Airworthiness Directives; the Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 175 (Monday, September 10, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45548-45550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18740]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0273; Product Identifier 2018-NM-017-AD; Amendment 
39-19382; AD 2018-18-03]
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 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 
series airplanes. This AD was prompted by several reports of cracks in 
a certain floor beam lower chord at door stop fitting No. 1 of the 
forward airstair door cutout. This AD requires repetitive inspections 
for any cracks and applicable on-condition actions. We are issuing this 
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 15, 2018.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 15, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
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 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-
0273.

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-
0273; 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 final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Docket Operations, 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: Galib Abumeri, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Section, Los Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, 3960 Paramount 
Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-5324; fax: 562-627-
5210; 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 certain The Boeing Company 
Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. The 
NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2018 (83 FR 16010). 
The NPRM was prompted by several reports of cracks in a certain floor 
beam lower chord at door stop fitting No. 1 of the forward airstair 
door cutout. The NPRM proposed to require repetitive inspections for 
any cracks and applicable on-condition actions.
    We are issuing this AD to address such cracking, which could result 
in the inability of a principal structural element to sustain limit 
loads and possible rapid decompression.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this final rule. The following presents the comments received on the 
NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment.

Support for the NPRM

    Boeing stated that it concurs with the NPRM.

Effect of Winglets on Accomplishment of the Proposed Actions

    Aviation Partners Boeing stated that accomplishing supplemental 
type certificate (STC) ST01219SE does not affect the actions specified 
in the NPRM.
    We agree with the commenter's request. We have redesignated 
paragraph (c) of the proposed AD as paragraph (c)(1) of this AD and 
added paragraph (c)(2) to this AD to state that installation of STC 
ST01219SE does not affect the ability to accomplish the actions 
required by this AD. Therefore, for airplanes on which STC ST01219SE is 
installed, a ``change in product'' alternative method of compliance 
(AMOC) approval request is not necessary to comply with the 
requirements of 14 CFR 39.17.

Request To Allow Manual Operation of Airstair Door

    Swiftair S.A. requested that a note be included in this AD to allow 
for fully manual operation of the forward airstair door instead of the 
electrical operation as specified in Appendix A of Boeing Alert 
Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017. Swiftair 
S.A. observed that two steps in Appendix A of Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017, cannot be performed 
on aircraft that have incorporated Boeing Service Bulletin 737-52-1092. 
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-52-1092 provides instructions for temporary 
or permanent removal of the forward airstair assembly, deactivation of 
the electrical system, and removal of the forward airstair door motor, 
among other actions.
    We agree because the forward airstair door cannot be operated 
electrically if the electrical system is deactivated and the motor is 
removed. We have changed paragraph (h) of this AD to include exceptions 
to certain steps of Appendix A of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
737-53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017, that allow for both manual and 
electrical operation of the airstair door.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this final rule with the changes described previously and minor 
editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this final 
rule.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB, 
dated December 13, 2017. The service information describes procedures 
for repetitive high frequency

[[Page 45549]]

eddy current inspections of the station (STA) 312 floor beam lower 
chord, and door stop fittings No. 2, No. 5, and No. 8 on the forward 
airstair door for any cracks 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 67 airplanes of U.S. registry. We 
estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Cost on U.S.
          Action                 Labor cost          Parts cost       Cost per product           operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection...............  Up to 11 work-hours x               $0  Up to $935 per          Up to $62,645 per
                            $85 per hour = $935                     inspection cycle.       inspection cycle.
                            per inspection cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    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):

2018-18-03 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-19382; Docket No. FAA-
2018-0273; Product Identifier 2018-NM-017-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective October 15, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    (1) 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-
53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017.
    (2) Installation of Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 
ST01219SE does not affect the ability to accomplish the actions 
required by this AD. Therefore, for airplanes on which STC ST01219SE 
is installed, a ``change in product'' alternative method of 
compliance (AMOC) approval request is not necessary to comply with 
the requirements of 14 CFR 39.17.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 52, Doors; 53, 
Fuselage.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by several reports of cracks in the station 
(STA) 312 floor beam lower chord at door stop fitting No. 1 of the 
forward airstair door cutout. We are issuing this AD to address such 
cracking, which could result in the inability of a principal 
structural element to sustain limit loads and possible rapid 
decompression.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For airplanes identified as Group 1 in Boeing Alert 
Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017: 
Within 120 days after the effective date of this AD, inspect the STA 
312 floor beam lower chord and door stop fittings No. 2, No. 5 and 
No. 8 for any cracks and do applicable on-condition actions, using a 
method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in 
paragraph (i) of this AD.
    (2) Except as required by paragraph (h) of this AD: For 
airplanes identified as Group 2 in Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017, at the applicable 
times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert 
Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017, do 
all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
737-53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g)(2) of this AD:  Guidance for 
accomplishing the actions required by this AD can be found in Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1370, dated December 13, 2017, which 
is referred to in

[[Page 45550]]

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB, dated December 
13, 2017.

(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

    (1) For purposes of determining compliance with the requirements 
of this AD: Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB, 
dated December 13, 2017, uses the phrase ``the original issue date 
of Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB,'' this AD requires using 
``the effective date of this AD.''
    (2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB, 
dated December 13, 2017, specifies contacting Boeing, this AD 
requires repair using a method approved in accordance with the 
procedures specified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
    (3) Where Step 2. of Appendix A of Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017, specifies 
``Electrically close the door,'' this AD allows closing the door 
electrically or manually.
    (4) Where Step 6. of Appendix A of Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017, specifies to 
``Cycle the door electrically and make sure it operates smoothly,'' 
this AD allows cycling the door electrically or manually and making 
sure it operates smoothly.

(i) 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 (j) 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, 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.
    (4) Except as required by paragraph (h) of this AD: For service 
information that contains steps that are labeled as RC, the 
provisions of paragraphs (i)(4)(i) and (i)(4)(ii) of this AD apply.
    (i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step 
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply 
with the AD. If a step or substep is labeled ``RC Exempt,'' then the 
RC requirement is removed from that step or substep. An AMOC is 
required for any deviations to RC steps, including substeps and 
identified figures.
    (ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted 
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection 
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC 
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done 
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy 
condition.

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Galib Abumeri, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, Los Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, 
3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-627-
5324; fax: 562-627-5210; email: [email protected].

(k) 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 Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1370 RB, dated 
December 13, 2017.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) 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.
    (4) You may view this 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.
    (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.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on August 21, 2018.
James Cashdollar,
Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-18740 Filed 9-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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