[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15800-15802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6249]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-1202; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-167-AD;
Amendment 39-16637; AD 2011-06-12]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model MD-90-30
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 repetitive inspections for
cracking of the left and right upper center skin panels of the
horizontal stabilizer, and corrective action if necessary. This AD was
prompted by a report of a crack found in the upper skin panel at the
aft inboard corner of a right horizontal stabilizer. We are issuing
this AD to detect and correct cracks in the upper center skin panels of
the horizontal stabilizer. Uncorrected cracks might ultimately lead to
the loss of overall structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer.
DATES: This AD is effective April 26, 2011.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 26,
2011.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management,
3855 Lakewood Boulevard, MC D800-0019, Long Beach, California 90846-
0001; phone: 206-544-5000, extension 2; fax: 206-766-5683; e-mail:
[email protected]; Internet: https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You
[[Page 15801]]
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: Roger Durbin, Aerospace Engineer, Los
Angeles ACO, Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard,
Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5233; fax: 562-627-5210; 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
December 23, 2010 (75 FR 80742). That NPRM proposed to require
repetitive inspections for cracking of the left and right upper center
skin panels of the horizontal stabilizer, and corrective action if
necessary.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.
Explanation of Change to Applicability
We have revised the applicability of the existing AD to identify
model designations as published in the most recent type certificate
data sheet for the affected models.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD with the change described
previously. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 19 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
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Inspection....................... 4 work-hours x $85 $0 $340 per inspection $6,460 per
per hour = $340 per cycle. inspection cycle.
inspection cycle.
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We estimate the following costs to do any necessary repairs that
would be required based on the results of the inspection. We have no
way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these
repairs.
On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
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Skin panel replacement........................ 648 work-hours x $85 per hour = $55,608 $110,688
$55,080.
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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),
(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
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
[[Page 15802]]
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):
2011-06-12 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-16637; Docket No. FAA-
2010-1202; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-167-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD is effective April 26, 2011.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model MD-90-30
airplanes, certificated in any category.
Subject
(d) Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport
Association (ATA) of America Code 55, Stabilizers.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD was prompted by a report of a crack found in the
upper center skin panel at the aft inboard corner of a right
horizontal stabilizer. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct
cracks in the upper center skin panel of the horizontal stabilizer.
Uncorrected cracks might ultimately lead to the loss of overall
structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer.
Compliance
(f) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
Inspections
(g) Before the accumulation of 20,000 total flight cycles, or
within 3,778 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs later, do eddy current inspections to detect
cracking of the left and right upper center skin panels of the
horizontal stabilizer, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-55A015, dated
July 16, 2010.
(1) If no crack is found during any inspection required by
paragraph (g) of this AD, repeat the applicable inspections
thereafter at the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E.,
``Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-55A015, dated
July 16, 2010.
(2) If any crack is found during any inspection required by
paragraph (g) of this AD, before further flight, replace the skin
panel with a serviceable skin panel, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-
55A015, dated July 16, 2010. Within 20,000 flight cycles after the
replacement, do eddy current inspections as required by paragraph
(g) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles 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. In accordance
with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or
local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the
attention of the person identified in the Related Information
section of this AD.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(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, Los Angeles ACO, to
make those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the repair
must meet the certification basis of the airplane, and 14 CFR
25.571, Amendment 45, and the approval must specifically refer to
this AD.
Related Information
(i) For more information about this AD, contact Roger Durbin,
Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles ACO, Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA,
3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-
5233; fax: 562-627-5210; e-mail: [email protected].
Material Incorporated by Reference
(j) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-55A015,
dated July 16, 2010, 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 Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90-
55A015, dated July 16, 2010, 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,
3855 Lakewood Boulevard, MC D800-0019, Long Beach, California 90846-
0001; phone: 206-544-5000, extension 2; fax: 206-766-5683; 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 March 9, 2011.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6249 Filed 3-21-11; 8:45 am]
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