AD 2014-23-04

This AD is effective December 26, 2014.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 26, 2014.

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.

Douglas Tsuji, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6546; fax: 425-917-6590; email: douglas.tsuji@faa.gov.

We 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 April 25, 2014 (79 FR 22908). The NPRM was prompted by reports of dual PRS failures, resulting in autopilot disconnects. The NPRM proposed to require an inspection to determine the PRS part number, and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent a dual PRS failure that could cause an automatic disengagement of the autopilot and autoland, which may prevent continued safe flight and landing if disengagement occurs at low altitude and the flight crew is unable to safely assume control and execute a go-around or manual landing.

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM (79 FR 22908, April 25, 2014), and the FAA's response to each comment.

Boeing stated that it concurs with the contents of the NPRM (79 FR 22908, April 25, 2014).

American Airlines requested that we revise paragraph (j) of the NPRM (79 FR 22908, April 25, 2014) to add information regarding Boeing's authority to approve an AMOC. American Airlines stated that paragraph (j) of the NPRM does not provide operators information as to whether Boeing has the ability to grant AMOC approvals.

We do not agree with the commenter's request. At this time, the FAA has delegated AMOC approvals to Boeing Authorized Representatives for structural modifications only. This AD requires an inspection or maintenance records check to determine the part numbers of the four PRSs, and replacement if necessary. This AD does not require, and Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-27-0115, dated May 22, 2013, does not include, any structural modifications. We have not changed this AD in this regard.

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed except for minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:

• Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM (79 FR 22908, April 25, 2014) for correcting the unsafe condition; and

• Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM (79 FR 22908, April 25, 2014).

We estimate that this AD affects 47 airplanes of U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements that would be required based on the results of the inspection. We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide the cost of parts specified in this AD. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that might need these replacements:

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):