[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 23, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14587-14589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5695]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20690; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-230-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-200C and 747-200F 
Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Boeing Model 747-200C and 747-200F series airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require one-time inspections for cracks and material 
loss in the fuselage skin above the stringer (STR) 23 lap splice, 
between Body Station (BS) 282 and BS 298, and repair if necessary. This 
proposed AD is prompted by a report of a crack above the STR 23 lap 
splice on one airplane. We are proposing this AD to detect and

[[Page 14588]]

correct cracks or material loss in the fuselage skin, and consequent 
reduced structural integrity of the skin panel, which could result in 
rapid depressurization of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 9, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-
401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This 
docket number is FAA-2005-20690; the directorate identifier for this 
docket is 2003-NM-230-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Kusz, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
917-6432; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-20690; 
Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-230-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of 
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You can review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    We have received a report of a 3-inch skin crack on a Boeing Model 
747-200F series airplane. The crack was located immediately above the 
Stringer (STR) 23 lap splice, between Body Station (BS) 282 and BS 298. 
The crack started in an area of the skin that had been inadvertently 
damaged during manufacture when an internal skin doubler was trimmed by 
grinding. The crack propagated by fatigue from the reworked area. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in cracks in the fuselage 
skin, and consequent reduced structural integrity of the skin panel, 
which could cause rapid depressurization of the airplane.
    The subject area on Boeing Model 747-200C series airplanes that are 
equipped with a nose cargo door is almost identical to that on Boeing 
Model 747-200F series airplanes that are equipped with a nose cargo 
door. Therefore, Boeing Model 747-200C series airplanes may be subject 
to the same unsafe condition.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-
2493, dated July 3, 2003. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
doing a one-time external detailed visual inspection for cracks, and a 
one-time low frequency eddy current inspection for material loss. The 
area to be inspected is 3.2 inches to 4.3 inches above the lower edge 
of the upper skin at STR 23L and STR 23R, from BS 282 to BS 298. If 
cracks are found, or if the skin is less than 0.056 inch thick, the 
service bulletin describes procedures for repair. Accomplishing the 
actions specified in the service information is intended to adequately 
address the unsafe condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes 
of this same type design. Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which 
accomplishes the actions specified in the service information described 
previously, except as discussed under ``Difference Between the Proposed 
AD and the Service Bulletin.''

Difference Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletin

    The ``Effectivity'' paragraph in Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 747-53-2493, dated July 3, 2003, states that the service 
bulletin applies to all Boeing Model 747-200C and all Boeing Model 747-
200F series airplanes. However, there was an unintended omission in the 
service bulletin. This proposed AD would apply only to Boeing Model 
747-200C and Boeing Model 747-200F series airplanes that are equipped 
with a nose cargo door. This difference has been coordinated with the 
manufacturer.

Clarification of Inspection Language

    The service bulletin refers to a detailed visual inspection. 
However, this proposed AD refers to this inspection as a ``detailed 
inspection.'' Note 1 of this proposed AD defines a detailed inspection.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 77 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.

[[Page 14589]]



                                                                     Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                                        Number of U.S.-
                      Action                           Work hour      Average  labor       Parts           Cost per        registered      Fleet  cost
                                                                      rate  per hour                       airplane        airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspections.......................................               6              $65             None             $390               20           $7,800
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    We have 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. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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

    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]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2005-20690; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-
230-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this AD action by May 9, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 747-200C and 747-200F series 
airplanes, equipped with a nose cargo door, certificated in any 
category; as identified in paragraph 1.A.1 of Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-2493, dated July 3, 2003.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report of a crack above the 
stringer (STR) 23 lap splice on a 747-200F series airplane. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks or material loss in the 
fuselage skin, and consequent reduced structural integrity of the 
skin panel, which could result in rapid depressurization of the 
airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Inspections and Repair

    (f) Before the accumulation of 15,000 total flight cycles, or 
within 1,200 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs later: Do a detailed inspection for cracking, and a 
low frequency eddy current inspection for material loss, in the 
fuselage skin. Repair any crack or material loss prior to further 
flight. Do all actions in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-53-
2493, dated July 3, 2003.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used for any repair required by this AD, if it is approved by an 
Authorized Representative for the Boeing Delegation Option 
Authorization Organization who 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 14, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5695 Filed 3-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P