[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38950-38953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16552]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0677; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-075-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 727 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 
certain Model 727 airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspections 
for scribe lines in the fuselage skin at skin lap joints and butt 
joints, the skin at certain external approved repairs, the skin around 
external features such as antennas, and the skin at decals and 
fairings; and related investigative and corrective actions if 
necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of scribe lines found 
at skin lap joints and butt joints, around external repairs and 
antennas, 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 and cause rapid decompression of the 
airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 23, 2010.

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.

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 
(ACO), 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-2010-0677; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-075-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://

[[Page 38951]]

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 reports of scribe-line-related cracking on 2 Model 
727 airplanes. One report was on a 727-100 airplane with 44,171 flight 
cycles. The crack was near a repair and caused rapid decompression of 
the airplane. Another report was on a 727-100 airplane with 51,195 
flight cycles. The crack was at station 1090-1110, stringer 4L lap 
joint. This crack also caused rapid decompression of the airplane. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in fatigue cracks developing 
in the skin at scribe line locations. Fatigue cracks, if not corrected, 
could grow large and cause rapid decompression of the airplane.

Related ADs

    This proposed AD is similar to four existing ADs. AD 2010-05-13, 
Amendment 39-16223 (75 FR 13225, March 19, 2010), 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 certain Boeing Model 757-200, -200PF, and, -200CB series airplanes. 
AD 2009-24-08, Amendment 39-16096 (74 FR 62217, November 27, 2009) 
applies to certain Boeing Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and, -300ER 
series airplanes. AD 2010-06-16, Amendment 39-16241 (75 FR 12670, March 
17, 2010) applies to certain Boeing Model 767 series airplanes. Those 
ADs require inspections to detect scribe lines in the fuselage skin at 
certain lap joints, around decal locations, 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 727-53A0233, dated 
February 19, 2010. This service bulletin describes procedures for 
detailed inspections to detect scribe lines along applicable skin lap 
joints, skin butt joints, external approved repairs, external features, 
decals, and fairings. This service bulletin specifies removing paint 
and sealant from affected areas before the initial detailed inspection. 
The compliance times for the initial detailed inspections range for 
certain airplane configurations from 30,000 to 60,000 total accumulated 
flight cycles (depending on the inspection location), or within up to 
36 months after the date of this service bulletin, whichever occurs 
later. For certain other airplane configurations, the initial detailed 
inspections range between 6 months and 24 months after the date of this 
service bulletin.
    This service bulletin specifies related investigative actions that 
include performing low or high frequency eddy current or ultrasonic 
inspections of the scribe lines to detect cracks, and this service 
bulletin specifies corrective actions as either repairing scribe lines 
and cracks or contacting Boeing for repair instructions and doing the 
repair.
    This 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. This service bulletin specifies 
contacting Boeing for final repair instructions, which would eliminate 
the need for the repetitive inspections of the LRTS program. The 
repetitive interval for the LRTS program ranges from 800 to 9,000 
flight cycles, depending on the depth and location of the scribe lines 
and the configuration of the airplane.
    Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-53A0233, dated February 19, 2010, 
notes that certain inspections would not be required under any of the 
following conditions:
     The airplane had never been stripped or repainted.
     The airplane had never been stripped or repainted under 
the wing-to-body fairings.
     The airplane has never had any decals installed in 
inspection areas since delivery.
     The existing repairs on the airplane span at least 3 rows 
above/forward and 3 rows below/aft of potential scribe lines on lap 
joints and butt joints.
    Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-53A0233, dated February 19, 2010, 
specifies submitting the inspection results to Boeing.

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 these same type 
designs. 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.'' The proposed AD would also require sending the inspection 
results to the manufacturer.

Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin

    The service bulletin specifies to contact the manufacturer for 
instructions on how to repair certain conditions, but 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 the Boeing Commercial 
Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) whom we have 
authorized to make those findings.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 234 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.

                                                                 Table--Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                                Number of  U.S.-
       Action              Work hours        Average labor rate           Parts           Cost per product         registered            Fleet cost
                                                  per hour                                                          airplanes
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       Inspection       Up to 320 hours                   $85                    $0         Up to $27,200                   234     Up to $6,364,800.
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[[Page 38952]]

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:

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2010-0677; Directorate Identifier 
2010-NM-075-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by August 23, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 727, 727C, 727-
100, 727-100C, 727-200, and 727-200F series airplanes, certificated 
in any category; as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-
53A0233, dated February 19, 2010.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53: 
Fuselage.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from reports of scribe lines found at skin 
lap joints, butt joints, around external repairs and antennas, and 
at locations where external decals had been cut. The Federal 
Aviation Administration is issuing this AD to detect and correct 
scribe lines, which can develop into fatigue cracks in the skin and 
cause rapid 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 727-53A0233, dated 
February 19, 2010 (``the service bulletin''), except as provided in 
paragraphs (h) and (i) Of this AD, do detailed inspections for 
scribe lines of skin lap joints, skin butt joints, around external 
approved repairs, external features, and fairings, and at locations 
where external decals may have been cut, and 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 (j) of this AD.


    Note 1:  The inspection exemptions noted in paragraph 1.E. of 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-53A0233, dated February 19, 2010, 
apply to this AD.

Exceptions to Service Bulletin Specifications

    (h) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-53A0233, dated 
February 19, 2010, specifies a compliance time after ``the original 
issue date on this service bulletin,'' this AD requires compliance 
within the specified compliance time after the effective date of 
this AD.
    (i) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-53A0233, dated 
February 19, 2010, specifies to calculate the flight-cycle time for 
an airplane ``as of the original issue date on this service 
bulletin,'' this AD requires the airplane flight-cycle time to be 
calculated as of the effective date of this AD.
    (j) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-53A0233, dated 
February 19, 2010, specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate 
action, accomplish applicable actions before further flight using a 
method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in 
paragraph (l) of this AD.

Report

    (k) At the applicable time specified in paragraph (k)(1) or 
(k)(2) of this AD: Submit a report of positive crack findings of the 
inspections required by paragraph (g) of this AD. Operators may use 
the reporting form contained in Appendixes B and C, as applicable, 
of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-53A0233, dated February 19, 
2010. 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 Aircraft Certification Office, 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 (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6577; fax (425) 
917-6590. Information may be e-mailed 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 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.


[[Page 38953]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 29, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-16552 Filed 7-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P