Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 757-200, -200PF, and -200CB Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 50 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13436-13438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4944]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0270; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-211-AD; 
Amendment 39-15426; AD 2008-06-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 757-200, -200PF, and -
200CB 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 757-200, -200PF, and -200CB series airplanes. This AD 
requires doing an ultrasound inspection for disbonded tear straps not 
mechanically fastened to the skin, and related investigative and 
corrective actions, if necessary. This AD results from reports 
indicating that bonded skin panels may not have been correctly anodized 
in phosphoric acid before the tear strap doubler was bonded to the 
skin. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct a weak bond between 
the skin and tear strap. Such disbonding could reduce the ability of 
the skin to resist cracks and could adversely affect the structural 
integrity of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective April 17, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 17, 
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: Jason Deutschman, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
917-6449; 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 757-200, -200PF, and -200CB series airplanes. That 
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on December 17, 2007 (72 FR 
71277). That NPRM proposed to require an ultrasound inspection for 
disbonded tear straps not mechanically fastened to the skin, and 
related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the two comments received. Boeing and 
Continental Airlines support 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

    There are 744 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide 
fleet. This AD

[[Page 13437]]

affects 487 airplanes of U.S. registry. The required actions take about 
16 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 $623,360, or $1,280 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

    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:

2008-06-14 Boeing: Amendment 39-15426. Docket No. FAA-2007-0270; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-211-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 17, 
2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 757-200, -200PF, and -200CB 
series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-53-0077, Revision 1, 
dated August 6, 2007.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports indicating that bonded skin 
panels may not have been correctly anodized in phosphoric acid 
before the tear strap doubler was bonded to the skin. We are issuing 
this AD to detect and correct a weak bond between the skin and tear 
strap. Such disbonding could reduce the ability of the skin to 
resist cracks and could adversely affect the structural integrity 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.

Initial Inspection

    (f) At the applicable initial compliance time in paragraph 
(f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, do an external ultrasound inspection 
for disbonded tear straps not mechanically fastened to the skin 
between stations 439 to 900, and 1180 to 1621, and between stringers 
10 left and 10 right, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-53-
0077, Revision 1, dated August 6, 2007.
    (1) For airplanes with less than or equal to 21,000 total flight 
cycles: Before the accumulation of 24,000 total flight cycles, but 
no earlier than 18,000 total flight cycles.
    (2) For airplanes with more than 21,000 total flight cycles: 
Within 3,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD.

Repetitive Inspection

    (g) If no disbonding is found during the ultrasound inspection 
required by paragraph (f) of this AD, repeat the inspection once 
before 36,000 total flight cycles, but no earlier than 30,000 total 
flight cycles.

Related Investigative and Corrective Actions

    (h) If any disbonding is found during the ultrasound inspection 
required by paragraph (f) or (g) of this AD, do the applicable 
related investigative and corrective actions by accomplishing all 
the actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-53-0077, Revision 1, dated 
August 6, 2007, at the applicable compliance time specified in 
paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of the service bulletin; except as 
provided by paragraph (i) of this AD.
    (i) If any crack and/or corrosion is found during any inspection 
required by this AD, and Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 
757-53-0077, Revision 1, dated August 6, 2007, specifies to contact 
Boeing for appropriate action: Before further flight, repair the 
crack and/or corrosion using a method approved in accordance with 
the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j)(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

    (k) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-
53-0077, Revision 1, dated August 6, 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.


[[Page 13438]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 3, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-4944 Filed 3-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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