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AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-16-05, which applied to all The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. AD 2019-16-05 required identifying the part number, and the serial number if applicable, of the Captain's and First Officer's seats, and applicable on-condition actions for affected seats. This AD was prompted by reports of uncommanded fore/aft movement of the Captain's and First Officer's seats. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2019-16-05 and adds an inspection of previously omitted part numbers. 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 certain publications listed in this AD as of October 15, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of October 8, 2019 (84 FR 45895, September 3, 2019).
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1879; 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 Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-5600; telephone 562-797-1717; websitemyboeingfleet.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 atregulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1879.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Courtney Tuck, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3986; email: courtney.k.tuck@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2019-16-05, Amendment 39-19708 (84 FR 45895, September 23, 2019) (AD 2019-16-05). AD 2019-16-05 applied to all The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 27, 2023 (88 FR 66310). The NPRM was prompted by reports of uncommanded fore/aft movement of the Captain's and First Officer's seats. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to continue to require the actions of AD 2019-16-05 and add an inspection of previously omitted part numbers. The FAA is issuing this AD to address uncommanded fore/aft movement of the Captain's and First Officer's seats. Uncommanded fore/aft seat movement during a critical part of a flight, such as takeoff or landing, could cause a flight control obstruction or unintended flight control input, which could result in the loss of the ability to control the airplane.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received a comment from Boeing in support of the NPRM without change.
The FAA received additional comments from American Airlines and an individual commenter. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response.
Request for Credit for Previous Actions
American Airlines and an individual requested credit for the accomplishment of actions required by the previous revision of the service information if it can be shown through maintenance records that the required actions have already been accomplished.
The FAA agrees that credit may be granted, under specific conditions. Paragraph (j) of this AD has been added to identify these conditions.
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 Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-25-0607, Revision 2, dated January 27, 2023. The material describes procedures for identification of the part number, and the serial number if applicable, of the Captain's and First Officer's seats, and for applicable on-condition actions for affected seats including an inspection of each seat's fore/aft and vertical manual control levers for looseness, installation of serviceable seats, and a seat functional test after any cable adjustment.
The FAA also reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-25-0619, Revision 2, dated January 27, 2023. This material describes procedures for a detailed inspection and repetitive checks of the horizontal movement system for the Captain's and First Officer's seats for findings ( e.g., evidence of cracks, scores, corrosion, dents, deformation, or visible wear; and incorrectly assembled microswitch assemblies, actuators, and limit switches), and applicable on-condition actions. The on-condition actions include clearing the seat tracks of foreign object debris (FOD), overhauling the horizontal movement system, and replacing the horizontal actuator. This material also describes procedures for an optional terminating action for the repetitive checks by installing a serviceable Captain's or First Officer's seat.
This AD also requires Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 777-25-0619, Revision 1, dated August 8, 2018, which the Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation by reference as of October 8, 2019 (84 FR 45895, September 3, 2019).
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 ADDRESSES .
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 327 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions per Seat
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product | Cost on U.S. operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification, seat (retained actions from AD 2019-16-05) | 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 | $0 | $85 | $27,795. |
| Detailed inspection, horizontal movement system (retained actions from AD 2019-16-05) | 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 | 0 | $85 | $27,795. |
| Checks, horizontal movement system (retained actions) | 2 work-hours × 85 per hour = 170 per check cycle | 0 | $170 per check cycle | $55,590 per check cycle. |
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions per Seat *
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjustment, control lever cable | 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 | $0 | $85. |
| Overhaul, horizontal movement system | 11 work-hours × $85 per hour = $935 | Up to $5,824 | Up to $6,759. |
| Inspection of each seat's fore/aft and vertical manual control levers | 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 | $0 | $85. |
| Installation of serviceable seats | 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 | $0 | $85. |
| Clearing FOD | 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 | $0 | $85. |
| Replacement of the horizontal actuator | 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85, per actuator | $7,937 per actuator | $8,022 per actuator. |
| Functional test, adjusted control lever cable | 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 | $0 | $85. |
| * The estimated cost for tooling to align an affected seat for adjustment of the control lever cable is up to $46,064. |