[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 178 (Thursday, September 15, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56596-56598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19903]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1051; Project Identifier AD-2022-00089-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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all The Boeing Company Model 707 and Model 727 airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report indicating cracking in fastener 
holes at the center wing box and at certain positions of the rear spar 
and lower skin on a Model 737-300 airplane. A cross model review 
determined that similar cracking of the fastener holes in the center 
wing box lower skin could occur on Model 707 and Model 727 airplanes. 
For Model 707 airplanes this proposed AD would require repetitive 
detailed inspections of the center wing box lower skin for cracking and 
repetitive high frequency eddy current (HFEC) and ultrasonic (UT) 
inspections of the rear spar lower chord at a certain position for 
cracking, repetitive sealant application, and repair if necessary. For 
Model 727 airplanes this proposed AD would require repetitive detailed 
inspections of the center wing box, lower skin, and rear spar lower 
chord at a certain location for cracking, repetitive sealant 
application, and repair if necessary. 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 31, 
2022.

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 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. It is also available at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-
1051.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-1051; 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: Sean Newell, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount 
Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5266; 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-2022-1051; Project Identifier 
AD-2022-00089-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 
this 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 NPRM.

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 Sean 
Newell, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO 
Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-
627-5266; email: [email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA 
receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in 
the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA received a report from an operator of a Model 737-300 
airplane indicating cracking in fastener holes at the center wing box, 
station 663.75 rear spar, lower skin located at left body buttock line 
(LBBL) 6.50. The lower skin cracks were hidden between the center wing 
box lower chord on the upper surface and the keel beam upper chord on 
the lower surface. The Model 737-300 airplane had a total of 72,702 
flight

[[Page 56597]]

hours and 44,369 flight cycles at the time of the finding. A cross 
model review determined that similar cracking of the fastener holes in 
the center wing box lower skin could occur on Model 707 and Model 727 
airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address cracking in the center 
wing box lower skin or rear spar lower chord, which could result in the 
inability of the structure to sustain limit load and adversely affect 
the 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.

Explanation of Applicability

    Model 727-100 airplanes having line numbers 1 through 47 have a 
limit of validity (LOV) of 50,000 total flight cycles, and the actions 
proposed in this NPRM, as specified in Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin 727-57A0190 RB, dated September 13, 2021, would be required at 
a compliance time occurring after that LOV. Although operation of an 
airplane beyond its LOV is prohibited by 14 CFR 121.1115 and 129.115, 
this NPRM would include those airplanes in the applicability so that 
these airplanes are tracked in the event the LOV is extended in the 
future.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing 707 Alert Requirements Bulletin A3544 RB, 
dated November 1, 2021. This service information specifies procedures 
for repetitive internal detailed inspections of the center wing box 
lower skin for cracking and repetitive internal surface HFEC and UT 
inspections of the rear spar lower chord between LBBL 40 and right body 
buttock line (RBBL) 40 for cracking, repetitive sealant application, 
and repair.
    The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 727-57A0190 RB, 
dated September 13, 2021. This service information specifies procedures 
for repetitive internal detailed inspections for cracking of the center 
wing box, lower skin, and rear spar lower chord between LBBL 34.7 and 
RBBL 34.7, repetitive sealant application, and repair.
    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 ADDRESSES.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    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-2022-1051.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 48 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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Inspections and sealant            34 work-hours x $85              $0  $2,890 per           $66,470 per
 application Model 707 airplanes.   per hour = $2,890                    inspection cycle.    inspection cycle
                                    per inspection                                            (23 airplanes).
                                    cycle.
Inspections and sealant            22 work-hours x $85               0  $1,870 per           $46,750 per
 application Model 727 airplanes.   per hour = $1,870                    inspection cycle.    inspection cycle
                                    per inspection                                            (25 airplanes).
                                    cycle.
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    The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost 
estimates for the on-condition repairs 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 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) 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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2022-1051; Project Identifier AD-
2022-00089-T.

[[Page 56598]]

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by October 31, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company airplanes specified in 
paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of this AD, certificated in any 
category.
    (1) Model 707-100 Long Body, -200, -100B Long Body, and -100B 
Short Body series airplanes.
    (2) Model 707-300, -300B, -300C, and -400 series airplanes.
    (3) Model 727, 727C, 727-100, 727-100C, 727-200, and 727-200F 
series airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report indicating cracking in fastener 
holes at the center wing box and at certain positions of the rear 
spar and lower skin on a Model 737-300 airplane. A cross model 
review determined that similar cracking of the fastener holes in the 
center wing box lower skin could occur on Model 707 and Model 727 
airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address cracking in the 
center wing box lower skin or rear spar lower chord, which could 
result in the inability of the structure to sustain limit load and 
adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions for Group 1 Model 727 Airplanes

    For airplanes identified as Group 1 in Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin 727-57A0190 RB, dated September 13, 2021: Within 120 days 
after the effective date of this AD, inspect the airplane and do all 
applicable on-condition actions using a method approved in 
accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this 
AD.

(h) Required Actions for Groups 2 and 3 Model 727 Airplanes and All 
Model 707 Airplanes

    Except as specified by paragraph (i) of this AD: At the 
applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing 
707 Alert Requirements Bulletin A3544 RB, dated November 1, 2021; or 
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 727-57A0190 RB, dated September 
13, 2021; as applicable, do all applicable actions identified in, 
and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
707 Alert Requirements Bulletin A3544 RB, dated November 1, 2021; or 
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 727-57A0190 RB, dated September 
13, 2021, as applicable.
    Note 1 to paragraph (h): Guidance for accomplishing the actions 
required by this AD can be found in Boeing 707 Alert Service 
Bulletin A3544, dated November 1, 2021, which is referred to in 
Boeing 707 Alert Requirements Bulletin A3544 RB, dated November 1, 
2021; and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-57A0190, dated September 
13, 2021, which is referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
727-57A0190 RB, dated September 13, 2021.

(i) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

    (1) Where the Compliance Time columns of the tables in the 
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing 707 Alert Requirements Bulletin 
A3544 RB, dated November 1, 2021, uses the phrase ``the original 
issue date of Requirements Bulletin 707A3544 RB'' this AD requires 
using ``the effective date of this AD.''
    (2) Where the Compliance Time columns of the tables in the 
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 727-
57A0190 RB, dated September 13, 2021, uses the phrase ``the original 
issue date of Requirements Bulletin 727-57A0190 RB'' this AD 
requires using ``the effective date of this AD.''
    (3) Where Boeing 707 Alert Requirements Bulletin A3544 RB, dated 
November 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.
    (4) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 727-57A0190 RB, 
dated September 13, 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.

(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 paragraph (k)(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 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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Sean Newell, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 
3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-
5266; 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 5, 2022.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-19903 Filed 9-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P