AD 2022-07-06

This AD is effective May 13, 2022.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 13, 2022

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; internet https://www.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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0957.

Jeffrey Palmer, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5351; email: jeffrey.w.palmer@faa.gov.

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 747-8F and 747-8 series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 15, 2021 (86 FR 62960). The NPRM was prompted by a report of unusual flight instrument and EICAS behavior. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require inspecting the left, center, and right EFIS/EIU for certain serial numbers and replacement if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the possible display of incorrect information in the integrated display system (IDS). This condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced ability of the flightcrew to maintain continued safe flight and landing of the aircraft.

The FAA received comments from three commenters, including Boeing, an individual, and Qatar Airways. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response.

Boeing and Qatar Airways requested a change to the proposed AD to add serial number 181MR2 to the list of affected EIUs. The commenters noted that the unit was inadvertently excluded from the affected serial number list in Figure 1 of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-31A2565 RB, Revision 1, dated September 14, 2021. Qatar Airways noted that Boeing stated that the service information will be revised to include this EIU serial number. Qatar Airways added that including the affected EIU will ensure that affected part does not remain in service while eliminating the need to obtain an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) for accomplishing the actions required by this AD on that EIU.

The FAA agrees with the request. The FAA has confirmed that this is an affected EIU and that the operator with the EIU having serial number 181MR2 is aware that it is affected and plans to replace the unit as required by this AD. The FAA has added paragraph (h)(2) of this AD to clarify that serial number 181MR2 is also an affected EIU. The FAA has also redesignated paragraph (h) of the proposed AD as paragraph (h)(1) of this AD.

An individual commenter asked how the information about the number of affected airplanes was gathered and how many non-U.S. registered planes are affected by the proposed AD.

The FAA gathers this information from public records and from the airplane manufacturer. According to those sources, 68 of the airplanes affected by this AD are registered outside of the United States.

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. 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.

The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-31A2565 RB, Revision 1, dated September 14, 2021. This service information specifies procedures for doing an inspection or a review of the maintenance and delivery records of the left, center, and right EIUs for any affected serial number, and replacing each affected EIU.

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.

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 8 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary replacements that would be required based on the results of the inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of aircraft 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.

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.

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.

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: