Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25928-25930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4055]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-23762; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-226-AD; 
Amendment 39-14580; AD 2006-09-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Boeing Model 767 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for 
cracking in the skin, the bulkhead outer chord, and the strap of the 
bulkhead outer chord at station (STA) 1725.5; and repair if necessary. 
This AD also provides for repairs, which are optional for airplanes on 
which no cracking is found, that terminate certain inspections. This AD 
results from reports of cracking in the skin panel common to stringer 
7R and aft of the STA 1725.5 butt splice, and in the strap of the 
bulkhead outer chord at STA 1725.5. We are issuing this AD to detect 
and correct cracking in the skin, the bulkhead outer chord, or the 
strap of the bulkhead outer chord in this area, which could progress 
into surrounding areas and result in reduced structural integrity of 
the support structure for the vertical or horizontal stabilizer and 
subsequent loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 7, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of June 7, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207, for service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candice Gerretsen, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
917-6428; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (AD) docket on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management 
Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office 
(telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif 
Building at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to all Boeing Model 767 
airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 
2, 2006 (71 FR 5623). That NPRM proposed to require repetitive 
inspections for cracking in the skin, the bulkhead outer chord, and the 
strap of the bulkhead outer chord at station (STA) 1725.5; and repair 
if necessary. That NPRM also proposed to provide for repairs, which are 
optional for airplanes on which no cracking is found, that terminate 
certain inspections.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment received. The 
commenter, Boeing, supports the NPRM.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 905 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.

[[Page 25929]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Number of
                                                 Average                            U.S.-
             Action                Work hours   labor rate   Cost per airplane    registered      Fleet cost
                                                 per hour                         airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 1 Inspection, per                      5          $65  $325, per                    387  $125,775 per
 inspection cycle.                                           inspection cycle.                 inspection cycle.
Part 2 Inspections, per                     9           65  $585, per                    387  $226,395 per
 inspection cycle.                                           inspection cycle.                 inspection cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    We have determined that 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); and
    (3) 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES 
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-09-09 Boeing: Amendment 39-14580. Docket No. FAA-2006-23762; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-226-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective June 7, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Boeing Model 767-200, -300, -300F, 
and -400ER series airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of cracking in the skin panel 
common to stringer 7R and aft of the station (STA) 1725.5 butt 
splice, and in the strap of the bulkhead outer chord at STA 1725.5. 
We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the skin, 
the bulkhead outer chord, or the strap of the bulkhead outer chord 
in this area, which could progress into surrounding areas and result 
in reduced structural integrity of the support structure for the 
vertical or horizontal stabilizer and subsequent loss of control of 
the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Repetitive Inspections

    (f) Perform repetitive detailed and high frequency eddy current 
inspections for cracking in the skin, the bulkhead outer chord, and 
the strap of the bulkhead outer chord at STA 1725.5, in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention 
Service Bulletin 767-53-0118, dated September 8, 2005. Do the 
initial and repetitive Part 1 and Part 2 inspections at the times 
specified in paragraph 1.E., Compliance, of the service bulletin; 
except, where the service bulletin specifies a compliance time after 
the issuance of the service bulletin, this AD requires compliance 
within the specified compliance time after the effective date of 
this AD.

Repair

    (g) If any cracking is found during any inspection required by 
paragraph (f) of this AD: Before further flight, perform applicable 
repairs in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-53-0118, dated September 8, 
2005; except, where the service bulletin specifies to contact Boeing 
for repair instructions, before further flight, repair the cracking 
using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified 
in paragraph (i) of this AD.

Optional Terminating Action

    (h) Completing repairs specified in the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-53-
0118, dated September 8, 2005, terminates the repetitive inspections 
required by paragraph (f) of this AD, as specified in paragraphs 
(h)(1) and (h)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Completing repairs specified in paragraph 3.B.3.a. of the 
service bulletin terminates both the Part 1 and Part 2 inspections 
required by paragraph (f) of this AD.
    (2) Completing repairs specified in paragraph 3.B.4.a. of the 
service bulletin terminates the Part 1 inspections required by 
paragraph (f) of this AD. Part 2 inspections must continue as 
required by paragraph (f) of this AD until the repairs specified in 
paragraph 3.B.3.a. of the service bulletin are completed.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
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 an

[[Page 25930]]

Authorized Representative for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes 
Delegation Option Authorization Organization who 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 767-
53-0118, dated September 8, 2005, to perform the actions that are 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director 
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of 
this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207, for a copy of this service information. You 
may review copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room PL-401, Nassif 
Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at the NARA, 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 April 21, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-4055 Filed 5-2-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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