Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4053-4054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1129]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28884; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-116-AD; 
Amendment 39-15343; AD 2008-02-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Boeing Model 727 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive external high 
frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections of the crown skin for cracks 
at certain stringer attachment holes, and repair if necessary. This AD 
results from a report of cracks at multiple locations on certain areas 
of the crown skin. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue 
cracks of the crown skin, which could result in rapid decompression of 
the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective February 28, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 28, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.

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 (telephone 800-647-5527) is the 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, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
917-6577; fax (425) 917-6590.

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 
all Boeing Model 727 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on August 8, 2007 (72 FR 44433). That NPRM proposed to require 
repetitive external high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections of 
the crown skin for cracks at certain stringer attachment holes, and 
repair if necessary.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comment received from the commenter.

Request to Delegate Approval of Alternative Methods of Compliance 
(AMOC) for Repairs

    Boeing requests that paragraph (h) of the NPRM be revised to allow 
AMOCs for any required repair to be approved by an Authorized 
Representative for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Delegation Option 
Authorization Organization who has been authorized by the Manager, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office.
    We agree with Boeing's request and have revised paragraph (h) of 
the AD accordingly.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD with the change described previously. We also determined that this 
change will not increase the economic burden

[[Page 4054]]

on any operator or increase the scope of the AD.

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 inspection takes about 110 work hours per airplane, at an average 
labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated 
cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $4,039,200, or $8,800 per 
airplane, per 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

    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.
    You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of 
compliance in the AD Docket.

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):

2008-02-13 Boeing: Amendment 39-15343. Docket No. FAA-2007-28884; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-116-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 28, 
2008.

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 a report of cracks at multiple 
locations on certain areas of the crown skin. We are issuing this AD 
to detect and correct fatigue cracks of the crown skin, 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.

Repetitive Inspections and Repair

    (f) Before the accumulation of 66,000 total flight cycles, or 
within 3,500 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs later, do an external high frequency eddy current 
inspection of the crown skin for cracks at stringer attachment holes 
between stringer 11 left and stringer 11 right and from body station 
(BS) 259.5 to BS 1183. Repair any crack found before further flight. 
Do the actions in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-53A0224, dated April 10, 2003, 
except as provided by paragraph (g) of this AD. Repeat the 
inspection at intervals not to exceed 3,500 flight cycles.
    (g) Although Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-53A0224, dated 
April 10, 2003, specifies to submit certain information to the 
manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.

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 Alert Service Bulletin 727-53A0224, 
dated April 10, 2003, 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, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 
98124-2207.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information 
incorporated by reference 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 14, 2008.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-1129 Filed 1-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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