Proposed Rule2023-15292
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 21, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, 757-200CB, and 757-300 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by cracks on both sides of the airplane at certain stringers. This proposed AD would require an inspection or a maintenance records check for existing liner holes at certain stringers, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 139 (Friday, July 21, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47090-47092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15292]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1214; Project Identifier AD-2023-00181-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, 757-200CB, and 757-300
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by cracks on both sides of the
airplane at certain stringers. This proposed AD would require an
inspection or a maintenance records check for existing liner holes at
certain stringers, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September
5, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1214; or in person at Docket Operations between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD
docket contains this NPRM, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For service information identified in this NPRM, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services
(C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-5600;
telephone 562-797-1717; website <a href="http://myboeingfleet.com">myboeingfleet.com</a>.
<bullet> You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2023-1214.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Ha, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 562-627-
5238; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aaddcbd3c4cf84c2cbeacccbcb84cdc5dc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7205130b1c175c1a13321413135c151d04">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2023-1214; Project Identifier
AD-2023-00181-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Wayne
Ha, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines,
WA 98198; phone: 562-627-5238; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2c5b4d55424902444d6c4a4d4d024b435a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2453455d4a410a4c45644245450a434b52">[email protected]</span></a>. Any commentary
that the FAA receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will
be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
The FAA has received a report indicating an operator of Model 757-
200 airplanes found cracks on the left side and right side in the
station (STA) 1640 frame web between stringer S-14 and S-15, during
maintenance. One crack initiated at a corrosion pit in the open liner
hole and propagated by fatigue. The crack was detected when the
airplane had accumulated 30,181 total flight cycles and 89,042 total
flight hours. Other cracks found initiated at an open liner hole on the
inboard side and outboard side of the liner hole, and the airplane had
attained 40,159 total flight cycles and 90,457 total flight hours at
the time of detection. Boeing investigation determined that liner holes
at the STA 1640 frame web between stringers S-14 and S-15 on some
airplanes were not plugged, creating a stress concentration around the
unplugged hole, which could lead to cracks. This condition, if not
addressed, could result in the inability of a structural element to
sustain limit load and reduced structural integrity of the airplane.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0120 RB,
dated January 17, 2022. This service information specifies procedures
for a general visual inspection (GVI) or maintenance records check of
the STA 1640 fuselage frame web between S-14 and S-15, left and right
sides, for an existing liner hole, and applicable on-condition actions.
On-condition actions
[[Page 47091]]
include repetitive surface high frequency eddy current (HFEC)
inspections for cracks of the web around the fastener (plug), zero-
timing the liner hole, plugging the liner hole, depending on the
airplane configuration, repetitive open-hole HFEC inspections of the
web for cracks, and crack repair.
This service information is reasonably available because the
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of
business or by the means identified in ADDRESSES.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information already described, except as discussed under
``Difference Between Proposed AD and Service Information,'' and except
for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of
this proposed AD. Zero-timing the liner hole and installing a fastener
(plug) at the zero-time liner hole location would terminate the
proposed repetitive inspections for that location. For information on
the procedures and compliance times, see this service information at
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2023-1214.
Difference Between Proposed AD and Service Information
This proposed AD would require compliance at the times specified in
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0120 RB, dated January 17,
2022, except for airplanes with winglets installed in accordance with
supplemental type certificate ST01518SE. For those airplanes, this
proposed AD would require that all specified compliance times and
repetitive intervals be divided by a factor of 2.
Aviation Partners Boeing (APB), the Supplemental Type Certificate
(STC) holder for ST01518SE has not completed an evaluation to provide
an appropriate compliance time for the inspection of airplanes with the
STC winglets installed. The factor of 2 is a conservative factor and
would be applicable for airplanes with APB winglets.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 419 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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GVI............................... 69 work-hours x $85 per $0 $5,865 $2,457,435
hour = $5,865.
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition actions that would be required based on the results of the
proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of
aircraft that might need these on-condition actions:
On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
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HFEC inspections, plugging the liner hole, 2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $5 $345
zero-timing of plugged liner hole (per side). $340.
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The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost
estimates for the crack repair specified in this proposed AD.
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.
The FAA is 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
The FAA 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 this proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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.
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
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:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2023-1214; Project Identifier AD-
2023-00181-T.
[[Page 47092]]
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by September 5, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 757-200, 757-200CB,
and 757-300 airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified
in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0120 RB, dated January
17, 2022.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by cracks on the left side and right side
of the airplane at station (STA) 1640 between stringer S-14 and S-
15. The FAA is issuing this AD to address unplugged liner holes that
could create a stress concentration around the unplugged hole and
lead to cracks. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result
in the inability of a structural element to sustain limit load and
could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this AD: At the
applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0120 RB, dated January 17, 2022,
do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin
757-53A0120 RB, dated January 17, 2022. Actions identified as
terminating action in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0120
RB, dated January 17, 2022, terminate the applicable required
actions of this AD, provided the terminating action is done in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert
Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0120 RB, dated January 17, 2022.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
757-53A0120, dated January 17, 2022, which is referred to in Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0120 RB, dated January 17, 2022.
(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications
(1) Where the Compliance Time columns of the tables in the
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-
53A0120 RB, dated January 17, 2022, use the phrase ``the original
issue date of Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0120 RB,'' this AD
requires using ``the effective date of this AD.''
(2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0120 RB,
dated January 17, 2022, specifies contacting Boeing for repair
instructions: This AD requires doing the repair before further
flight using a method approved in accordance with the procedures
specified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
(3) For airplanes with winglets installed in accordance with
supplemental type certificate ST01518SE: This AD requires all
compliance times and repetitive intervals required by this AD, as
specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert
Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0120 RB, dated January 17, 2022, to be
divided by a factor of 2.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Continued Operational Safety Branch, 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 responsible Flight
Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to
the manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of
the person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD. Information may
be emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#89b0a4c8c7c4a4daece8fdfde5eca4c8cac6a4c8c4c6caa4dbecf8fcecfafdfac9cfc8c8a7eee6ff"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="390014787774146a5c584d4d555c14787a76147874767a146b5c484c5c4a4d4a797f7878175e564f">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair, modification, or alteration required by this AD
if it is approved by The Boeing Company Organization Designation
Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Los
Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, to make those findings. To be approved, the
repair method, modification deviation, or alteration deviation must
meet the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must
specifically refer to this AD.
(j) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Wayne Ha, Aviation
Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198;
phone: 562-627-5238; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81f6e0f8efe4afe9e0c1e7e0e0afe6eef7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0b7c6a72656e25636a4b6d6a6a256c647d">[email protected]</span></a>.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0120 RB, dated
January 17, 2022.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services
(C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-
5600; telephone 562-797-1717; website <a href="http://myboeingfleet.com">myboeingfleet.com</a>.
(4) You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability
of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
(5) You may view this 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, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#167064387f7865667375627f7978567877647738717960"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e58397cb8c8b96958086918c8a8ba58b849784cb828a93">[email protected]</span></a>, or go to: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html</a>.
Issued on June 13, 2023.
Michael Linegang,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-15292 Filed 7-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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