paragraph (i) of this AD. 

(2) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–53A1217, Revision 1, dated September 

8, 2022, specifies using corrosion inhibiting 

compound (CIC) compound BMS 3–23, this 

AD also allows use of CIC compound BMS 

3–35. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, AIR–520 Continued 

Operational Safety Branch, 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 responsible Flight Standards Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the Manager, AIR–520 Continued 

Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 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 responsible Flight Standards 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 Company 

Organization Designation Authorization 

(ODA) that has been authorized by the 

Manager, AIR–520 Continued Operational 

Safety Branch, FAA, 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) Except as specified by paragraph (h) of 

this AD: For service information that 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
6416 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 22 / Thursday, February 1, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

contains steps that are labeled as Required 

for Compliance (RC), the provisions of 

paragraphs (i)(4)(i) and (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. If a step or substep is 

labeled ‘‘RC Exempt,’’ then the RC 

requirement is removed from that step or 

substep. 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 Bill Ashforth, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206–231– 

3520; email Bill.Ashforth@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 737– 

53A1217, Revision 1, dated September 8, 

2022. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data 

Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., 

MC 110–SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600; 

telephone 562–797–1717; website 

myboeingfleet.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

206–231–3195. 

(5) You may view this material at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, 

visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov. 

Issued on January 6, 2024. 

Caitlin Locke, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–01968 Filed 1–31–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–0429; Project 

Identifier AD–2022–00775–T; Amendment 

39–22658; AD 2024–01–07] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is 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) 

that found the force limiter assemblies 

for the lateral control mechanism are 

not breaking out within the maximum 

design force requirements. This AD 

requires replacing affected force limiter 

assemblies and prohibits the installation 

of affected parts. The FAA is issuing 

this AD to address the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 7, 

2024. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of March 7, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2023–0429; or in person at 

Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 

5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this final rule, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

address for Docket Operations is U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 

20590. 

Material Incorporated by Reference: 

• For service information identified 

in this final rule, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: 

Contractual & Data Services (C&DS), 

2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110–SK57, 

Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600; telephone 

562–797–1717; website 

myboeingfleet.com. 

• You may view this service 

information at the FAA, Airworthiness 

Products Section, Operational Safety 

Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 206–231–3195. It is also available at 

regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA– 

2023–0429. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Anthony Caldejon, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., 

Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 206– 

231–3534; email Anthony.V.Caldejon@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA 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 March 27, 2023 

(88 FR 18099). The NPRM was 

prompted by an evaluation by the DAH 

that found the force limiter assemblies 

for the lateral control mechanism are 

not breaking out within the maximum 

design force requirements. In the NPRM, 

the FAA proposed to require identifying 

and replacing affected force limiter 

assemblies, and to prohibit the 

installation of affected parts. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

the force limiter assemblies not breaking 

out within the maximum design force 

requirements. The unsafe condition, 

combined with a lateral control system 

jam or restriction, could result in the 

loss of lateral control from the wheel 

and potentially affect continued safe 

flight and landing. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received comments from the 

Air Line Pilots Association, 

International, who supported the NPRM 

without change. 

The FAA received additional 

comments from Aerologic, All Nippon 

Airways, American Airlines, Boeing, 

China Airlines, FedEx, Omni Air 

International (Omni Air), Swiss 

International Air Lines (Swiss Air), 

Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. 

The following presents those comments 

and the FAA’s response to each 

comment. 

Request To Revise Requirements for 

Certain Line Numbers 

Aerologic, All Nippon Airways, 

American Airlines, Boeing, Omni Air, 

United Airlines, and Swiss Air 

requested changes to the proposed AD 

to provide relief for airplane line 

numbers prior to 1531. Aerologic, 

Boeing, and American Airlines also 

requested changes to provide relief for 

airplane lines number after 1707. Boeing 

stated that the suspect affected force 

limiter assemblies were delivered only 


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