Proposed Rule2025-01973
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
January 31, 2025
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, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking found in new locations at a certain body station (STA) during frame segment replacement repairs, including in the web at the K-hole between certain stringers, in the outer chord above the lower hinge intercostal, and in the inner chord and web between certain stringers. This proposed AD would require an inspection or records check for the presence of approved or local repairs, repetitive eddy current inspections for cracking, 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 90 Issue 20 (Friday, January 31, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 20 (Friday, January 31, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8690-8692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01973]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0012; Project Identifier AD-2024-00219-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, -200CB, and -300 series
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking found
in new locations at a certain body station (STA) during frame segment
replacement repairs, including in the web at the K-hole between certain
stringers, in the outer chord above the lower hinge intercostal, and in
the inner chord and web between certain stringers. This proposed AD
would require an inspection or records check for the presence of
approved or local repairs, repetitive eddy current inspections for
cracking, 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 March 17,
2025.
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-2025-0012; 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 the Boeing material identified in this proposed 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>.
<bullet> For the Aviation Partners Boeing material identified in
this proposed AD, contact Aviation Partners Boeing, 2811 South 102nd
St., Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98168; telephone 206-830-7699; fax 206-767-
0535; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7c1019121b3c1d0a151d08151312401d5c140e191a41" http: partners.com">partners.com</a>">leng@aviation<a href="http://partners.com">partners.com</a></a>; website
<a href="http://aviationpartnersboeing.com">aviationpartnersboeing.com</a>.
<bullet> You may view this material 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. Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123
RB, dated March 13, 2024, is also available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Ha, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 562-627-5238;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cabdabb3a4afe4a2ab8aacababe4ada5bc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dfa8bea6b1baf1b7be9fb9bebef1b8b0a9">[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 the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-0012;
Project Identifier AD-2024-00219-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 St., Des Moines, WA
98198; phone: 562-627-5238; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3b4c5a42555e15535a7b5d5a5a155c544d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6c1b0d15020942040d2c0a0d0d420b031a">[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 that cracks were found in
new locations at STA 1640 during frame segment replacement repairs,
including in the web at the K-hole between stringer S-9 and S-10, in
the outer chord above the lower hinge intercostal, and in the inner
chord and web between S-10 and S-19. The existing inspection program
for the STA 1640 frame is not sufficient to detect cracks in these
locations because most of the frame is hidden by adjacent structure
that makes the maintenance planning data (MPD) document inspections
inadequate to detect cracks before they reach a critical size.
Additionally, existing AD-mandated inspections are at other locations.
Undetected cracks in the
[[Page 8691]]
fuselage frame at STA 1640 could affect a principal structural
element's ability to sustain limit load. This condition, if not
addressed, could result in 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB,
dated March 13, 2024. This material specifies procedures for an
inspection or records check for the presence of approved repairs at STA
1640 frame between S-9 and S-19, left and right sides, or local repairs
at specified locations at STA 1640, repetitive eddy current inspections
for cracking of the STA 1640 frame inner chord, web and outer chord at
specified locations, and applicable on-condition actions. On-condition
actions include contacting Boeing for repair.
The FAA also reviewed Aviation Partners Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin AP757-53-006, dated May 7, 2024. This material specifies
procedures for an inspection or records check for the presence of
approved repairs at STA 1640 frame between S-9 and S-19, left and right
sides, or local repairs at specified locations at STA 1640, repetitive
eddy current inspections for cracking of the STA 1640 frame inner
chord, web and outer chord at specified locations, and applicable on-
condition actions. On-condition actions include contacting Boeing for
repair.
These documents are distinct since they apply to different airplane
configurations. This material is reasonably available because the
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the material already described, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
For information on the procedures and compliance times, see Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123, dated March 13, 2024, at
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2025-0012.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 481 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed 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 for presence of 69 work-hours x $85 None............. $5,865............ $2,821,065.
repairs. per hour = $5,865.
Eddy current inspections........ Up to 74 work-hours None............. Up to $6,290 per Up to $3,025,490
x $85 per hour = inspection cycle. per inspection
$6,290 per cycle.
inspection cycle.
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The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost
estimates for the repairs 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-2025-0012; Project Identifier AD-
2024-00219-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by March 17, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and
-300 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified
in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, dated March
13, 2024.
[[Page 8692]]
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of cracking found in new
locations at body station (STA) 1640 during frame segment
replacement repairs, including in the web at the K-hole between
stringer S-9 and S-10, in the outer chord above the lower hinge
intercostal, and in the inner chord and web between stringers S-10
and S-19. The FAA is issuing this AD to address undetected cracks in
the fuselage frame at STA 1640, which could affect a principal
structural element's ability to sustain limit load. The unsafe
condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced structural
integrity of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
(1) For all airplanes except those identified in paragraph
(g)(2) of this AD: Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this AD:
At the applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, dated March 13,
2024, do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance
with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, dated March 13, 2024.
Note 1 to paragraph (g)(1): Guidance for accomplishing the
actions required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin 757-53A0123, dated March 13, 2024, which is referred to in
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, dated March 13,
2024.
(2) For airplanes identified in Aviation Partners Boeing Alert
Service Bulletin AP757-53-006, dated May 7, 2024: Except as
specified in paragraph (h) of this AD, at the applicable times
specified in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of Aviation Partners
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin AP757-53-006, dated May 7, 2024, do
all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin
757-53A0123 RB, dated March 13, 2024.
(h) Exceptions to Requirements Bulletin Specifications
(1) Where Compliance Time columns of the tables in the
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-
53A0123 RB, dated March 13, 2024, refer to the original issue date
of Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, this AD requires using the
effective date of this AD.
(2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB,
dated March 13, 2024, specifies contacting Boeing for repair
instructions or for alternative inspections: This AD requires doing
the repair, or doing the alternative inspections and applicable on-
condition actions using a method approved in accordance with the
procedures specified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
(3) Where Compliance Time columns of the tables in the
``Compliance'' paragraph of Aviation Partners Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin AP757-53-006, dated May 7, 2024, refer to the original
issue date of Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, this AD requires
using the effective date of this AD.
(4) Where Aviation Partners Boeing Alert Service Bulletin AP757-
53-006, dated May 7, 2024, specifies contacting Boeing for repair
instructions or for alternative inspections: This AD requires doing
the repair, or doing the alternative inspections and applicable on-
condition actions using a method approved in accordance with the
procedures specified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, AIR-520, 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)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e8a9a5a7aba88e8989c68f879e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="df9e92909c9fb9bebef1b8b0a9">[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, AIR-
520, Continued Operational Safety 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
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Wayne Ha,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA
98198; phone: 562-627-5238; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ea9d8b93848fc4828baa8c8b8bc48d859c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8dfaecf4e3e8a3e5eccdebececa3eae2fb">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Material identified in this AD that is not incorporated by
reference is available at the address specified in paragraph (k)(3)
of this AD.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, dated
March 13, 2024.
(ii) Aviation Partners Boeing Alert Service Bulletin AP757-53-
006, dated May 7, 2024.
(3) For the Boeing material 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) For the Aviation Partners Boeing material identified in this
AD, contact Aviation Partners Boeing, 2811 South 102nd St., Suite
200, Seattle, WA 98168; telephone 206-830-7699; fax 206-767-0535;
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#264a4348416647504f47524f49481a47064e5443401b" http: partners.com">partners.com</a>">leng@aviation<a href="http://partners.com">partners.com</a></a>; website
<a href="http://aviationpartnersboeing.com">aviationpartnersboeing.com</a>.
(5) You may view this material 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.
(6) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#066074286f6875766365726f6968466867746728616970"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6006124e090e1310050314090f0e200e0112014e070f16">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on January 27, 2025.
Suzanne Masterson,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-01973 Filed 1-30-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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