2023-19-09: Auto flight

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by: a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-24-04, Amendment 39-21334 (85 FR 77991, December 3, 2020; corrected December 14, 2020 (85 FR 80589)); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2023-19-09 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-22559; Docket No. FAA-2022-0674; Project Identifier AD-2021-00373-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective November 6, 2023. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2020-24-04, Amendment 39-21334 (85 FR 77991, December 3, 2020; corrected December 14, 2020 (85 FR 80589)) (AD 2020-24-04). (c) Applicability This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes, certificated in any category. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 22, Auto flight. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by reports indicating that the autopilot flight director system (AFDS) failed to transition to the instrument landing system localizer (LOC) beam after the consistent localizer capture function in the flight control modules initiated a transition to capture LOC during approach. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the AFDS failing to transition, which could result in localizer overshoot leading to glideslope descent on the wrong heading. Combined with a lack of flight deck effects for a consistent localizer capture mode failure, this condition could result in a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). This AD was further prompted by reports of misleading vertical flight director guidance that in certain scenarios can be presented to the flightcrew during approach and could lead to CFIT or a runway overrun. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Retained Revision of the Existing Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), With New Terminating Action and Revised Affected Airplanes This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 2020-24-04, with new terminating action and revised affected airplanes. For airplanes on which Common Block Point (CBP) 5.1, 27 Flight Control Module (FCM) Operational Program Software (OPS) part number HNP5A-AL01-5041 or later approved software part number is not installed on FCM-L, FCM-C, and FCM-R: Within 14 days after December 18, 2020 (the effective date of AD 2020-24-04), revise the Operating Procedures chapter of the existing AFM and applicable corresponding operational procedures to incorporate the procedures specified in figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD. Revising the existing AFM to include the changes specified in paragraph (g) of this AD may be done by inserting a copy of figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD into the existing AFM. Installing the software required by paragraph (h) of this AD terminates the requirement for revising the existing AFM in this paragraph. EN02OC23.003 (h) New Required Actions For airplanes identified in paragraph A, "Effectivity," of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB270053-00 RB, Issue 002, dated May 6, 2021: Except as specified by paragraph (j) of this AD, at the applicable times specified in the "Compliance" paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB270053-00 RB, Issue 002, dated May 6, 2021, do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB270053-00 RB, Issue 002, dated May 6, 2021. Note 1 to paragraph (h): Guidance for accomplishing the actions required by paragraph (h) of this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB270053-00, Issue 002, dated May 6, 2021, which is referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB270053-00 RB, Issue 002, dated May 6, 2021. (i) Concurrent Actions For airplanes identified as Group 1, Configuration 1, and as Group 2, Configuration 1, in paragraph A, "Effectivity," of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB270053-00 RB, Issue 002, dated May 6, 2021: Prior to or concurrently with accomplishing the actions required by paragraph (h) of this AD, do all applicable actions identified as "RC" (required for compliance) in, and in accordance with, the applicable service information identified in paragraphs (i)(1) and (2) of this AD. (1) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB270044-00, Issue 003, dated July 7, 2020. (2) Boeing Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB270046-00, Issue 002, dated October 24, 2019. (j) Exceptions to Requirements of Paragraph (h) of This AD (1) Where the Compliance Time columns of the tables in the "Compliance" paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB270053-00 RB, Issue 002, dated May 6, 2021, use the phrase "the Issue 001 date of the Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB270053-00 RB," this AD requires using "the effective date of this AD." (2) For airplanes on which CBP 5.1, 27 FCM OPS part number HNP5A-AL01-5041 or later-approved software part number was installed on FCM-L, FCM-C, and FCM-R in production, the actions specified in paragraph (h) of this AD are not required. (k) Terminating Action for AFM Revision Installation of the software update specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB270053-00 RB, Issue 002, dated May 6, 2021, or installation of CBP 5.1, 27 FCM OPS part number HNP5A-AL01-5041 or later-approved software part number on FCM-L, FCM-C, and FCM-R in production, terminates the AFM revision required by paragraph (g) of this AD, and the AFM revision may be removed, provided that this software update has been installed on all affected airplanes in an operator's fleet. (l) Credit for Previous Actions (1) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in paragraphs (h) and (k) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB270053-00 RB, Issue 001, dated February 19, 2021. (2) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB270044-00, Issue 001, dated December 18, 2018; or Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB270044-00, Issue 002, dated November 20, 2019. (3) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in paragraph (i)(2) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using Boeing Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB270046-00, Issue 001, dated November 30, 2018. (m) 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 (n)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected]. (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. (4) AMOCs approved for AD 2020-24-04 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of paragraph (g) of this AD. (5) Except as specified by paragraph (j) of this AD: For service information that contains steps that are labeled as Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraphs (m)(5)(i) and (ii) of this AD apply. (i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply with the AD. If a step or substep is labeled "RC Exempt," then the RC requirement is removed from that step or substep. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps, including substeps and identified figures. (ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition (n) Related Information (1) For more information about this AD, contact Doug Tsuji, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3548; email: [email protected]. (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in paragraphs (o)(3) and (4) of this AD. (o) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB270044-00, Issue 003, dated July 7, 2020. (ii) Boeing Service Bulletin B787-81205-SB270046-00, Issue 002, dated October 24, 2019. (iii) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB270053-00 RB, Issue 002, dated May 6, 2021. (3) For service information 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; website myboeingfleet.com. (4) 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. (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, email [email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. Issued on September 27, 2023. Victor Wicklund, Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2023-21673 Filed 9-29-23; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P