[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 24, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71534-71535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28936]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0764; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-260-AD;
Amendment 39-16519; AD 2010-24-01]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 737-900ER
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 the
products listed above. This AD requires doing a one-time general visual
inspection for a keyway in two fuel tank access door cutouts, and
related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was
prompted by reports of cracks emanating from the keyway of the fuel
tank access hole. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct such
cracking, which could result in the loss of the lower wing skin load
path and consequent structural failure of the wing.
DATES: This AD is effective December 29, 2010.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of December 29,
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. 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.
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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is 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; e-mail: [email protected].
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
the specified products. That NPRM published in the Federal Register on
August 10, 2010 (75 FR 48281). That NPRM proposed to require a general
visual inspection for a keyway in the fuel tank access door cutout on
the left and right wings, and related investigative and corrective
actions if necessary.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We have considered the comments received. The Boeing Company
supports the NPRM. Continental Airlines submitted information to make a
comment, but no specific comment on the NPRM or request to change it.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments 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 30 airplanes of U.S. registry. We
estimate that it will take 3 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 the AD to the U.S. operators to be
$7,650, or $255 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),
[[Page 71535]]
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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.
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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
2010-24-01 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-16519; Docket No. FAA-
2010-0764; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-260-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD is effective December 29, 2010.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-900ER series
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 737-57A1308, Revision 1, dated October 1,
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 hole. The Federal Aviation
Administration is issuing this AD to detect and correct such
cracking, which could result in the loss of the lower wing skin load
path and consequent 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) Before the accumulation of 7,500 total flight cycles, or
within 1,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs later, do a one-time general visual inspection for
a keyway in the fuel tank access door cutouts 531BB and 631BB, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin 737-57A1308, Revision 1, dated October 1, 2009
(``the service bulletin'').
Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection
is: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior area,
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or
irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching
distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to
ensure visual access to all surfaces in the inspection area. This
level of inspection is made under normally available lighting
conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or
droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or
doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain
proximity to the area being checked.''
(1) If both access door cutouts do not have a keyway, no further
action is required by this AD.
(2) If any access door has a keyway, before the accumulation of
7,500 total flight cycles, or within 1,000 flight cycles after the
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, do a high
frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection for cracking of the keyway,
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the service
bulletin.
(i) If no cracking is found during the HFEC inspection, before
further flight, modify the profile of the keyway of the fuel tank
access door cutout, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of the service bulletin.
(ii) If any cracking is found and the crack is 0.030 inch or
less in length, before further flight repair the keyway, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the service
bulletin.
(iii) If any cracking is found and the crack is greater than
0.030 inch in length, before further flight, repair the crack 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 (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: 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. Information may be e-mailed 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 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.
Related Information
(i) For more information about this AD, 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; e-mail
[email protected].
Material Incorporated by Reference
(j) You must use the Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-57A1308,
Revision 1, dated October 1, 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 an NARA facility, 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 November 5, 2010.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-28936 Filed 11-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P