Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777-200 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 5, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45348-45350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17749]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0520; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-018-AD; 
Amendment 39-15630; AD 2008-16-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777-200 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 certain 
Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive 
inspections for any wrinkle in certain external skin panels, and for 
cracking at the fuselage bulkhead shear tie end fastener locations at 
certain stations of Section 48 of the fuselage; and doing related 
investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from 
a report of cracks found in the external skin on the left and right 
sides of the Section 48 panel of the fuselage on two airplanes

[[Page 45349]]

with skin wrinkles found at two of the external crack locations. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct wrinkles and cracks in certain 
external skin panels of Section 48, which could join together and 
result in reduced structural integrity of support structure for the 
vertical and horizontal stabilizers and inability of the airplane to 
sustain limit loads.

DATES: This AD is effective September 9, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September 9, 
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: Duong Tran, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
917-6452; 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 
certain Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes. That NPRM was published 
in the Federal Register on May 7, 2008 (73 FR 25599). That NPRM 
proposed to require repetitive inspections for any wrinkle in certain 
external skin panels, and for cracking at the fuselage bulkhead shear 
tie end fastener locations at certain stations of Section 48 of the 
fuselage; and doing related investigative and corrective actions if 
necessary.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comment received. Boeing concurs with the 
NPRM.

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 the inspections in this AD affect 13 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. We also estimate that it takes about 15 work-hours per 
product to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-
hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the 
U.S. operators to be $15,600, or $1,200 per product, 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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2008-16-12 Boeing: Amendment 39-15630. Docket No. FAA-2008-0520; 
Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-018-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 9, 
2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes, 
certificated in any category; as identified in Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 777-53A0051, dated November 8, 2007.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of cracks found in the 
external skin on the left and right sides of the Section 48 fuselage 
panel on two airplanes with skin wrinkles found at two of the 
external crack locations. We are issuing this AD to detect and 
correct wrinkles and cracks in certain external skin panels of 
Section 48, which could join together and result in reduced 
structural integrity of support structure for the vertical and 
horizontal stabilizers and inability of the airplane to sustain 
limit loads.

Compliance

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

Repetitive Inspections/Investigative and Corrective Actions

    (f) At the applicable compliance times specified in paragraph 
1.E., ``Compliance'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0051, 
dated November 8, 2007; except as provided by paragraph (g) of this 
AD: Do the applicable inspections for any wrinkle of the external 
skin and for cracking at the fuselage bulkhead shear tie end 
fastener locations at Stations 2195.75, 2221.65, and 2245.70 of the 
Section 48 panel of the fuselage, between

[[Page 45350]]

stringers 5 and 10 on the left and right sides; and do all the 
applicable investigative and corrective actions; by doing all of the 
applicable actions in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the service bulletin, except as provided by 
paragraph (h) of this AD. Do all applicable investigative and 
corrective actions before further flight. Repeat the applicable 
inspections thereafter at the applicable intervals specified in 
paragraph 1.E. of the service bulletin.

Exception to Compliance Times

    (g) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0051, dated 
November 8, 2007, specifies counting the compliance time from ``* * 
* the date on this service bulletin,'' this AD requires counting the 
compliance time from the effective date of this AD.

Exception to Corrective Actions

    (h) If any damage beyond the repair limits specified in Boeing 
Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0051, dated November 8, 2007, is found 
during any inspection required by this AD, and the service bulletin 
specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate action: Before further 
flight, repair the crack using a method approved in accordance with 
the procedures specified in paragraph (i) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, ATTN: Duong Tran, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-
120S, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; 
telephone (425) 917-6452; fax (425) 917-6590 has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0051, 
dated November 8, 2007, 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, 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 July 23, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-17749 Filed 8-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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