[Federal Register: May 26, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 99)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 24715-24718]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26my09-10]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2009-0476; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-188-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 707 Airplanes, and Model
720 and 720B Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness
directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and
Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires
repetitive detailed inspections to detect cracks and corrosion on any
existing repairs and at certain body stations (STA) of the visible
surfaces of the wing to body terminal fittings including the web,
flanges, and ribs; and applicable related investigative and corrective
actions. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of the existing
AD and would require repetitive ultrasonic inspections to detect any
stress corrosion cracks within the outboard flange of the left and
right body terminal fittings at STA 820, and related investigative and
corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also provide
for an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This
proposed AD also adds two airplanes to the applicability. This proposed
AD results from reports of cracks found in the wing to body terminal
fittings during routine inspections. We are proposing this AD to detect
and correct cracks and corrosion in the body terminal fittings above
and below the floor, which could cause loss of support for the wing and
could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 10, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing
Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box
3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000,
extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail,
[[Page 24716]]
me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet, https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may
review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call 425-227-1221 or 425-227-1152.
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 proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
917-6577; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2009-0476;
Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-188-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
On August 6, 2008, we issued AD 2008-17-10, amendment 39-15648 (73
FR 50703, August 28, 2008), for certain Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and
Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. That AD requires repetitive
detailed inspections to detect cracks and corrosion on any existing
repairs and at certain body stations (STA) of the visible surfaces of
the wing to body terminal fittings including the web, flanges and ribs;
and applicable related investigative and corrective actions. That AD
resulted from reports of cracks found in the wing to body terminal
fittings during routine inspections. We issued that AD to detect and
correct cracks and corrosion in the body terminal fittings, which could
cause loss of support for the wing and could adversely affect the
structural integrity of the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing 707 Alert Service Bulletin A3524, Revision
1, dated September 18, 2008. (AD 2008-17-10 refers to Boeing 707
Special Attention Service Bulletin 3524, dated July 18, 2007, as the
appropriate source of service information for accomplishing the
required actions in that AD.) Revision 1 of this service bulletin adds
procedures, for certain airplanes, to do repetitive ultrasonic
inspections for stress corrosion cracks within the outboard flange of
the left and right body terminal fittings at STA 820, and if necessary,
related investigative and corrective actions. The related investigative
action is an inspection to determine whether the modification or repair
meets the specifications of Boeing 707/720 Service Bulletin 2912,
Revision 1, dated March 13, 1970. The corrective action is contacting
Boeing for repair instructions. Revision 1 of Boeing 707 Alert Service
Bulletin A3524 also adds two airplanes to the effectivity.
Boeing 707 Alert Service Bulletin A3524, Revision 1, refers to
Boeing 707/720 Service Bulletin 2912, Revision 1, dated March 13, 1970,
as an additional source of service information for doing certain
inspections and repairs.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to develop on other airplanes of the
same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, which
would supersede AD 2008-17-10 and would retain the requirements of the
existing AD. This proposed AD would also add, for certain airplanes,
repetitive ultrasonic inspections to detect any stress corrosion cracks
within the outboard flange of the left and right body terminal fittings
at STA 820, and related investigative and corrective actions if
necessary. This proposed AD would also add two airplanes to the
applicability.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 128 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.
Estimated Costs
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Average Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours labor rate Cost per registered Fleet cost
per hour airplane airplanes
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Inspections (required by AD 20.............. $80 $1,600 per 11.............. $17,600 per
2008-17-10). inspection inspection
cycle. cycle.
Inspections (new proposed 20 to 30, 80 $1,600 to Up to 13........ Up to $31,200
action). depending on $2,400 per per inspection
group. inspection cycle.
cycle.
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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
[[Page 24717]]
products identified in this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
We have 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 that the proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket. 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.
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
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing amendment 39-15648 (73 FR
50703, August 28, 2008) and adding the following new AD:
Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2009-0476; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-
188-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by July 10,
2009.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2008-17-10.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Model 707-100 long body, -200, -100B long
body, and -100B short body series airplanes; Model 707-300, -300B, -
300C, and -400 series airplanes; and Model 720 and 720B series
airplanes; certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing 707
Alert Service Bulletin A3524, Revision 1, dated September 18, 2008.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57: Wings.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from new findings of cracks found in the
wing to body terminal fittings during routine inspections. We are
issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks and corrosion in the
body terminal fittings above and below the floor, which could cause
loss of support for the wing and could adversely affect the
structural integrity of the airplane.
Compliance
(f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Restatement of Requirements of AD 2008-17-10
Inspections and Corrective Actions
(g) For airplanes identified in Boeing 707 Special Attention
Service Bulletin 3524, dated July 18, 2007: Within 24 months after
October 2, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008-17-10), do detailed
inspections and applicable related investigative and corrective
actions, by accomplishing all the actions specified in the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 707 Special Attention Service
Bulletin 3524, dated July 18, 2007; or Boeing 707 Alert Service
Bulletin A3524, Revision 1, dated September 18, 2008; except as
provided by paragraph (h) of this AD. After the effective date of
this AD, use only Boeing 707 Alert Service Bulletin A3524, Revision
1, dated September 18, 2008. Repeat the detailed inspections
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 24 months. Do all applicable
related investigative and corrective actions before further flight.
(h) If any crack or corrosion is found during any inspection
required by paragraph (g) of this AD, and Boeing 707 Special
Attention Service Bulletin 3524, dated July 18, 2007; or Boeing 707
Alert Service Bulletin A3524, Revision 1, dated September 18, 2008;
specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate action: Before further
flight, repair the terminal fittings using a method approved in
accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (o) of this
AD.
No Information Submission
(i) Although Boeing 707 Special Attention Service Bulletin 3524,
dated July 18, 2007; and Boeing 707 Alert Service Bulletin A3524,
Revision 1, dated September 18, 2008; specify to submit information
to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
New Requirements of This AD
Inspections
(j) For Group 1 and Group 2 airplanes identified in Boeing 707
Alert Service Bulletin A3524, Revision 1, dated September 18, 2008,
on which a modification or repair was done in accordance with Boeing
707/720 Service Bulletin 2912, Revision 1, dated March 13, 1970: At
the later of the times specified in paragraphs (j)(1) and (j)(2) of
this AD, do an ultrasonic inspection to detect any stress corrosion
cracks within the outboard flange of the left and right body
terminal fittings at body station (STA) 820, and all applicable
related investigative and corrective actions, by accomplishing all
the actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing
707 Alert Service Bulletin A3524, Revision 1, dated September 18,
2008, except as provided by paragraph (m) of this AD. Repeat the
ultrasonic inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 24
months or 2,000 flight cycles, whichever occurs first. Do all
applicable related investigative and corrective actions before
further flight.
(1) Within 24 months or 2,000 flight cycles after the effective
date of this AD, whichever occurs first.
(2) Within 24 months or 2,000 flight cycles after doing the
repair or modification, whichever occurs first.
(k) For Group 3 and 4 airplanes identified in Boeing 707 Alert
Service Bulletin A3524, Revision 1, dated September 18, 2008: Within
2,000 flight cycles or 24 months after the effective date of this
AD, whichever occurs first, do an ultrasonic inspection to detect
any stress corrosion cracks within the outboard flange of the left
and right body terminal fittings at STA 820, and all applicable
corrective actions, by accomplishing all the actions specified in
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 707 Alert Service Bulletin
A3524, Revision 1, dated September 18, 2008, except as provided by
paragraph (m) of this AD. Repeat the ultrasonic inspection
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 24 months or 2,000 flight
cycles, whichever occurs first. Do all applicable corrective actions
before further flight.
(l) For Group 4 airplanes identified in Boeing 707 Alert Service
Bulletin A3524, Revision 1, dated September 18, 2008: Within 24
months after the effective date of this AD, do detailed inspections
for corrosion and cracking of the body terminal fittings at STA 820,
and all applicable related investigative and corrective actions, by
accomplishing all the actions specified in the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing 707 Alert Service Bulletin A3524, Revision 1,
dated September 18, 2008, except as provided by paragraph (m) of
this AD. Repeat the detailed inspections thereafter at intervals not
to exceed 24 months. Do all applicable related investigative and
corrective actions before further flight.
Exception to Certain Procedures
(m) If any crack or corrosion is found during any inspection
required by paragraph (j), (k), or (l) of this AD, and Boeing 707
Alert Service Bulletin A3524, Revision 1, dated September 18, 2008,
specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate action: Before further
flight, repair the terminal fittings using a method approved in
accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (o) of this
AD.
Note 1: Boeing 707 Alert Service Bulletin A3524, Revision 1,
dated September 18,
[[Page 24718]]
2008, refers to Boeing 707/720 Service Bulletin 2912, Revision 1,
dated March 13, 1970, as an additional source of service information
for doing certain inspections and repairs.
Optional Terminating Action
(n) Replacing a body terminal fitting with a fitting made from
7075-T73 material, using a method approved in accordance with the
procedures specified in paragraph (o) of this AD, terminates the
repetitive inspections required by this AD for that fitting only.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(o)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to
ATTN: Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S,
FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6577; fax (425)
917-6590; or, e-mail information to 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-
Requests@faa.gov.
(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 principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office.
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
(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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 15, 2009.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12112 Filed 5-22-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P