[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 17, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68822-68824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27061]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0984; Product Identifier 2019-NM-161-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2018-16-05, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -
200PF, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes. AD 2018-16-05 requires
repetitive inspections for skin cracking and shim migration at the
upper link drag fittings, diagonal brace cracking, and fastener
looseness; and applicable on-condition actions. Since the FAA issued AD
2018-16-05, an operator reported finding multiple cracks in the drag
fitting at fastener holes while inspecting for cracking as required by
AD 2018-16-05. This proposed AD would retain the actions required by AD
2018-16-05, reduce the compliance times for certain inspections, and
add repetitive inspections at certain fastener hole locations and
applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 31,
2020.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, 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, Transport Standards 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 on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0984.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0984; 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 NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chandra Ramdoss, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount
Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5239; fax: 562-627-
5210; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2019-0984;
Product Identifier 2019-NM-161-AD'' at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
NPRM because of those comments.
The FAA will post all comments, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide.
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact the agency receives about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The FAA issued AD 2018-16-05, Amendment 39-19345 (83 FR 38250,
August 6, 2018) (``AD 2018-16-05''), for all The Boeing Company Model
757-200, -200PF, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes. AD 2018-16-05
requires repetitive inspections for skin cracking and shim migration at
the upper link drag fittings, diagonal brace cracking, and fastener
looseness; and applicable on-condition actions. AD 2018-16-05 resulted
from reports of bolt rotation in the engine drag fitting joint and
fastener heads; an inspection of the fastener holes revealed that
cracks were found in the skin on two airplanes. The FAA issued AD 2018-
16-05 to address cracking in the wing upper skin and forward drag
fittings, which could lead to a compromised upper link and reduced
structural integrity of the engine strut.
Actions Since AD 2018-16-05 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 2018-16-05, an operator reported finding
multiple cracks in the drag fitting at the fastener holes while
inspecting for cracking as required by AD 2018-16-05. Subsequent
analysis determined that additional repetitive open-hole high frequency
eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracking are necessary at the
forward rows of fastener holes. Based on findings, it was also
determined that more frequent inspections for cracking in the diagonal
brace and diagonal brace fittings are necessary.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB,
Revision 1, dated August 1, 2019. This service information describes
procedures for repetitive inspections,
[[Page 68823]]
including general visual, detailed, and HFEC inspections, for loose
fasteners, skin cracking, and shim migration at the upper link drag
fittings and for cracking in the diagonal brace and diagonal brace
fittings and applicable on-condition actions. 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 the ADDRESSES section.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is proposing this AD because the FAA evaluated all the
relevant information and determined the unsafe condition described
previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same
type design.
Proposed AD Requirements
Although this proposed AD does not explicitly restate the
requirements of AD 2018-16-05, this proposed AD would retain all of the
requirements of AD 2018-16-05. Those requirements are referenced in the
service information identified previously, which, in turn, is
referenced in paragraph (g) of this proposed AD. This proposed AD would
also require accomplishment of the actions identified in the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-
57A0073 RB, Revision 1, dated August 1, 2019, described previously.
For information on the procedures and compliance times, see this
service information at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0984.
Explanation of Requirements Bulletin
The FAA worked in conjunction with industry, under the
Airworthiness Directive Implementation Aviation Rulemaking Committee
(AD ARC), to enhance the AD system. One enhancement is a process for
annotating which steps in the service information are ``required for
compliance'' (RC) with an AD. Boeing has implemented this RC concept
into Boeing service bulletins.
In an effort to further improve the quality of ADs and AD-related
Boeing service information, a joint process improvement initiative was
worked between the FAA and Boeing. The initiative resulted in the
development of a new process in which the service information more
clearly identifies the actions needed to address the unsafe condition
in the ``Accomplishment Instructions.'' The new process results in a
Boeing Requirements Bulletin, which contains only the actions needed to
address the unsafe condition (i.e., only the RC actions).
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 561 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
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Repetitive inspections (retained 83 work-hours x $85 $0 $7,055 per $3,957,855 per
actions from AD 2018-16-05). per hour = $7,055 inspection cycle. inspection cycle.
per inspection
cycle.
Repetitive HFEC inspections (new 2 work-hours x $85 0 $170 per inspection $95,370 per
proposed action). per hour = $170 cycle. inspection cycle.
per inspection
cycle.
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The FAA has received no definitive data that would enable the FAA
to provide cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in
this proposed 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.
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 proposed AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated
by the Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as
authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order,
issuance of ADs is normally a function of the Compliance and
Airworthiness Division, but during this transition period, the
Executive Director has delegated the authority to issue ADs applicable
to transport category airplanes and associated appliances to the
Director of the System Oversight Division.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA has determined that this proposed AD would not have
federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD
would 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 the proposed
regulation:
(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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2018-16-05, Amendment 39-19345 (83 FR 38250, August 6, 2018), and
adding the following new AD:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2019-0984; Product Identifier
2019-NM-161-AD.
[[Page 68824]]
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by January 31,
2020.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2018-16-05, Amendment 39-19345 (83 FR 38250,
August 6, 2018) (``AD 2018-16-05'').
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200PF,
-200CB, and -300 series airplanes, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of bolt rotation in the engine
drag fitting joint and fastener heads; an inspection of the fastener
holes revealed that cracks were found in the skin. This AD was also
prompted by a report of multiple cracks found in the drag fitting at
fastener holes during inspections required by AD 2018-16-05. The FAA
is issuing this AD to address cracking in the wing upper skin and
forward drag fittings, which could lead to a compromised upper link
and reduced structural integrity of the engine strut.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this AD: At the
applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 1, dated August
1, 2019, do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance
with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 1, dated August 1, 2019.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
757-57A0073, Revision 1, dated August 1, 2019, which is referred to
in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 1,
dated August 1, 2019.
(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications
(1) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB,
Revision 1, dated August 1, 2019, uses the phrase ``the Revision 1
date of Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB'' this AD requires
using ``the effective date of this AD.''
(2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB,
Revision 1, dated August 1, 2019, specifies contacting Boeing for
repair instructions: This AD requires doing the repair and
applicable on-condition actions before further flight using a method
approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph
(i) of this AD.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO 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 local Flight Standards
District 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 (j)(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 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, 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, Los
Angeles ACO 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 previously for AD 2018-16-05 are not approved
as AMOCs for this AD.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Chandra Ramdoss,
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO Branch,
3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-
5239; fax: 562-627-5210; email: [email protected].
(2) 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; internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service
information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th
St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on December 5, 2019.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-27061 Filed 12-16-19; 8:45 am]
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