Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 25, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 4221 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 22: Auto Flight. 

Reason 

(e) The mandatory continued airworthiness 

information (MCAI) states: 

When there are significant differences 

between all airspeed sources, the flight 

controls of an Airbus A330 or A340 

aeroplane will revert to alternate law, the 

autopilot (AP) and the auto-thrust (A/THR) 

automatically disconnect, and the Flight 

Directors (FD) bars are automatically 

removed. 

It has been identified that, after such an 

event, if two airspeed sources become similar 

while still erroneous, the flight guidance 

computers will: 

—Display FD bars again, and 

—Enable autopilot and auto-thrust reengagement 

However, in some cases, the autopilot 

orders may be inappropriate, such as possible 

abrupt pitch command. 

* * * * * 

The unsafe condition is the potential for 

abrupt pitch command which may lead to 

unexpected maneuvers of the airplane and 

cause injuries of the crew and passengers, as 

well as reduced controllability of the airplane 

and increased pilot workload. 

Compliance 

(f) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Actions 

(g) Within 15 days after the effective date 

of this AD, do the actions in paragraph (g)(1) 

or (g)(2) of this AD. 

(1) Revise the Limitations and Abnormal 

Sections of the Airbus A330/A340 Airplane 

Flight Manual (AFM) to include the 

following statement and operate the airplane 

according to these limitations and 

procedures. This may be done by inserting a 

copy of this AD in the AFM. 

‘‘PROCEDURE: 

When autopilot and auto-thrust are 

automatically disconnected and flight 

controls have reverted to alternate law: 

—Do not engage the AP and the A/THR, even 

if FD bars have reappeared 

—Do not follow the FD orders 

—ALL SPEED INDICATIONS—X–CHECK 

• If unreliable speed indication is 

suspected: 

—UNRELIABLE SPEED INDIC/ADR CHECK 

PROC—APPLY 

• If at least two ADRs provide reliable 

speed indication for at least 30 seconds, and 

the aircraft is stablised on the intended path: 

AP/FD and A/THR—As required’’ 

Note 1: When a statement identical to that 

in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD has been 

included in the general revisions of the 

Limitations and Abnormal Sections of the 

AFM, the general revisions may be inserted 

into the AFM, and the copy of this AD may 

be removed from the AFM. 

(2) Revise the Limitations and Abnormal 

Sections of the Airbus A330/A340 Airplane 

Flight Manual (AFM) to include the 

information in Airbus A330/A340 Temporary 

Revision (TR) TR149 (for Model A330 

airplanes) or TR150 (for Model A340–200 

and –300 series airplanes), both Issue 1.0, 

both dated December 20, 2010. These TRs 

introduce procedures for operation of the 

auto pilot and auto-thrust disconnect. 

Operate the airplane according to the 

limitations and procedures in the TRs. 

Note 2: This may be done by inserting 

copies of Airbus A330/A340 TR TR149 or 

TR150, both Issue 1.0, both dated December 

20, 2010; as applicable; in the Airbus A330/ 

A340 AFM. When these TRs have been 

included in general revisions of the AFM, the 

general revisions may be inserted in the 

AFM, and the TRs may be removed. 

FAA AD Differences 

Note 3: This AD differs from the MCAI 

and/or service information as follows: No 

Differences. 

Other FAA AD Provisions 

(h) The following provisions also apply to 

this AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Send information to Attn: Vladimir Ulyanov, 

Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, 

ANM–116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone (425) 

227–1138; fax (425) 227–1149. Information 

may be e-mailed to: 9-ANM-116-AMOCREQUESTS@faa.gov. 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. The AMOC approval letter 

must specifically reference this AD. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer or other source, use these 

actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent). You are required 

to assure the product is airworthy before it 

is returned to service. 

(3) Reporting Requirements: A federal 

agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 

person is not required to respond to, nor 

shall a person be subject to a penalty for 

failure to comply with a collection of 

information subject to the requirements of 

the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 

collection of information displays a current 

valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Number for this information 

collection is 2120–0056. Public reporting for 

this collection of information is estimated to 

be approximately 5 minutes per response, 

including the time for reviewing instructions, 

completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. All responses to this collection 

of information are mandatory. Comments 

concerning the accuracy of this burden and 

suggestions for reducing the burden should 

be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence 

Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, 

AES–200. 

Related Information 

(i) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety 

Agency (EASA) Airworthiness Directive 

2010–0271, dated December 22, 2010; and 

Airbus A330/A340 TR TR149 and TR150, 

both Issue 1.0, both dated December 20, 

2010, to the Airbus A330/A340 AFM; for 

related information. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(j) You must use Airbus A330/A340 

Temporary Revision TR149, Issue 1.0, dated 

December 20, 2010, to the Airbus A330/A340 

Airplane Flight Manual; and Airbus A330/ 

A340 Temporary Revision TR150, Issue 1.0, 

dated December 20, 2010, to the Airbus 

A330/A340 Airplane Flight Manual; as 

applicable; 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 Airbus SAS—Airworthiness 

Office—EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 

5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; e-mail 

airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com; 

Internet http://www.airbus.com. 

(3) You may review copies of the service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

425–227–1221. 

(4) You may also review copies of the 

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/ 

code_of_federal_regulations/ 

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 

12, 2011. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–1225 Filed 1–24–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2010–0677; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–NM–075–AD; Amendment 

39–16578; AD 2011–02–05] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Model 727 Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with RULES
4222 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 25, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

products listed above. This AD requires 

inspections for scribe lines in the 

fuselage skin at skin lap joints and butt 

joints, the skin at certain external 

approved repairs, the skin around 

external features such as antennas, and 

the skin at decals and fairings; and 

related investigative and corrective 

actions if necessary. This AD was 

prompted by reports of scribe lines 

found at skin lap joints and butt joints, 

around external repairs and antennas, 

and at locations where external decals 

had been cut. We are issuing this AD to 

detect and correct scribe lines, which 

can develop into fatigue cracks in the 

skin and cause rapid decompression of 

the airplane. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 1, 

2011. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of March 1, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, Washington 98124– 

2207; telephone 206–544–5000, 

extension 1; fax 206–766–5680; e-mail 

me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

service information at the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 425–227– 

1221. 

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 (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

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 

(ACO), 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 the 

specified products. That NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

July 7, 2010 (75 FR 38950). That NPRM 

proposed to require inspections for 

scribe lines in the fuselage skin at skin 

lap joints and butt joints, the skin at 

certain external approved repairs, the 

skin around external features such as 

antennas, and the skin at decals and 

fairings; and related investigative and 

corrective actions if necessary. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the proposal and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. 

Support for the NPRM 

Boeing supports the intent of the 

NPRM. 

Request To Revise Compliance Time 

FedEx Express (FedEx) requested that 

we revise the compliance time in 

paragraph (g) of the NPRM to add an 

additional option of ‘‘at the next 

scheduled ‘C’ check (30 months) from 

the effective date of the AD.’’ FedEx 

stated that it determined that the 

proposed inspection threshold and 

intervals would not fit within its 

planned scheduled maintenance checks, 

and the requested adjustment to the 

compliance time would allow FedEx to 

mitigate the need to schedule special 

visits to accomplish the inspections. 

We disagree with the request to revise 

the compliance time. In developing an 

appropriate compliance time for this 

AD, we considered not only the safety 

implications, but the manufacturer’s 

recommendations, the availability of 

required parts, and the practical aspect 

of accomplishing the modification 

within an interval of time that 

corresponds to typical scheduled 

maintenance for affected operators. 

Under the provisions of paragraph (m) 

of this AD, however, we might consider 

requests for adjustments to the 

compliance time if data are submitted to 

substantiate that such an adjustment 

would provide an acceptable level of 

safety. In addition, FedEx did not 

provide any technical justification for 

the request. We have not changed the 

final rule in regard to this issue. 

Explanation of Change to This AD 

We added a new paragraph (l) to this 

final rule to provide information on the 

federal Paperwork Reduction Act. We 

have reidentified subsequent paragraphs 

accordingly. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting the AD 

with the change described previously. 

We also determined that these changes 

will not increase the economic burden 

on any operator or increase the scope of 

the AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 234 

airplanes of U.S. registry. The following 

table provides the estimated costs for 

U.S. operators to comply with this AD. 

TABLE—ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Work hours Average labor 

rate per hour Parts Cost per product 

Number of 

U.S.- 

registered 

airplanes 

Fleet cost 

Inspection .................................................. Up to 320 

hours 

$85 $0 Up to $27,200 234 Up to 

$6,364,800 

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, 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 25, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 4223 

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), 

(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 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

2011–02–05 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–16578; Docket No. 

FAA–2010–0677; Directorate Identifier 

2010–NM–075–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This AD is effective March 1, 2011. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to The Boeing 

Company Model 727, 727C, 727–100, 727– 

100C, 727–200, and 727–200F series 

airplanes, certificated in any category; as 

identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

727–53A0233, dated February 19, 2010. 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53: Fuselage. 

Unsafe Condition 

(e) This AD results from reports of scribe 

lines found at skin lap joints, butt joints, 

around external repairs and external features 

such as antennas, and at locations where 

external decals had been cut. The Federal 

Aviation Administration is issuing this AD to 

detect and correct scribe lines, which can 

develop into fatigue cracks in the skin and 

cause rapid decompression of the airplane. 

Compliance 

(f) 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 

(g) At the applicable times specified in 

paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing 

Alert Service Bulletin 727–53A0233, dated 

February 19, 2010, except as provided in 

paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD, do detailed 

inspections for scribe lines of skin lap joints, 

skin butt joints, around external approved 

repairs, external features, and fairings, and at 

locations where external decals may have 

been cut, and do all applicable related 

investigative and corrective actions at the 

times specified in the service bulletin, by 

accomplishing all actions specified in the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 727–53A0233, dated 

February 19, 2010, except as provided by 

paragraph (j) of this AD. 

Note 1: The inspection exemptions noted 

in paragraph 1.E. of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 727–53A0233, dated February 19, 

2010, apply to this AD. 

Exceptions to Service Bulletin Specifications 

(h) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

727–53A0233, dated February 19, 2010, 

specifies a compliance time after ‘‘the 

original issue date on this service bulletin,’’ 

this AD requires compliance within the 

specified compliance time after the effective 

date of this AD. 

(i) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

727–53A0233, dated February 19, 2010, 

specifies to calculate the flight-cycle time for 

an airplane ‘‘as of the original issue date on 

this service bulletin,’’ this AD requires the 

airplane flight-cycle time to be calculated as 

of the effective date of this AD. 

(j) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

727–53A0233, dated February 19, 2010, 

specifies to contact Boeing for appropriate 

action, accomplish applicable actions before 

further flight using a method approved in 

accordance with the procedures specified in 

paragraph (m) of this AD. 

Report 

(k) At the applicable time specified in 

paragraph (k)(1) or (k)(2) of this AD: Submit 

a report of positive crack findings of the 

inspections required by paragraph (g) of this 

AD. Operators may use the reporting form 

contained in Appendixes B and C, as 

applicable, of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

727–53A0233, dated February 19, 2010. Send 

the report to Boeing Commercial Airplanes, 

P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124– 

2207. The report must contain, at a 

minimum, the inspection results, a 

description of any discrepancies found, the 

airplane serial number, and the number of 

flight cycles and flight hours on the airplane. 

Under the provisions of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the 

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 

approved the information collection 

requirements contained in this AD and has 

assigned OMB Control Number 2120–0056. 

(1) If the inspection was done on or after 

the effective date of this AD: Submit the 

report within 30 days after the inspection. 

(2) If the inspection was done before the 

effective date of this AD: Submit the report 

within 30 days after the effective date of this 

AD. 

Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement 

(l) A federal agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, nor shall a person be subject to 

a penalty for failure to comply with a 

collection of information subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 

Act unless that collection of information 

displays a current valid OMB Control 

Number. The OMB Control Number for this 

information collection is 2120–0056. Public 

reporting for this collection of information is 

estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per 

response, including the time for reviewing 

instructions, completing and reviewing the 

collection of information. All responses to 

this collection of information are mandatory. 

Comments concerning the accuracy of this 

burden and suggestions for reducing the 

burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 

Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 

20591, Attn: Information Collection 

Clearance Officer, AES–200. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(m)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the 

authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 

requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. Send information to Attn: 

Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind 

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057– 

3356; telephone (425) 917–6577; fax (425) 

917–6590. Information may be e-mailed to: 9- 

ANM-Seattle-ACO–AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(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 principal maintenance inspector 

(PMI) or principal avionics inspector (PAI), 

as appropriate, or lacking a principal 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with RULES
4224 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 25, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

inspector, your local Flight Standards District 

Office. The AMOC approval letter must 

specifically reference this AD. 

(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 the 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that 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. 

Related Information 

(n) For more information about this AD, 

contact Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle 

ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone (425) 

917–6577; fax (425) 917–6590. Information 

may be e-mailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACOAMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(o) You must use Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 727–53A0233, dated February 19, 

2010, 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 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727–53A0233, 

dated February 19, 2010, under 5 U.S.C. 

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 

Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65, 

Seattle, Washington 98124–2207; telephone 

206–544–5000, extension 1; fax 206–766– 

5680; e-mail me.boecom@boeing.com; 

Internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(3) You may review copies of the service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

425–227–1221. 

(4) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at an NARA facility, 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 

5, 2011. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–464 Filed 1–24–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2010–0796; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–NM–007–AD; Amendment 

39–16579; AD 2011–02–06] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Model 767–300 Series 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

products listed above. This AD requires 

repetitive inspections for cracks in the 

fuselage skin and backup structure at 

the lower VHF antenna cutout at station 

1197 + 99 between stringers 39 left and 

39 right, and corrective actions if 

necessary. Certain repairs terminate 

certain inspection requirements. This 

AD was prompted by reports of cracking 

found in the section 46 fuselage lower 

skin around the periphery of the VHF 

antenna baseplate at station 1197 + 99. 

We are issuing this AD to detect and 

correct fatigue cracks in the fuselage 

skin and internal backup structure, 

which could result in rapid 

decompression of the airplane. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 1, 

2011. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of March 1, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, Washington 98124– 

2207; telephone 206–544–5000, 

extension 1; fax 206–766–5680; e-mail 

me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

service information at the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 425–227– 

1221. 

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 (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

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 

(ACO), 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 the 

specified products. That NPRM was 

published in the Federal Register on 

August 11, 2010 (75 FR 48623). That 

NPRM proposed to require repetitive 

inspections for cracks in the fuselage 

skin and backup structure at the lower 

VHF antenna cutout at station 1197 + 99 

between stringers 39L and 39R, and 

corrective actions if necessary. Certain 

repairs proposed by that NPRM would 

terminate certain inspection 

requirements. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comment 

received on the proposal and the FAA’s 

response to the comment. 

Request To Clarify Compliance Time 

Boeing requested that we change the 

NPRM to explain that the internal 

detailed inspection may be deferred up 

to 6,000 flight cycles after the effective 

date of the AD if no fuselage skin cracks 

are found during the external detailed 

inspection. Paragraph (g) of the NPRM 

referred to Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 767–53–0207, dated 

December 17, 2009 (‘‘the service 

bulletin’’), for the proposed compliance 

times for the external and internal 

detailed inspections. The Relevant 

Service Information section in the 

NPRM preamble explained that, if no 

cracks were found during the external 

detailed inspection, the internal 

detailed inspection may be deferred ‘‘for 

an additional 6,000 flight cycles.’’ 

Boeing stated, however, that this service 

bulletin instead allows deferral of the 

internal detailed inspection for a 

maximum of 6,000 flight cycles after the 

date on the service bulletin. 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with RULES