[Federal Register: March 14, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 48)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 12410-12411]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14mr05-6]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2004-19022; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-122-AD;
Amendment 39-14007; AD 2005-05-18]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -
800, and -900 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series
airplanes. This AD requires repetitive detailed, low frequency eddy
current, and high frequency eddy current inspections of the webs of the
aft pressure bulkhead at body station 1016 for cracks, and corrective
action if necessary. This AD is prompted by a report of cracks found,
during fatigue testing, at several of the fastener rows in the web lap
splices at the dome apex of the aft pressure bulkhead. We are issuing
this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks in the webs of the aft
pressure bulkhead, which could result in rapid decompression of the
airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective April 18, 2005.
The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April
18, 2005.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any
final disposition. You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401,
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-19022; the directorate
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-122-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Hall, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
917-6430; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39
with an AD for certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -
900 series airplanes. That action, published in the Federal Register on
September 7, 2004 (69 FR 54053), proposed to require repetitive
detailed, low frequency eddy current, and high frequency eddy current
inspections of the webs of the aft pressure bulkhead at body station
1016 for cracks, and corrective action if necessary.
Actions Since Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) Was Issued
Since the NPRM was issued, Boeing has received a Delegation Option
Authorization (DOA). We have revised this final rule to delegate the
authority to approve an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) for any
repair required by this AD to an Authorized Representative for the
Boeing DOA Organization rather than a Designated Engineering
Representative.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comment that has been
submitted on the proposed AD.
Request for Repair or Preventative Modification
The commenter, an operator, requests that the manufacturer add
either repair instructions or a preventative modification and task hour
estimate for the respective action to Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-
1251, dated June 3, 2004. The commenter states that the service
bulletin does not recommend any repair or terminating action if cracks
are found during inspection of the aft pressure bulkhead, but instead
specifies contacting the manufacturer if cracks are found.
Although we agree with the intent of the commenter's request, we
also know that variations in the type and degree of damage at and
around the web lap splices at the dome apex of the aft pressure
bulkhead make it difficult to develop general repair instructions, or a
preventative modification, that could be applicable to and effective
for all conditions. Furthermore, the manufacturer has experience
repairing damage in the area of the web lap splices of the aft pressure
bulkhead and can assist in developing repairs appropriate for specific
conditions. For these reasons, we are allowing the Manager, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, or an Authorized Representative for
the Boeing DOA Organization to approve repairs in accordance with
paragraph (g) of this final rule. If general repair instructions or a
preventative modification should be developed at a later time, and the
service bulletin is revised to include either of these actions, we will
consider approving the revised service bulletin as an AMOC to this
final rule. Therefore, no change is necessary to this final rule in
this regard.
Explanation of Editorial Change
For clarification, we have replaced the word ``listed'' with
``identified'' to specify the applicability in paragraph (c) of this
AD.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comment that has been submitted, and determined that air safety and the
public interest require adopting the AD with the changes described
previously. We have determined that these changes will neither increase
the economic
[[Page 12411]]
burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
This AD affects about 457 airplanes of U.S. registry and 1,166
airplanes worldwide. The actions will take about 8 work hours per
airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these
figures, the estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $237,640,
or $520 per airplane, per inspection cycle.
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 have determined that this AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to
examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 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 (AD):
2005-05-18 Boeing: Amendment 39-14007. Docket No. FAA-2004-19022;
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-122-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective April 18, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800,
and -900 series airplanes, certificated in any category; as
identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1251, dated June 3,
2004.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by a report of cracks found, during
fatigue testing, at several of the fastener rows in the web lap
splices at the dome apex of the aft pressure bulkhead. We are
issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks in the webs of
the aft pressure bulkhead, which could result in rapid decompression
of the airplane.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Initial and Repetitive Inspections
(f) Prior to accumulating 26,000 total flight cycles or within
4,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever
occurs later: Do a detailed inspection, low frequency eddy current
inspection, and high frequency eddy current inspection of the webs
of the aft pressure bulkhead at body station 1016 for cracks, in
accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1251, dated June 3,
2004. Repeat the inspections thereafter at intervals not to exceed
4,000 flight cycles.
Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is:
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning
and elaborate procedures may be required.''
Corrective Action
(g) If any crack is found during any inspection required by
paragraph (f) of this AD: Before further flight, repair according to
a method approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office (ACO), FAA; or according to data meeting the certification
basis of the airplane approved by an Authorized Representative for
the Boeing Delegation Option Authorization (DOA) Organization who
has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make those
findings. For a repair method to be approved, the approval must
specifically reference this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO, FAA, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) 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 DOA 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1251, dated June
3, 2004, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless
the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register
approves the incorporation by reference of this document in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the
service information, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box
3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. For information on the
availability of this material at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
You may view the AD docket at the Docket
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh
Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 2, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-4829 Filed 3-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P