[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35609-35611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14977]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0280; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-259-AD;
Amendment 39-16334; AD 2010-13-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 777-200LR and
-300ER 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
Model 777-200LR and -300ER series airplanes. This AD requires doing a
high frequency eddy current inspection for cracking of the keyway of
the fuel tank access door cutout on the left and right wings between
wing rib numbers 8 (wing station 387) and 9 (wing station 414.5), and
related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD
results from reports of cracks emanating from the keyway of the fuel
tank access door cutout of the lower wing skin between wing rib numbers
8 and 9. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of the lower wing skin
load path, which could cause catastrophic structural failure of the
wing.
DATES: This AD is effective July 28, 2010.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of July 28,
2010.
ADDRESSES: 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 [email protected];
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
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: Duong Tran, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
917-6452; 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 Model 777-200LR and -300ER series airplanes. That NPRM was
published in the Federal Register on April 2, 2010 (75 FR 16683). That
NPRM proposed to require doing a high frequency eddy current inspection
for
[[Page 35610]]
cracking of the keyway of the fuel tank access door cutout on the left
and right wings between wing rib numbers 8 (wing station 387) and 9
(wing station 414.5), 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
We estimate that this AD affects 16 airplanes of U.S. registry. We
also estimate that it takes 2 work-hours per product to comply with
this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these
figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators to be
$2,720, or $170 per product.
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:
2010-13-03 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-16334. Docket No. FAA-
2010-0280; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-259-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective July 28,
2010.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200LR and -
300ER series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified
in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-57A0069, dated November 5,
2009.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57: Wings.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from reports of cracks emanating from the
keyway of the fuel tank access door cutout of the lower wing skin
between wing rib numbers 8 and 9. The Federal Aviation
Administration is issuing this AD to prevent loss of the lower wing
skin load path, which could cause catastrophic structural failure of
the wing.
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.
Inspection
(g) At the applicable time specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and
(g)(2) of this AD, do a high frequency eddy current (HFEC)
inspection for cracking of the keyway of the fuel tank access door
cutout on the left and right wings between wing rib numbers 8 (wing
station 387) and 9 (wing station 414.5), and do all applicable
corrective actions including applicable related investigative action
(an HFEC inspection for cracking of machined areas), in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 777-57A0069, dated November 5, 2009, except as required by
paragraph (h) of this AD. Do all applicable related investigative
and corrective actions before further flight.
(1) For Group 1, Configuration 1 airplanes, as identified in
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-57A0069, dated November 5, 2009:
Before the accumulation of 3,500 total flight cycles, or within 500
flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs
later.
(2) For Group 1, Configuration 2 airplanes and Group 2
airplanes, as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
57A0069, dated November 5, 2009, on which a crack was found in the
cutout keyway when the cutout keyway was changed: Within 1,125 days
after the effective date of this AD.
Note 1: For Group 1, Configuration 2 airplanes and Group 2
airplanes, as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-
57A0069, dated November 5, 2009, on which no crack was found in the
cutout keyway when the cutout keyway was changed: No further action
is required by this AD.
Exceptions to Service Bulletin
(h) If any cracking is found during any inspection required by
this AD, and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-57A0069, dated
November 5, 2009, specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate
action: Before further flight, repair the crack using a method
approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph
(i) of this AD.
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
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to
ATTN: Duong Tran, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S,
FAA, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 917-6452; fax (425) 917-6590. Or, e-mail
information to [email protected].
(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
[[Page 35611]]
required by this AD if it is approved by the Boeing Commercial
Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) that 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 Alert Service Bulletin 777-57A0069,
dated November 5, 2009, 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, 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
[email protected]; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
(3) You may review copies of the 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.
(4) You may also review copies of the service information that
is incorporated by reference 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 June 10, 2010.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-14977 Filed 6-22-10; 8:45 am]
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