[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 121 (Thursday, June 25, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30245-30247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14991]
[[Page 30245]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2009-0571; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-004-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Boeing Model 777 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require
inspections for scribe lines in the skin along lap joints, butt joints,
certain external doublers, and the large cargo door hinges; and related
investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD
results from reports of scribe lines found at lap joints and butt
joints, around external doublers, and at locations where external
decals had been cut. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct
scribe lines, which can develop into fatigue cracks in the skin.
Undetected fatigue cracks can grow and cause sudden decompression of
the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 10, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, 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, Attention: Data & Services Management,
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail [email protected];
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review copies of the
referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221 or
425-227-1152.
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 proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
917-6577; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2009-0571;
Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-004-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
We have received a report indicating that scribe lines have been
found by one operator on one Model 777 airplane. On this airplane,
scribe lines were found around the edges of the area where a large
decal had been installed. The operator believed that the scribe lines
were made when the decal was removed. No cracks were found at the
scribe line locations. On other airplane models, scribe lines appear to
have been made when sealant was removed as part of preparation of the
airplane for repainting, and in some cases resulted in significant
cracking. Although no such cracking has been found on Model 777
airplanes, fatigue cracks can develop in the skin at scribe line
locations and have been found on some airplane models. Such fatigue
cracks, if not corrected, could grow large and cause sudden
decompression of the airplane.
Related ADs
This proposed AD is similar to two existing ADs. AD 2006-07-12,
amendment 39-14539 (71 FR 16211, March 31, 2006), applies to Boeing
Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. AD
2007-19-07, amendment 39-15198 (72 FR 60244, October 24, 2007), applies
to all Boeing Model 757-200, -200PF, and -200CB series airplanes. Those
ADs require inspections to detect scribe lines in the fuselage skin at
certain lap joints, butt joints, external repair doublers, and other
areas; and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. Those
actions resulted from reports of fuselage skin cracks adjacent to the
skin lap joints on airplanes that had scribe lines.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0054, dated
August 7, 2008. The service bulletin describes procedures for
exploratory detailed inspections to detect scribe lines in affected lap
joint and butt joint locations, external repair doubler locations, and
large cargo door hinges. The service bulletin specifies removing paint
and sealant from affected areas before the initial exploratory
inspection. The compliance time for the exploratory inspections is
15,000, 32,000, or 45,000 total flight cycles (depending on the
inspection location).
The service bulletin specifies related investigative and corrective
actions. The related investigative actions include performing
repetitive detailed, high frequency eddy current, or ultrasonic
inspections of the scribe lines to detect cracks, and the corrective
actions include repairing scribe lines and cracks. The service bulletin
specifies to repair cracks before further flight.
The service bulletin specifies repairing scribe lines before
further flight, except when a limited return to service (LRTS) program
for qualifying scribe lines would allow return to service for a limited
period before scribe lines are repaired. The LRTS program includes
repetitive inspections to detect cracks where scribe lines are found.
To qualify for an LRTS program, scribe lines must meet certain criteria
based on their depth and location. The service bulletin specifies final
repair by using the structural repair manual or
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contacting Boeing for instructions, which would eliminate the need for
the repetitive inspections of the LRTS program. The repetitive
intervals for the LRTS program range from 1,200 to 5,000 flight cycles,
depending on the depth and location of the scribe lines and the
configuration of the airplane.
The service bulletin notes that certain inspections would not be
required under the following conditions:
The airplane had never been stripped or repainted.
The area under the wing-to-body fairings had never been
stripped or repainted.
For each repair, the airplane had never been stripped or
repainted since the repair was installed.
No sealant had been removed except in accordance with the
specified sealant removal processes as given in Appendix A of the
service bulletin.
No fillet seal exists at a certain lap joint or was
previously removed from that lap joint.
The service bulletin specifies submitting inspection results to
Boeing. The service bulletin also provides procedures for addressing
scribe lines detected before the initial inspection threshold.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in
the service information described previously, except as discussed under
``Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin.'' This
proposed AD would also require sending the results of the exploratory
inspections to Boeing.
Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin
Where the note below Table 6 in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0054, dated August 7, 2008,
specifies to ``contact Boeing for inspection requirements for operation
beyond 60,000 total flight-cycles after first repaint,'' this AD
proposes to require contacting the FAA for inspection requirements for
those airplanes.
Where the service bulletin specifies contacting the manufacturer
for instructions on how to repair certain conditions, this proposed AD
would require repairing those conditions in one of the following ways:
Using a method that we approve; or
Using data that meet the certification basis of the
airplane, and that have been approved by an Authorized Representative
for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Delegation Option Authorization
Organization whom we have authorized to make those findings.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 129 airplanes of
U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD. A work-hour estimate is
not available for the inspection for an external repair doubler since
the inspection required can be different depending on the in-service
repair history of the airplane. This inspection affects up to 129 U.S.-
registered airplanes.
Table--Estimated Costs
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Parts Cost per product registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplanes
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Exploratory Inspection......... 9 to 34............ $80 None.............. $720 to $2,720........ 129 $92,880 to $350,880.
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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 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 this 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.
You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of
compliance in the AD Docket.
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
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 AD:
Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2009-0571; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-
004-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by August 10, 2009.
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Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 777 series airplanes,
certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 777-53A0054, dated August 7, 2008.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53:
Fuselage.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from reports of scribe lines found at lap
joints and butt joints, around external doublers, and at locations
where external decals had been cut. We are issuing this AD to detect
and correct scribe lines, which can develop into fatigue cracks in
the skin. Undetected fatigue cracks can grow and cause sudden
decompression of the airplane.
Compliance
(f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Inspection
(g) At the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E.,
``Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0054, dated
August 7, 2008, except as provided in paragraphs (h) and (j) of this
AD, do detailed exploratory inspections for scribe lines in the skin
along lap joints, butt joints, certain external doublers, and the
large cargo door hinges. Do all applicable related investigative and
corrective actions at the times specified in the service bulletin,
by accomplishing all actions specified in the Accomplishment
Instructions of the service bulletin, except as provided by
paragraph (i) of this AD.
Note 1: The inspection exemptions described in NOTES 1.-5. in
paragraph 1.E. of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0054, dated
August 7, 2008, apply to this AD.
Exceptions to Service Bulletin Specifications
(h) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0054, dated
August 7, 2008, specifies a compliance time after the date on the
service bulletin, this AD requires compliance within the specified
compliance time after the effective date of this AD.
(i) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0054, dated
August 7, 2008, specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate action,
accomplish applicable actions using a method approved in accordance
with the procedures specified in paragraph (l) of this AD.
(j) Where paragraph 1.E. of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
53A0054, dated August 7, 2008, specifies to ``contact Boeing for
inspection requirements for operation beyond 60,000 total flight-
cycles after first repaint,'' for those airplanes, this AD requires
contacting the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
for all inspection requirements of this AD.
Report
(k) At the applicable time specified in paragraph (k)(1) or
(k)(2) of this AD: Submit a report of the findings (both positive
and negative) of the inspections required by paragraph (g) of this
AD. You may use Appendix B of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
53A0054, dated August 7, 2008. Send the report to Boeing Commercial
Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. The report
must contain, at a minimum, the inspection results, a description of
any discrepancies found, the airplane serial number, and the number
of flight cycles and flight hours on the airplane. Under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.),
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements contained in this AD and has
assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.
(1) If the inspection was done on or after the effective date of
this AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the inspection.
(2) If the inspection was done before the effective date of this
AD: Submit the report within 30 days after the effective date of
this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(l)(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO, FAA, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found
in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Berhane Alazar, Aerospace
Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6577; fax (425) 917-6590. Or, e-mail
information to [email protected].
(2) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office.
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
(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 an
Authorized Representative for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes
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 June 17, 2009.
Dorr M. Anderson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-14991 Filed 6-24-09; 8:45 am]
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