[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20431-20433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07012]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 66 / Thursday, April 6, 2023 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 20431]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0432; Project Identifier AD-2022-01384-T]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all The Boeing Company Model 747-8 and 747-8F series airplanes. 
This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks in stringers, common 
to the end fittings, forward and aft of the pressure bulkhead at 
station (STA) 2360 at multiple stringer locations. This proposed AD 
would require repetitive inspections of stringer sidewalls and certain 
stringer assemblies, common to the end fittings, forward and aft of the 
pressure bulkhead at STA 2360 for any crack, and applicable on-
condition actions. 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 May 22, 
2023.

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 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-0432; 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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     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; website myboeingfleet.com.
     You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 
216th Street, Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at 
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2023-0432.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stefanie Roesli, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th Street, Des 
Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3964; 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-2023-0432; Project Identifier 
AD-2022-01384-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 
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 
Stefanie Roesli, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO 
Branch, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 
206-231-3964; 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 has received reports of cracks in the stringers, common to 
the end fittings, forward and aft of the pressure bulkhead at STA 2360. 
The cracks were found at stringer locations S-14L, S-15L, S-17L, S-18L, 
S-36L, S-38L, S-38R, S-44L, S-44R, S-46L, S-46R, S-48R, S-49R and S-50R 
on the forward side and at S-4R, S-5L, S-5R, S-6L, S-6R, S-7L, S-7R, S-
8L, S-8R, S-20L, S-20R, S-21L, S-21R, S-22R, S-24L, S-24R, S-25L and S-
38L on the aft side of the pressure bulkhead. In addition, Boeing found 
cracks in stringer S-44L on the forward side of the pressure bulkhead 
during routine inspection in production. An investigation found that 
during airplane assembly, un-shimmed or incorrectly shimmed gaps, which 
were larger than engineering requirements, caused excessive and 
sustained internal tensile stresses and resulted in stress corrosion 
cracking in the stringers. This condition, if not addressed, could 
result in an undetected crack in the stringers,

[[Page 20432]]

resulting in the inability of a structural element to sustain limit 
load which could 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 designs.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2910 RB, 
dated September 21, 2022. This service information specifies procedures 
for repetitive low frequency eddy current (LFEC) and high frequency 
eddy current (HFEC) inspections of the stringer sidewalls; repetitive 
detailed inspections of certain stringer assemblies; and applicable on-
condition actions. On-condition actions include 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 regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-
2023-0432.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 44 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                    Labor cost         Parts cost      Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection of stringers.........  Up to 110 work-                  $0   Up to $9,350 per     Up to $411,400 per
                                   hours x $85 per                       inspection cycle.    inspection cycle.
                                   hour = $9,350 per
                                   inspection cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary repairs 
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. 
The FAA has no way of determining the number of aircraft that might 
need this repair:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repair of a cracked stringer.................  13 work-hours x $85 per hour =             $600           $1,705
                                                $1,105.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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-2023-0432; Project Identifier AD-
2022-01384-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by May 22, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 747-8 and 747-8F 
series airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

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

[[Page 20433]]

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of cracks in the stringers, 
common to the end fittings, forward and aft of the pressure bulkhead 
at station (STA) 2360 at multiple stringer locations. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address an undetected crack in the stringers. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in the inability of 
a structural element to sustain limit load which could 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

    Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this AD: At the 
applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing 
Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2910 RB, dated September 21, 
2022, do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance 
with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin 747-53A2910 RB, dated September 21, 2022.
    Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions 
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
747-53A2910, dated September 21, 2022, which is referred to in 
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2910 RB, dated September 
21, 2022.

(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

    (1) Where the Compliance Time columns of the tables in the 
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-
53A2910 RB, dated September 21, 2022, use the phrase ``the original 
issue date of Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2910 RB,'' this AD 
requires using ``the effective date of this AD.''
    (2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2910 RB, 
dated September 21, 2022, specifies contacting Boeing for repair 
instructions: This AD requires doing the repair using a method 
approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph 
(i) of this AD.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle 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 (j) 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, Seattle 
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.

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Stefanie Roesli, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 
South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-
3964; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2910 RB, dated 
September 21, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) 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; website myboeingfleet.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 
South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, [email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on March 9, 2023.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-07012 Filed 4-5-23; 8:45 am]
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