Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 10, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 73269 

(3) Where the material referenced in 

paragraphs (2) and (3) of EASA AD 2022– 

0246 specifies sending removed blade(s) to 

Airbus Helicopters, this AD does not require 

that action. 

(4) This AD does not adopt the ‘‘Remarks’’ 

section of EASA AD 2022–0246. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the material referenced in EASA 

AD 2022–0246 specifies to submit certain 

information to the manufacturer, this AD 

does not include that requirement. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, International Validation 

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 local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the International Validation 

Branch, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (k) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR730-AMOC@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. 

(k) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Dan McCully, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, 

Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (404) 474–5548; 

email: william.mccully@faa.gov. 

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

the material listed in this paragraph under 5 

U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) You must use this material as 

applicable to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2022–0246, dated December 12, 

2022. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA material identified in this 

AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 

50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 

8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; 

website: easa.europa.eu. You may find the 

EASA material on the EASA website at 

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(4) You may view this material at the FAA, 

Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 

Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Room 6N– 

321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call (817) 222–5110. 

(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 July 23, 2024. 

Steven W. Thompson, 

Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–20343 Filed 9–9–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–0761; Project 

Identifier AD–2023–01256–T; Amendment 

39–22798; AD 2024–15–07] 

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 certain 

The Boeing Company Model 777 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by a 

determination that the nitrogen 

enriched air distribution system 

(NEADS) cover plate assembly attached 

to a certain vent stringer in the center 

wing tank was installed without a 

designed electrical bond. This AD 

requires installing electrical bonding 

and grounding, installing the cover plate 

assembly with new fasteners, and 

revising the existing maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, to 

incorporate new airworthiness 

limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 15, 

2024. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of October 15, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2024–0761; 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 Boeing material identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data 

Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster 

Boulevard, MC 110–SK57, Seal Beach, 

CA 90740–5600; telephone 562–797– 

1717; website myboeingfleet.com. 

• You may view this material 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–2024–0761. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Anthony Decaro, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., 

Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone: 562– 

627–5374; email: Anthony.D.Decaro@

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 

Model 777 airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

March 25, 2024 (89 FR 20555). The 

NPRM was prompted by a report 

indicating a production audit by the 

design approval holder found that the 

design of the NEADS cover plate 

assembly did not comply with the 

requirements for nitrogen generation 

system certification (14 CFR 25.981). It 

was discovered that the NEADS cover 

plate assembly attached to a certain vent 

stringer in the center wing tank was 

installed without a designed electrical 

bond for electrostatic dissipation. In the 

NPRM, the FAA proposed to require 

installing electrical bonding and 

grounding, installing the cover plate 

assembly with new fasteners, and 

revising the existing maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, to 

incorporate new airworthiness 

limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the accumulation of 

electrostatic charge in the cover plate 

assembly and float valve assembly 

during airplane refueling, which could 

lead to electrostatic discharge to the 

surrounding structure. The unsafe 

condition, if not addressed, could result 

in result in an ignition source inside the 

fuel tank and subsequent fire or 

explosion. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received a comment from 

the Air Line Pilots Association, 

International (ALPA) who supported the 

NPRM without change and a comment 

from United Airlines who reviewed the 


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73270 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 10, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

NPRM and provided no additional 

comment. The FAA received an 

additional comment from Boeing. The 

following presents the comment 

received on the NPRM and the FAA’s 

response to that comment. 

Request To Clarify the Unsafe 

Condition 

Boeing requested the unsafe condition 

be revised to clarify when the 

accumulation of electrostatic charge on 

the vent float valve assembly could 

occur. Specifically, Boeing requested 

adding the words ‘‘during airplane 

refueling’’ to the unsafe condition 

because the threat of accumulation is 

only present during refueling operation 

when charged fuel is introduced to the 

fuel tank from the airport refueling 

infrastructure, and that other airplane 

operations such as flight do not 

introduce a threat to the installation. 

The FAA agrees with clarifying the 

unsafe condition. The FAA has revised 

the Background section and paragraph 

(e) to clarify that the FAA is issuing this 

AD to address the accumulation of 

electrostatic charge in the cover plate 

assembly and float valve assembly 

during airplane refueling, which could 

lead to electrostatic discharge to the 

surrounding structure. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, 

considered any comments received, and 

determined that air safety requires 

adopting this AD as proposed. 

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. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

Under 1 CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 777–47A0007 

RB, dated November 21, 2023. This 

material specifies procedures for 

removing the cover plate assembly and 

its attached float valve assembly, 

installing electrical bonding and 

grounding, measuring the bonding 

resistance between the bolt heads/cover 

plate assembly/float valve assembly 

mounting flange and the vent stringer 

No. 15 and between the nuts and the 

cover plate assembly, and installing the 

cover plate assembly with new 

fasteners. This material also specifies 

revising the operator’s maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, by 

incorporating new airworthiness 

limitations (AWLs). This material 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 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 292 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 

Electrical bond installation .............................. 27 work-hours × $85 per hour = $2,295 ........ $93 $2,388 $697,296 

The FAA has determined that revising 

the existing maintenance or inspection 

program takes an average of 90 workhours per operator, although the agency 

recognizes that this number may vary 

from operator to operator. Since 

operators incorporate maintenance or 

inspection program changes for their 

affected fleet(s), the FAA has 

determined that a per-operator estimate 

is more accurate than a per-airplane 

estimate. Therefore, the agency 

estimates the average total cost per 

operator to be $7,650 (90 work-hours × 

$85 per work-hour). 

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: 

2024–15–07 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–22798; Docket No. 

FAA–2024–0761; Project Identifier AD– 

2023–01256–T. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective October 15, 2024. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This 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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 10, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 73271 

1 89 FR 22482, corrected at 89 FR 29252. 

Requirements Bulletin 777–47A0007 RB, 

dated November 21, 2023. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 28, Fuel. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a determination 

that the nitrogen enriched air distribution 

system (NEADS) cover plate assembly 

attached to vent stringer No. 15 in the center 

wing tank was installed without a designed 

electrical bond. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the accumulation of electrostatic 

charge in the cover plate assembly and float 

valve assembly during airplane refueling, 

which could lead to electrostatic discharge to 

the surrounding structure. The unsafe 

condition, if not addressed, could result in an 

ignition source inside the fuel tank and 

subsequent fire or explosion. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this 

AD: At the applicable times specified in the 

‘‘Compliance’’ paragraph of Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 777–47A0007 RB, 

dated November 21, 2023, do all applicable 

actions identified in, and in accordance with, 

the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Alert Requirements Bulletin 777–47A0007 

RB, dated November 21, 2023. 

Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for 

accomplishing the actions required by this 

AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 777–47A0007, dated November 21, 

2023, which is referred to in Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 777–47A0007 RB, 

dated November 21, 2023. 

(h) Exceptions to Service Information 

Specifications 

(1) Where the ‘‘Effectivity’’ paragraph and 

Compliance Time columns of the tables in 

the ‘‘Compliance’’ paragraph of Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 777–47A0007 RB, 

dated November 21, 2023, refer to the 

original issue date of Requirements Bulletin 

777–47A0007 RB, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) Where the compliance time for 

‘‘ACTION 3: Incorporate Maintenance 

Planning Data (MPD),’’ in the ‘‘Compliance’’ 

paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin 777–47A0007 RB, dated November 

21, 2023, refers to before further flight after 

accomplishing ACTION 1 and ACTION 2, 

this AD requires incorporating the MPD 

within 60 days after the effective date of this 

AD. 

(i) No Alternative Actions, Intervals, or 

Critical Design Configuration Control 

Limitations (CDCCLs) 

After the existing maintenance or 

inspection program has been revised as 

required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no 

alternative actions (e.g., inspections), 

intervals, or CDCCLs may be used unless the 

actions, intervals, and CDCCLs are approved 

as an alternative method of compliance 

(AMOC) in accordance with the procedures 

specified in paragraph (j) of this AD. 

(j) 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 of the certification office, 

send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (k)(1) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: AMOC@

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. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Anthony Decaro, Aviation Safety 

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

Moines, WA 98198; telephone: 562–627– 

5374; email: Anthony.D.Decaro@faa.gov. 

(2) Material identified in this AD that is not 

incorporated by reference is available at the 

address specified in paragraph (l)(3) of this 

AD. 

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

the material listed in this paragraph under 5 

U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) You must use this material as 

applicable to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

777–47A0007 RB, dated November 21, 2023. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For this material, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: 

Contractual & Data Services (C&DS), 2600 

Westminster Boulevard., MC 110–SK57, Seal 

Beach, CA 90740–5600; telephone 562–797– 

1717; website myboeingfleet.com. 

(4) You may view this material 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 September 5, 2024. 

Peter A. White, 

Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate 

Management Division, Aircraft Certification 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–20390 Filed 9–9–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 61 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–1463; Amdt. Nos. 

61–153A] 

RIN 2120–AL74 

Airman Certification Standards and 

Practical Test Standards for Airmen; 

Incorporation by Reference; Correction 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), U.S. Department 

of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Correcting amendment. 

SUMMARY: On April 1, 2024, the Federal 

Aviation Administration (FAA) 

published a final rule in the Federal 

Register to incorporate certain Airman 

Certification Standards and Practical 

Test Standards by reference into the 

certification requirements for pilots, 

flight instructors, flight engineers, 

aircraft dispatchers, and parachute 

riggers. That final rule incorrectly set 

forth certain regulatory text that 

includes duplicative requirements. This 

correction remedies the error. This 

correction does not make any 

substantive revisions to the regulations. 

DATES: Effective September 10, 2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

James Ciccone, Training and 

Certification Group, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence 

Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; 

telephone (202) 267–1100; email 

ACSPTSinquiries@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 

1, 2024, the ‘‘Airman Certification 

Standards and Practical Test Standards 

for Airmen; Incorporation by Reference’’ 

final rule published in the Federal 

Register, effective on May 31, 2024.1

That final rule adopted several 

amendments to parts 61, 63, and 65 of 

title 14 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations (14 CFR) by incorporating 

by reference (IBR) certain Airman 

Certification Standards (ACS) and 

Practical Test Standards (PTS), which 

serve as the testing standards for airman 

certificates and rating practical tests and 

proficiency checks. The final rule 


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