Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 197 (Friday, October 12, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58007-58008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20037]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28378; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-089-AD; 
Amendment 39-15222; AD 2007-21-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727 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 727 airplanes. This AD requires doing an initial detailed 
inspection for cracks in the aft pressure bulkhead web; repairing any 
discrepancy; and doing repetitive detailed inspections, and doing 
related investigative actions, if necessary. This AD results from 
reports of cracking in the aft pressure bulkhead web. We are issuing 
this AD to detect and correct a cracked pressure bulkhead web, which 
could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 16, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of November 16, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., 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: Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
917-6577; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Operations 
office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is located on the ground floor of the 
West Building at the DOT 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 727 
airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on June 25, 
2007 (72 FR 34646). That NPRM proposed to require doing an initial 
detailed inspection for cracks in the aft pressure bulkhead web; 
repairing any discrepancy; and doing repetitive detailed inspections, 
and doing related investigative actions, if necessary.

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.

[[Page 58008]]

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 842 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 459 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The detailed inspection takes about 1 work hour per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of this AD for U.S. operators is $36,720, or $80 per 
airplane.

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):

2007-21-04 Boeing: Amendment 39-15222. Docket No. FAA-2007-28378; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-089-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective November 16, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Boeing Model 727, 727C, 727-100, 727-
100C, 727-200, and 727-200F series airplanes, certificated in any 
category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of cracking in the aft pressure 
bulkhead web. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct a cracked 
pressure bulkhead web, which could result in rapid decompression 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.

Inspection(s) and Corrective Actions

    (f) Do an initial detailed inspection for cracks in the aft 
pressure bulkhead web in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-53-
0230, dated January 8, 2007; except as provided by note (a) in Table 
1 of paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of the service bulletin. Do the 
inspection at the compliance time identified in paragraph 1.E., 
``Compliance,'' of the service bulletin; except as provided by 
paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (1) If no crack is found, repeat the detailed inspection at the 
repeat interval identified in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of the 
service bulletin, except as provided by note (a) in Table 1 of 
paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of the service bulletin.
    (2) If any crack is found, before further flight, repair the 
crack and do the related investigative actions, in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin. If any 
crack, disbonding, or corrosion is found during related 
investigative actions, before further flight, repair the discrepancy 
using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified 
in paragraph (h) of this AD.
    (g) Where Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-53-0230, 
dated January 8, 2007, specifies a compliance time after the date of 
the service bulletin, this AD requires compliance within the 
specified compliance time after the effective date 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 in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (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 appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.
    (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 
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

    (i) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 727-
53-0230, dated January 8, 2007, 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 FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington; or 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 Renton, Washington, on September 21, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-20037 Filed 10-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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