Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 737-900ER Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 24, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71534-71535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28936]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0764; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-260-AD; 
Amendment 39-16519; AD 2010-24-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 737-900ER 
Series 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 doing a one-time general visual 
inspection for a keyway in two fuel tank access door cutouts, and 
related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was 
prompted by reports of cracks emanating from the keyway of the fuel 
tank access hole. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct such 
cracking, which could result in the loss of the lower wing skin load 
path and consequent structural failure of the wing.

DATES: This AD is effective December 29, 2010.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of December 29, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail [email protected]; 
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 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: Nancy Marsh, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
917-6440; fax (425) 917-6590; 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 
August 10, 2010 (75 FR 48281). That NPRM proposed to require a general 
visual inspection for a keyway in the fuel tank access door cutout on 
the left and right wings, and related investigative and corrective 
actions if necessary.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We have considered the comments received. The Boeing Company 
supports the NPRM. Continental Airlines submitted information to make a 
comment, but no specific comment on the NPRM or request to change it.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 30 airplanes of U.S. registry. We 
estimate that it will take 3 work-hours per product to comply with this 
AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of the AD to the U.S. operators to be 
$7,650, or $255 per product.

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),

[[Page 71535]]

    (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

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

2010-24-01 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-16519; Docket No. FAA-
2010-0764; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-260-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD is effective December 29, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-900ER series 
airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 737-57A1308, Revision 1, dated October 1, 
2009.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57: Wings.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from reports of cracks emanating from the 
keyway of the fuel tank access hole. The Federal Aviation 
Administration is issuing this AD to detect and correct such 
cracking, which could result in the loss of the lower wing skin load 
path and consequent structural failure of the wing.

Compliance

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

Inspection

    (g) Before the accumulation of 7,500 total flight cycles, or 
within 1,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs later, do a one-time general visual inspection for 
a keyway in the fuel tank access door cutouts 531BB and 631BB, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 737-57A1308, Revision 1, dated October 1, 2009 
(``the service bulletin'').

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, 
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or 
irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching 
distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to 
ensure visual access to all surfaces in the inspection area. This 
level of inspection is made under normally available lighting 
conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or 
droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or 
doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain 
proximity to the area being checked.''

    (1) If both access door cutouts do not have a keyway, no further 
action is required by this AD.
    (2) If any access door has a keyway, before the accumulation of 
7,500 total flight cycles, or within 1,000 flight cycles after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, do a high 
frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection for cracking of the keyway, 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the service 
bulletin.
    (i) If no cracking is found during the HFEC inspection, before 
further flight, modify the profile of the keyway of the fuel tank 
access door cutout, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the service bulletin.
    (ii) If any cracking is found and the crack is 0.030 inch or 
less in length, before further flight repair the keyway, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the service 
bulletin.
    (iii) If any cracking is found and the crack is greater than 
0.030 inch in length, before further flight, repair the crack using 
a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in 
paragraph (h) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Seattle 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. Send information to 
ATTN: Nancy Marsh, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, 
FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6440; fax (425) 
917-6590. Information may be e-mailed to: [email protected].
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or 
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a 
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. 
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
    (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, 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.

Related Information

    (i) For more information about this AD, contact Nancy Marsh, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6440; fax (425) 917-6590; e-mail 
[email protected].

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use the Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-57A1308, 
Revision 1, dated October 1, 2009, 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 this service information 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, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 
206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; 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 November 5, 2010.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-28936 Filed 11-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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