[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65171-65173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25308]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0667; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-062-AD;
Amendment 39-17639; AD 2013-22-07]
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 certain
The Boeing Company Model 747-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted
by reports of fasteners missing on an airplane undergoing a passenger-
to-freighter conversion. This AD requires doing a general visual
inspection of the station 1920 splice clip for correct fastener
installation, and related investigative and corrective actions if
necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct missing or
incorrect fasteners, which can lead to cracking and loss of load
carrying capacity, resulting in a possible decompression event.
DATES: This AD is effective December 5, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 5,
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 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.
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: Bill Ashforth, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6432; fax:
425-917-6590; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to the specified products. The
NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 1, 2013 (78 FR 46540).
The NPRM proposed to require doing a general visual inspection of the
station 1920 splice clip for correct fastener installation, and related
investigative and corrective actions if necessary.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We have considered the comment received. The Boeing Company
supports the NPRM (78 FR 46540, August 1, 2013).
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment 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 (78 FR 46540, August 1, 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 46540, August 1, 2013).
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 3 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection for correct fastener 2 work-hours x $85 per $0 $170 $510
installation. hour = $170.
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We estimate the following costs to do any necessary repairs that
would be required based on the results of the inspection. We have no
way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these
repairs:
On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspections for cracking...................... 3 work-hours x $85 per hour = $0 $255
$255.
Fastener installation......................... 2 work-hours x $85 per hour = 0 170
$170.
Repair........................................ 2 work-hours x $85 per hour = 0 170
$170.
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According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we
[[Page 65172]]
have included all costs in our cost estimate.
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, 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):
2013-22-07 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17639; Docket No. FAA-
2013-0667; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-062-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective December 5, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400 series
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2844, Revision 1, dated July 30, 2012.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of fasteners missing on an
airplane undergoing a passenger-to-freighter conversion. We are
issuing this AD to detect and correct missing or incorrect
fasteners, which can lead to cracking and loss of load carrying
capacity, resulting in a possible decompression event.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Inspection
Except as required by paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, at the times
specified in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 747-53A2844, Revision 1, dated July 30, 2012: Do a general
visual inspection for correct installation of the station 1920
splice clip common to the auxiliary sill web and the tie clip, and
do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 747-53A2844, Revision 1, dated July 30, 2012,
except as required by paragraph (h)(2) of this AD. Do all applicable
related investigative and corrective actions before further flight.
(h) Exceptions to the Service Information
(1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2844, Revision 1,
dated July 30, 2012, specifies a compliance time ``after the
original issue date of the service bulletin,'' this AD requires
compliance within the specified compliance time after the effective
date of this AD.
(2) If any cracking is found during any inspection required by
this AD, and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2844, Revision 1,
dated July 30, 2012, specifies contacting Boeing for appropriate
action: Before further flight, repair using a method approved in
accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this
AD.
(i) Credit for Previous Actions
This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph
(g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective
date of this AD using Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2844,
dated September 15, 2011, except the detailed inspection for
cracking of the auxiliary sill outer chord tee and attached parts
and all applicable related investigative and corrective actions must
be done in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-
53A2844, Revision 1, dated July 30, 2012, at the times specified in
paragraph (g) of this AD. Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2844,
dated September 15, 2011, is not incorporated by reference in this
AD.
(j) 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 paragraph (k) 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.
(k) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Bill Ashforth,
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356;
phone: 425-917-6432; fax: 425-917-6590; email:
[email protected].
(2) Service information identified in this AD that is not
incorporated by reference may be obtained at the addresses specified
in paragraphs (i)(3) and (i)(4) of this AD.
(l) 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 747-53A2844, Revision 1, dated
July 30, 2012.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial
[[Page 65173]]
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 view this service information at 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 October 17, 2013.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-25308 Filed 10-30-13; 8:45 am]
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