[Federal Register: February 28, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 40)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10649-10650]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28fe08-4]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0226; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-187-AD;
Amendment 39-15393; AD 2008-04-21]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-300, -400, and -500
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Boeing Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD requires
repetitive inspections for cracking of the body buttock line (BBL) 0.07
floor beam between body station (BS) 651 and BS 676 and between BS 698
and BS 717, and related investigative and corrective actions if
necessary. This AD also provides an optional terminating action for the
repetitive inspections. This AD results from reports of cracking in the
BBL 0.07 floor beam. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the
main deck floor beams at certain body stations due to fatigue cracking,
which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.
DATES: This AD is effective April 3, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 3,
2008.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
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 AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The address for the
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Marsh, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
917-6440; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to
certain Boeing Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. That
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 26, 2007 (72 FR
65901). That NPRM proposed to require repetitive inspections for
cracking of the body buttock line 0.07 floor beam between body station
(BS) 651 and BS 676 and between BS 698 and BS 717, and related
investigative and corrective actions if necessary.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the comment received. Boeing supports the NPRM.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
There are 1,961 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide
fleet. This AD affects 599 airplanes of U.S. registry. The required
inspections take about 4 work hours per airplane, at an average labor
rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost
of the required AD for U.S. operators is $191,680, or $320 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
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.
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.
[[Page 10650]]
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 AD:
2008-04-21 Boeing: Amendment 39-15393. Docket No. FAA-2007-0226;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-187-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 3,
2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 737-300, -400, and -500
series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-57-1210, Revision 2, dated June 13,
2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of cracking in the body buttock
line (BBL) 0.07 floor beam. We are issuing this AD to prevent
failure of the main deck floor beams at certain body stations due to
fatigue cracking, 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.
Inspections and Related Investigative/Corrective Actions
(f) Before the accumulation of 20,000 total flight hours, or
within 7,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs later: Do the detailed inspections for cracking of
the BBL 0.07 floor beam between body station (BS) 651 and BS 676 and
between BS 698 and BS 717, and do all the applicable related
investigative and corrective actions before further flight, by
accomplishing all of the applicable actions specified in paragraphs
B.2. and B.4. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service
Bulletin 737-57-1210, excluding Appendix A, Revision 2, dated June
13, 2007, except as provided by paragraph (g) of this AD. Repeat the
inspections thereafter at intervals not to exceed 7,000 flight
cycles. Installing a repair in accordance with paragraphs B.2. and
B.4. of the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin, or
doing the modification in accordance with paragraph (h) of this AD,
terminates the repetitive inspections for the applicable area only.
Exception to Corrective Action
(g) If any cracking is found during any inspection required by
this AD, and Boeing Service Bulletin 737-57-1210, excluding Appendix
A, Revision 2, dated June 13, 2007, specifies to contact Boeing for
appropriate action: Before further flight, repair the cracking using
a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in
paragraph (i) of this AD.
Optional Terminating Action
(h) If no cracking is found during the detailed inspection and
related investigative action required by paragraph (f) of this AD:
Accomplishing the modification of the BBL 0.07 floor beam between BS
651 and BS 676 and between BS 698 and BS 717, as applicable, in
accordance with paragraphs B.2. and B.4., as applicable, of the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-57-1210,
excluding Appendix A, Revision 2, dated June 13, 2007, terminates
the repetitive inspections for the applicable area only.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (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) 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 appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
(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 an
Authorized Representative for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Delegation Option Authorization 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
(j) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 737-57-1210, Revision
2, dated June 13, 2007, to do the actions required by this AD,
unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington
98124-2207.
(3) You may review copies of the service information
incorporated by reference at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information
on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or
go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_
regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 15, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-3461 Filed 2-27-08; 8:45 am]
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