Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 73 (Monday, April 16, 2018)

Federal Register Volume 83, Number 73 (Monday, April 16, 2018)

Proposed Rules

Pages 16243-16245

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2018-07648

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

Docket No. FAA-2018-0272; Product Identifier 2018-NM-005-AD

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: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report indicating that during a fleet survey on a retired Model 737 airplane, cracking was found common to the windshield and aft sill web. This proposed AD would require, at certain locations, repetitive high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections of the windshield and aft sill web, and applicable on-condition actions. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 31, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

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.

Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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; internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Standards 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 on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0272.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-

0272; 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, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-

5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Truong, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5224; fax: 562-627-

5210; email: email protected.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite 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-2018-0272; Product Identifier 2018-NM-005-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM because of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

We have received a report indicating that during a fleet survey on a retired Model 737 airplane, cracking was found common to the windshield and aft sill web. The airplane had 67,695 flight cycles and 80,269 flight hours. Two cracks each measured approximately 0.35 inch long. The cracks initiated from the edge of the fastener hole and propagated toward the outboard edge of the aft sill web. Aft sill web cracking is the result of fatigue caused by cyclic pressurization of the fuselage and a knife edge condition at the fastener holes. At the Boeing metallurgical lab, three additional fastener hole cracks were detected common to the aft sill web using an HFEC inspection. The cracks also propagated toward the outboard edge of the aft sill web. Such cracking could adversely affect the structural integrity of the windshield assembly.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1377 RB, dated December 11, 2017. The service information describes procedures for repetitive HFEC inspections of the number 3 windshield and of the aft sill web at station 254.6, between S-9 and S-11 on the left- and right-hand sides, and applicable on-condition actions. 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 the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions identified in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1377 RB, dated December 11, 2017, described previously, except for any differences

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identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.

For information on the procedures and compliance times, see this service information at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0272.

Explanation of Requirements Bulletin

The FAA worked in conjunction with industry, under the Airworthiness Directives Implementation Aviation Rulemaking Committee (AD ARC), to enhance the AD system. One enhancement is a process for annotating which steps in the service information are ``required for compliance'' (RC) with an AD. Boeing has implemented this RC concept into Boeing service bulletins.

In an effort to further improve the quality of ADs and AD-related Boeing service information, a joint process improvement initiative was worked between the FAA and Boeing. The initiative resulted in the development of a new process in which the service information more clearly identifies the actions needed to address the unsafe condition in the ``Accomplishment Instructions.'' The new process results in a Boeing Requirements Bulletin, which contains only the actions needed to address the unsafe condition (i.e., only the RC actions).

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 63 airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs for Required Actions

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Cost on U.S.

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators

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HFEC inspection.................. 4 work-hours x $85 $0 $340 per inspection $21,420 per

per hour = $340 cycle. inspection cycle.

per inspection

cycle.

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We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide cost estimates for the on-condition actions 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.

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.

This proposed AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the authority to issue ADs applicable to transport category airplanes and associated appliances to the Director of the System Oversight Division.

Regulatory Findings

We 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.

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 (AD):

   The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2018-0272; Product Identifier 2018-NM-005-AD.

   (a) Comments Due Date

   We must receive comments by May 31, 2018.

   (b) Affected ADs

   None.

   (c) Applicability

   This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -

   200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-

   53A1377 RB, dated December 11, 2017.

   (d) Subject

   Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.

   (e) Unsafe Condition

   This AD was prompted by a report indicating that during a fleet survey on a retired 737 airplane, cracking was found common to the windshield and aft sill web. We are issuing this AD to address such cracking at these locations, which could adversely affect the structural integrity of the windshield assembly.

   (f) Compliance

   Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.

   (g) Actions for Group 1 Airplanes

   For airplanes identified as Group 1 in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1377 RB, dated December 11, 2017: Within 120 days after the effective date of this AD, do an inspection to correct the unsafe condition, using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.

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   (h) Required Actions for Group 2 Airplanes

   For airplanes identified as Group 2 in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1377 RB, dated December 11, 2017: Except as required by paragraph (i) of this AD, at the applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1377 RB, dated December 11, 2017, do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1377 RB, dated December 11, 2017.

   Note 1 to paragraph (h) of this AD: Guidance for accomplishing the actions required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1377, dated December 11, 2017, which is referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1377 RB, dated December 11, 2017.

   (i) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

   (1) For purposes of determining compliance with the requirements of this AD: Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1377 RB, dated December 11, 2017, uses the phrase ``the original issue date of Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1377 RB,'' this AD requires using ``the effective date of this AD.''

   (2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1377 RB, dated December 11, 2017, specifies contacting Boeing, this AD requires repair using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.

   (j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

   (1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO 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 local Flight Standards District 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 (k)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: email protected.

   (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, modification, or alteration 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 Branch, 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.

   (k) Related Information

   (1) For more information about this AD, contact David Truong, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-

   5224; fax: 562-627-5210; email: email protected.

   (2) 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; internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

   Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on March 30, 2018.

   Chris Spangenberg,

   Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification Service.

   FR Doc. 2018-07648 Filed 4-13-18; 8:45 am

   BILLING CODE 4910-13-P