[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 172 (Thursday, September 9, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50485-50487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19460]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0685; Project Identifier AD-2021-00432-T]
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) 
2020-21-17, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 757 
airplanes. AD 2020-21-17 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 2020-21-17, a determination has been 
made that the compliance times for certain groups are not adequate. 
This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2020-21-17 with 
reduced compliance times for certain airplane groups. 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 October 25, 
2021.

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, Airworthiness Products 
Section, Operational Safety 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 at https://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0685.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0685; 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, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Truong, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount 
Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5224; 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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0685; Project Identifier 
AD-2021-00432-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
the proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to David 
Truong, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO 
Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-
627-5224; fax: 562-627-5210; email: [email protected]. Any 
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated 
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA issued AD 2020-21-17, Amendment 39-21290 (85 FR 79418, 
December 10, 2020) (AD 2020-21-17), for all The Boeing Company Model 
757 airplanes. AD 2020-21-17 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, and 
certain inspections revealed multiple cracks found in the drag fitting 
at fastener holes. AD 2020-21-17 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. The agency issued AD 2020-21-17 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 2020-21-17 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 2020-21-17, a determination has been made 
that the compliance times for group 3 and 4 airplanes are not adequate. 
An operator reported that during performance of the inspections 
required by AD 2020-21-17, the wing upper skin panel was found cracked 
at hole #2. The airplane had 19,432 total flight cycles and was a group 
3 airplane (Model 757-200 airplane with Rolls-Royce engines and non-
cold worked skin). Therefore, because of similar airplane

[[Page 50486]]

configurations, the compliance times for group 3 and 4 airplanes have 
been reduced to maintain structural integrity of the airplane.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, 
Revision 2, dated March 1, 2021. This service information specifies 
procedures for repetitive general visual and detailed 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; repetitive open-hole high frequency eddy current 
inspections for cracking of the fastener holes and loose bolt holes; 
and applicable on-condition actions. On-condition actions include 
installing the upper link and upper link pins; replacing drag fittings; 
installing bolts, washers, and nuts; performing a torque check of 
fasteners on the affected shims; trimming affected shims and applying 
chemical conversion coating on the shims, fillet seal, and drag 
fittings; and repairing cracks, migrated shims, mistorqued bolts, and 
loose fasteners.
    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.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    Although this proposed AD does not explicitly restate the 
requirements of AD 2020-21-17, this proposed AD would retain all of the 
requirements of AD 2020-21-17. 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 
reduce the compliance times for certain airplanes. This proposed AD 
would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information already described, except for any differences identified as 
exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
    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-2021-0685.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 450 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                     Labor cost          Parts cost     Cost per product        operators
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Repetitive HFEC inspections....  85 work-hours x $85 per              $0  $7,225 per          $3,251,250 per
                                  hour = $7,225 per                        inspection cycle.   inspection cycle.
                                  inspection cycle.
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    The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the 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.

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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-21-17, Amendment 39-21290 
(85 FR 79418, December 10, 2020), and
0
b. Adding the following new AD:

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2021-0685; Project Identifier AD-
2021-00432-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by October 25, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2020-21-17, Amendment 39-21290 (85 FR 79418, 
December 10, 2020) (AD 2020-21-17).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200PF, 
-200CB, and -300 series airplanes, certificated in any category.

[[Page 50487]]

(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 and cracks found in the skin 
of the fastener holes, and the need to reduce the compliance time 
for certain groups. 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, and possible separation of a strut and engine from the 
airplane during flight.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) New 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 2, dated March 
1, 2021, do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance 
with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 2, dated March 1, 2021.

    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 2, dated March 1, 2021, which is referred to 
in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 2, 
dated March 1, 2021.

(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

    (1) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, 
Revision 2, dated March 1, 2021 uses the phrase ``the Original Issue 
date of Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB,'' this AD requires 
using September 10, 2018 (the effective date of AD 2018-16-05, 
Amendment 39-19345 (83 FR 38250, August 6, 2018)).
    (2) Where the ``Effectivity'' paragraph and the Condition and 
Compliance Time columns of the tables in the ``Compliance'' 
paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, 
Revision 2, dated March 1, 2021, uses the phrase ``the Revision 1 
date of Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB date of this service 
bulletin,'' this AD requires using January 14, 2021 (the effective 
date of AD 2020-21-17).
    (3) Where the ``Effectivity'' paragraph and the Condition and 
Compliance Time columns of the tables in the ``Compliance'' 
paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, 
Revision 2, dated March 1, 2021, uses the phrase ``the Revision 2 
date of Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB,'' this AD requires 
using the effective date of this AD.
    (4) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, 
Revision 2, dated March 1, 2021, specifies contacting Boeing for 
repair instructions: This AD requires doing the repair using a 
method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in 
paragraph (j) of this AD.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    (1) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (g) of this AD, except for the open-hole high frequency 
eddy current inspections at fastener locations 11-18, if those 
actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using 
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, dated July 14, 
2017.
    (2) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
757-57A0073 RB, Revision 1, dated August 1, 2019. This service 
information is not incorporated by reference in this AD.

(j) 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 responsible Flight Standards 
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the 
manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in Related Information. 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 responsible Flight Standards 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 for AD 2020-21-17 are approved as AMOCs for 
the corresponding provisions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
757-57A0073 RB, Revision 2, dated March 1, 2021, that are required 
by paragraph (g) of this AD.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact David Truong, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 
3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-
5224; 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, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 
Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

    Issued on August 12, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-19460 Filed 9-8-21; 8:45 am]
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