[Federal Register: March 12, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 49)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13109-13111]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12mr08-15]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0228; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-107-AD;
Amendment 39-15421; AD 2008-06-09]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-200 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 737-200 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive
inspections to detect cracking of the support fittings of the Krueger
flap actuators, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also
requires eventual replacement of any existing aluminum support fitting
on each wing with a steel fitting, and modification of the aft
attachment of the actuator. Doing these actions terminates the
repetitive inspection requirements. This AD results from reports of
cracking due to fatigue and stress corrosion of the support fittings of
the Krueger flap actuator. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking
of the support fittings, which could result in fracturing of the
actuator attach lugs, separation of the actuator from the support
fitting, severing of the hydraulic lines, resultant loss of hydraulic
fluids, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.
DATES: This AD is effective April 16, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 16,
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 737-200 series airplanes. That NPRM was published
in the Federal Register on November 26, 2007 (72 FR 65909). That NPRM
proposed to require repetitive inspections to detect cracking of the
support fittings of the Krueger flap actuators, and corrective actions
if necessary. The NPRM also proposed to require eventual replacement of
any existing aluminum support fitting on each wing with a steel
fitting, and modification of the aft attachment of the actuator. Doing
these actions terminates the repetitive inspection requirements.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the one 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 about 13 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.
[[Page 13110]]
Estimated Costs
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Parts Cost per airplane registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplanes
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Inspection........................... 5 $80 $0 $400, per inspection 3 $1,200, per inspection
cycle. cycle.
Replacement.......................... 88 80 29,642 $36,682................. 3 $110,046.
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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.
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:
2008-06-09 Boeing: Amendment 39-15421. Docket No. FAA-2007-0228;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-107-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 16,
2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 737-200 series airplanes,
line numbers 814 through 826 inclusive, certificated in any
category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of cracking due to fatigue and
stress corrosion of the support fittings of the Krueger flap
actuator. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking of the support
fittings, which could result in fracturing of the actuator attach
lugs, separation of the actuator from the support fitting, severing
of the hydraulic lines, resultant loss of hydraulic fluids, and
consequent reduced controllability 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.
Repetitive Inspections
(f) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, do a
high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection to detect cracking of
the support fittings of the Krueger flap actuator on each wing, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-57-1129, Revision 3, dated March 19,
2007.
(1) If no cracking is detected, repeat the inspection thereafter
at intervals not to exceed 3,000 flight hours until the terminating
action required by paragraph (g) of this AD is accomplished.
(2) If any cracking is detected, before further flight, do the
replacement and modification specified in paragraph (g) of this AD.
Terminating Action
(g) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD:
Replace any existing Krueger flap actuator aluminum support fitting
on each wing with a steel fitting, and modify the actuator aft
attachment, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-57-1129, Revision 3,
dated March 19, 2007. Doing this replacement and modification
terminates the repetitive inspection requirements of paragraph (f)
of this AD.
Parts Replacement
(h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install
on any airplane any aluminum support fitting (actuator support
assembly) identified in the ``Existing Part Number'' column of
paragraph 2.C. of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-57-
1129, Revision 3, dated March 19, 2007.
Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Revisions of Service
Bulletin
(i) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with the service bulletins listed in Table 1 of this AD,
are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding requirements of
this AD.
Table 1.--Previous Revisions of Service Bulletins
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Revision
Boeing service bulletin level Date
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737-57-1129...................... 1 Oct. 30, 1981.
737-57-1129...................... 2 May 28, 1998.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(j)(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
[[Page 13111]]
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
(k) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-
57-1129, Revision 3, dated March 19, 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 28, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-4674 Filed 3-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P