Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65185-65187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24943]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0546; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-050-AD; 
Amendment 39-17631; AD 2013-21-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
The Boeing Company Model 727 airplanes. This AD was prompted by certain 
mandated programs intended to support the airplane reaching its limit 
of validity (LOV) of the engineering data that support the established 
structural maintenance program. This AD requires, for certain 
airplanes, a modification of the web of the horizontal stabilizer 
center section rear spar. For the other airplanes, this AD requires an 
inspection for cracks in the web, and repair or modification as 
applicable. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking at the upper 
fastener holes in the riveted web in the horizontal stabilizer center 
section rear spar, which could result in failure of the spar forging 
and lead to horizontal stabilizer separation and loss of control of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective December 5, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 5, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-
5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this 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: Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone: 425-
917-6577; fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to the specified products. The 
NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 17, 2013 (78 FR 42720). 
The NPRM proposed to require for certain airplanes, a modification of 
the web of the horizontal stabilizer center section rear spar. For the 
other airplanes, the NPRM proposed to require an inspection for cracks 
in the web, and repair or modification as applicable.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We have considered the comment received. Boeing supported the 
NPRM (78 FR 42720, July 17, 2013).

Clarification of Applicability

    Since the NPRM (78 FR 42720, July 17, 2013) was published, we have 
clarified the applicability in paragraph (c) of this final rule to 
reflect the most recent type certificate data sheet for The Boeing 
Company Model 727 airplanes.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD as proposed--except for minor editorial changes. We have 
determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (78 FR 42720, July 17, 2013) for correcting the unsafe condition; 
and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (78 FR 42720, July 17, 2013).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 106 airplanes of U.S. registry. We 
estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification........................  32 work-hours x $85 per          $7,154           $9,874       $1,036,770
                                       hour = $2,720.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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,

[[Page 65186]]

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),
    (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

    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):

2013-21-07 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17631; Docket No. FAA-
2013-0546; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-050-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective December 5, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 727, 727C, 727-100, 
727 -100C, 727-200, and 727-200F series airplanes, certificated in 
any category, identified as Group III and Group IV in Boeing Service 
Bulletin 55-46, dated April 8, 1970.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 55, Stabilizers.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD is intended to complete certain mandated programs 
intended to support the airplane reaching its limit of validity of 
the engineering data that support the established structural 
maintenance program. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking at 
the upper fastener holes in the riveted web in the horizontal 
stabilizer center section rear spar, which could lead to horizontal 
stabilizer separation and loss of control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Group III Airplanes: Inspection

    For airplanes identified as Group III in Boeing Service Bulletin 
55-46, dated April 8, 1970: At the later of the times specified in 
paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD, do an eddy-current 
inspection for cracks in the web, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 55-46, dated 
April 8, 1970.
    (1) Before the accumulation of 60,000 total flight cycles.
    (2) Within 24 months or 2,500 flight cycles after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first.

(h) Group III Airplanes: Corrective Actions

    For airplanes identified as Group III in Boeing Service Bulletin 
55-46, dated April 8, 1970: After the inspection required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD, do the applicable actions specified in 
paragraph (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this AD.
    (1) If no crack is found, before further flight, modify the web 
of the horizontal stabilizer center section rear spar, in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 55-
46, dated April 8, 1970.
    (2) If any crack is found, repair before further flight using a 
method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in 
paragraph (j) of this AD.

(i) Group IV Airplanes: Modification

    For airplanes identified as Group IV in Boeing Service Bulletin 
55-46, dated April 8, 1970: At the later of the times specified in 
paragraphs (i)(1) and (i)(2) of this AD, modify the web of the 
horizontal stabilizer center section rear spar, in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 55-46, 
dated April 8, 1970.
    (1) Before the accumulation of 60,000 total flight cycles.
    (2) Within 24 months or 2,500 flight cycles after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (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. 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 ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) 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 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.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Berhane Alazar, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 
98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6577; fax: 425-917-6590; email: 
[email protected].

(l) 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 Service Bulletin 55-46, dated April 8, 1970.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Boeing service information identified in this AD, 
contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 
Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; 
telephone 206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet 
https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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.
    (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, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.


[[Page 65187]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 15, 2013.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-24943 Filed 10-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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