[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38550-38551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15179]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0205; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-226-AD;
Amendment 39-17493; AD 2013-13-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The
Boeing Company Model 747SP series airplanes, and certain The Boeing
Company Model 747-100B SUD and 747-300 series airplanes. This AD was
prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder indicating that
the fuselage skin just above certain lap splice locations is subject to
widespread fatigue damage. This AD requires repetitive inspections for
cracking of the fuselage skin above certain lap splice locations, and
repair if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct
fatigue cracking of the fuselage skin, which could result in reduced
structural integrity of the airplane and sudden loss of cabin pressure.
DATES: This AD is effective August 1, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of August 1,
2013.
ADDRESSES: 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 review copies of the 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.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The address for the
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan Weigand, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-
6428; fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products.
That NPRM published in the Federal Register on March 7, 2013 (78 FR
14719). That NPRM proposed to require repetitive inspections for
cracking of the fuselage skin above certain lap splice locations, and
repair if necessary.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We have considered the comment received. Boeing supported the
NPRM (78 FR 14719, March 7, 2013).
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
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 (78 FR 14719, March 7, 2013) for correcting the unsafe condition;
and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (78 FR 14719, March 7, 2013).
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 4 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parts Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost cost Cost per product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection......................... Up to 57 work-hours x $0 Up to $4,845, per Up to $19,380, per
$85 per hour = inspection cycle. inspection cycle.
$4,845, per
inspection cycle.
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We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide
coststimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.
Authority for This Rulemaking
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,
[[Page 38551]]
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.
Regulatory Findings
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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2013-13-05 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17493; Docket No. FAA-
2013-0205; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-226-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective August 1, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company airplanes, certificated in
any category, identified in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of
this AD.
(1) All Model 747SP airplanes.
(2) Model 747-100B SUD airplanes, line numbers 636 and 655.
(3) Model 747-300 airplanes, line numbers 692 through 695
inclusive.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval
holder indicating that the fuselage skin just above certain lap
splice locations is subject to widespread fatigue damage. We are
issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the
fuselage skin, which could result in reduced structural integrity of
the airplane and sudden loss of cabin pressure.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Repetitive Inspections
Perform external sliding probe eddy current inspections of the
fuselage skin for cracking, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2854, dated
September 17, 2012, except where this service bulletin specifies to
contact Boeing for inspection instructions, this AD requires doing
the inspection using a method approved in accordance with the
procedures specified in paragraph (h) of this AD. Do the inspection
at the applicable initial compliance time specified in paragraph
1.E., ``Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2854,
dated September 17, 2012, except that where this service bulletin
specifies a compliance time after the ``original issue date of this
service bulletin,'' this AD requires compliance within the specified
compliance time after the effective date of this AD.
(1) If no cracking is found during any inspection required by
paragraph (g) of this AD, repeat the inspection thereafter at the
applicable intervals specified in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2854, dated September 17, 2012.
(2) If any cracking is found during any inspection required by
paragraph (g) of this AD: Before further flight, repair the cracking
using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified
in paragraph (h) of this AD.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
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 local
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the
attention of the person identified in the Related Information
section 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 local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair required by this AD if it is approved by the
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization
(ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make
those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the repair must
meet the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must
specifically refer to this AD.
(i) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Nathan Weigand,
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; phone: 425-917-6428; fax: 425-917-6590; email:
[email protected].
(j) 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 747-53A2854, dated September
17, 2012.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For Boeing service information identified in this AD, 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.
(4) You may review this 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.
(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, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 12, 2013.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-15179 Filed 6-26-13; 8:45 am]
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