[Federal Register: March 4, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 43)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 11538-11539]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04mr08-8]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0224; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-188-AD;
Amendment 39-15400; AD 2008-05-06]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -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 737-100, -200, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This
AD requires repetitive inspections for fatigue cracking in the
longitudinal floor beam web, upper chord, and lower chord located at
certain body stations, and repair if necessary. This AD results from
several reports of cracks in the center wing box longitudinal floor
beams, upper chord, and lower chord. We are issuing this AD to detect
and correct fatigue cracking of the upper and lower chords and web of
the longitudinal floor beams, which could result in rapid loss of cabin
pressure.
DATES: This AD is effective April 8, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 8,
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 737-100, -200, -300, -400, and -500 series
airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November
26, 2007 (72 FR 65911). That NPRM proposed to require repetitive
inspections for fatigue cracking in the longitudinal floor beam web,
upper chord, and lower chord located at certain body stations, and
repair if necessary.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the comment received. Boeing, the single
commenter, 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 2,852 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide
fleet. This AD affects 652 airplanes of U.S. registry. The required
inspection takes approximately 13 work hours per airplane, at an
average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the
estimated cost of the required inspection for U.S. operators is
$678,080, or $1,040 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,
[[Page 11539]]
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.
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:
2008-05-06 Boeing: Amendment 39-15400. Docket No. FAA-2007-0224;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-188-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 8,
2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -300, -400,
and -500 series airplanes, certificated in any category; as
identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-57-1296, dated June 13,
2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from several reports of cracks in the center
wing box longitudinal floor beams, upper chord, and lower chord. We
are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the
upper and lower chords and web of the longitudinal floor beams,
which could result in rapid loss of cabin pressure.
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.
Repetitive Inspections
(f) Do the various inspections for fatigue cracks in the
longitudinal floor beam web, upper chord, and lower chord, located
at the applicable body stations specified in the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-57-1296, dated June 13,
2007, by doing all the actions specified in the Accomplishment
Instructions of the service bulletin, except as provided by
paragraph (g) of this AD. Do the inspections at the time specified
in paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, as applicable.
(1) For Groups 1 and 2 airplanes as identified in the service
bulletin: Do the inspections at the applicable initial compliance
time listed in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of the service
bulletin; except, where the service bulletin specifies a compliance
time after the date on the service bulletin, this AD requires
compliance within the specified compliance time after the effective
date of this AD. Repeat the inspections thereafter at the intervals
specified in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of the service
bulletin.
(2) For Group 3 airplanes as identified in the service bulletin:
Do the inspections at the applicable initial compliance time listed
in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of the service bulletin; except,
where the service bulletin specifies a compliance time after the
date on the service bulletin, this AD requires compliance within the
specified compliance time after the effective date of this AD.
Repeat the inspections thereafter at the intervals specified in
paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of the service bulletin.
(g) If any crack is found during any inspection required by this
AD, and Boeing Service Bulletin 737-57-1296, dated June 13, 2007,
specifies contacting Boeing for repair instructions: Before further
flight, repair using a method approved in accordance with the
procedures specified in paragraph (h) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 737-57-1296, 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 20, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-3810 Filed 3-3-08; 8:45 am]
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