AD 2014-05-05

This AD is effective March 20, 2014.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of March 20, 2014.

We must receive comments on this AD by April 21, 2014.

You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Fax: 202-493-2251.

• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M- 30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

• Hand Deliver y: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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. 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.

Walter Cameron, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: (425) 917-6460; fax: (425) 917-6590; email: walter.cameron@faa.gov.

We have received operator reports of erratic low range radio altimeter (LRRA) operation while the airplane is airborne. The symptoms of erratic LRRA can include the following:

• Large differences between captain's and first officer's radio altitudes or a negative altitude in air.

• “NO LAND 3” or “NO AUTOLAND” Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) message.

• Autopilot disconnect, inability to engage autopilot, or flight directors bias-out-of view.

• Autothrottle disconnect, autothrottle retard, or inability to engage autothrottle into SPD (Speed) mode.

• Unexpected configuration warnings after takeoff, during approach, or during go-around

• Missing or inappropriate aural height callouts

• Unavailability of auto speedbrake via “AUTO SPEEDBRAKE” EICAS message.

• Nuisance or missing Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) warnings.

• Electronic Engine Control (EEC) indicating ground mode and engine going to ground idle.

• Inability to engage Lateral Navigation (LNAV).

Erratic LRRA operation events have been determined to possibly result from the following causes:

• Antenna alteration at the antenna level can create micro cracks on the electrical grounding connection, damage the coax cables or the coax connector center pin contact. Any one of these damages to the antenna assembly can affect the radio altimeter system functionality.

• The currently installed radio altimeter transceivers on some airplanes may not have adequate antenna monitoring capabilities for detecting antenna deterioration caused by environmental conditions or damage to the antenna during antenna alteration (which can result in breaks in the coaxial cables or damage to the coax connector).

These conditions, if not corrected, could result in adverse system responses and flight deck effects that could result in loss of controllability of the airplane or landing short of the runway during landing. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-34A0191, Revision 1, dated March 23, 2012, and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-34A0192, dated December 14, 2012. For information on the procedures and compliance times, see this service information at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. FAA-2014-0125.

We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service information identified previously.

There are no products of this type currently registered in the United States. However, this rule is necessary to ensure that the described unsafe condition is addressed if any of these products are placed on the U.S. Register in the future. Therefore, we find that notice and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2014-0125 and Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-119-AD at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive about this AD.

We estimate that this AD affects 0 airplanes of U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

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.

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.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):