Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 238 / Thursday, December 10, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 79413 

Compliance (RC), the provisions of 

paragraphs (i)(5)(i) and (ii) of this AD apply. 

(i) The steps labeled as RC, including 

substeps under an RC step and any figures 

identified in an RC step, must be done to 

comply with the AD. If a step or substep is 

labeled ‘‘RC Exempt,’’ then the RC 

requirement is removed from that step or 

substep. An AMOC is required for any 

deviations to RC steps, including substeps 

and identified figures. 

(ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be 

deviated from using accepted methods in 

accordance with the operator’s maintenance 

or inspection program without obtaining 

approval of an AMOC, provided the RC steps, 

including substeps and identified figures, can 

still be done as specified, and the airplane 

can be put back in an airworthy condition. 

(j) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Julie Linn, Aerospace Engineer, 

Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems 

Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 

South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

phone and fax: 206–231–3584; email: 

Julie.Linn@faa.gov. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 777–25–0621, Revision 2, dated 

February 28, 2020. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data 

Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., 

MC 110–SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600; 

telephone 562–797–1717; internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

206–231–3195. 

(5) You may view this 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, 

email fedreg.legal@nara.gov, or go to: https:// 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued on October 19, 2020. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–27005 Filed 12–9–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–0573; Product 

Identifier 2020–NM–078–AD; Amendment 

39–21289; AD 2020–21–16] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all The 

Boeing Company Model 747–100, 747– 

100B, 747–100B SUD, 747–200B, 747– 

200C, 747–200F, 747–300, 747–400, 

747–400D, 747–400F, 747SR, and 747SP 

series airplanes. This AD was prompted 

by a determination that the upper wing 

skin at engine nacelle points may be 

subject to undetected cracking. This AD 

requires repetitive ultrasonic 

inspections of the upper wing skin at 

certain engine strut positions for 

cracking; repetitive detailed and 

ultrasonic inspections of the strut lower 

spar fitting, diagonal brace strut end 

clevis, and diagonal brace wing attach 

end clevis for cracking; repetitive 

detailed inspections of lower link fitting 

at certain engine strut positions for 

cracking; and applicable on-condition 

actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 14, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of January 14, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes, 

Attention: Contractual & Data Services 

(C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 

110–SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600; 

telephone 562–797–1717; internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may view this service information at the 

FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 206–231–3195. 

It is also available on the internet at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2020–0573. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

0573; or in person at Docket Operations 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The AD docket contains this final rule, 

any comments received, and other 

information. The address for Docket 

Operations is 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: Eric 

Lin, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe 

Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 

South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

phone and fax: 206–231–3523; email: 

eric.lin@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to all The Boeing Company Model 

747–100, 747–100B, 747–100B SUD, 

747–200B, 747–200C, 747–200F, 747– 

300, 747–400, 747–400D, 747–400F, 

747SR, and 747SP series airplanes. The 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on June 30, 2020 (85 FR 39108). 

The NPRM was prompted by a 

determination that the upper wing skin 

at engine nacelle points may be subject 

to undetected cracking. The NPRM 

proposed to require repetitive ultrasonic 

inspections of the upper wing skin at 

certain engine strut positions for 

cracking; repetitive detailed and 

ultrasonic inspections of the strut lower 

spar fitting, diagonal brace strut end 

clevis, and diagonal brace wing attach 

end clevis for cracking; repetitive 

detailed inspections of lower link fitting 

at certain engine strut positions for 

cracking; and applicable on-condition 

actions. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

undetected cracking in the upper wing 

skin, strut lower spar fitting, or clevis 

lugs at either end of the diagonal brace 

and lower link fitting. This condition, if 

not addressed, could adversely affect 

the structural integrity of the engine 

strut and may lead to the separation of 

the strut to wing box assembly. 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this final rule. The FAA has considered 

the comments received. Boeing stated 

that it concurred with the NPRM. 


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79414 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 238 / Thursday, December 10, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule as proposed, except for minor 

editorial changes. The FAA has 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM for 

addressing the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

Related IBR Material Under 1 CFR Part 

51 

The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 747–57A2363 

RB, dated December 23, 2019. The 

service information describes 

procedures for ultrasonic inspections of 

the upper wing skin at engine strut 

positions 1 through 4 for cracking; 

detailed and ultrasonic inspections of 

the strut lower spar fitting, diagonal 

brace strut end clevis, and diagonal 

brace wing attach end clevis for 

cracking; detailed inspections of lower 

link fitting at engine strut positions 1 

through 4 for cracking; and applicable 

on-condition actions. On-condition 

actions include repair. This service 

information is reasonably available 

because the interested parties have 

access to it through their normal course 

of business or by the means identified 

in the ADDRESSES section. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 125 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following costs 

to comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators 

Inspections ................. 9 work-hours × $85 per hour = $765 per inspection cycle.$0 $765 per inspection cycle $95,625 per inspection 

cycle. 

The FAA has received no definitive 

data that would enable the agency to 

provide cost estimates for the oncondition actions specified in this AD. 

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. 

The FAA is 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, 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. 

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): 

2020–21–16 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–21289; Docket No. 

FAA–2020–0573; Product Identifier 

2020–NM–078–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective January 14, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all The Boeing 

Company Model 747–100, 747–100B, 747– 

100B SUD, 747–200B, 747–200C, 747–200F, 

747–300, 747–400, 747–400D, 747–400F, 

747SR, and 747SP series airplanes, 

certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 57, Wings. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a determination 

that the upper wing skin at engine nacelle 

attachment points may be subject to 

undetected cracking. The FAA is issuing this 

AD to address undetected cracking in the 

upper wing skin, strut lower spar fitting, or 

clevis lugs at either end of the diagonal brace 

and lower link fitting. This condition, if not 

addressed, could adversely affect the 

structural integrity of the engine strut and 

may lead to the separation of the strut to 

wing box assembly. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this 

AD: At the applicable times specified in the 

‘‘Compliance’’ paragraph of Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 747–57A2363 RB, 

dated December 23, 2019, do all applicable 

actions identified in, and in accordance with, 

the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Alert Requirements Bulletin 747–57A2363 

RB, dated December 23, 2019. 

Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for 

accomplishing the actions required by this 

AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–57A2363, dated December 23, 

2019, which is referred to in Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 747–57A2363 RB, 

dated December 23, 2019. 

(h) Exceptions to Service Information 

Specifications 

(1) Where Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin 747–57A2363 RB, dated December 

23, 2019, uses the phrase ‘‘the original issue 

date of Requirements Bulletin 747–57A2363 


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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 238 / Thursday, December 10, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 79415 

RB,’’ this AD requires using ‘‘the effective 

date of this AD.’’ 

(2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin 747–57A2363 RB, dated December 

23, 2019, specifies contacting Boeing for 

repair instructions: This AD requires doing 

the repair before further flight using a 

method approved in accordance with the 

procedures specified in paragraph (i) of this 

AD. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO Branch, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested using the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 

14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 

principal inspector or local Flight Standards 

District Office, as appropriate. If sending 

information directly to the manager of the 

certification office, send it to the attention of 

the person identified in paragraph (j)(1) of 

this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9- 

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

(2) 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. 

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair, 

modification, or alteration required by this 

AD if it is approved by The Boeing Company 

Organization Designation Authorization 

(ODA) that has been authorized by the 

Manager, Seattle ACO Branch, FAA, to make 

those findings. To be approved, the repair 

method, modification deviation, or alteration 

deviation must meet the certification basis of 

the airplane, and the approval must 

specifically refer to this AD. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Eric Lin, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 

2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 

98198; phone and fax: 206–231–3523; email: 

eric.lin@faa.gov. 

(2) Service information identified in this 

AD that is not incorporated by reference is 

available at the addresses specified in 

paragraphs (k)(3) and (4) of this AD. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

747–57A2363 RB, dated December 23, 2019. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data 

Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., 

MC 110–SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600; 

telephone 562–797–1717; internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

206–231–3195. 

(5) You may view this 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, 

email fedreg.legal@nara.gov, or go to: https:// 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued on October 7, 2020. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–27006 Filed 12–9–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–1105; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–01459–T; Amendment 

39–21345; AD 2020–25–03] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020–01– 

17, which applied to all Airbus SAS 

Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 

series airplanes. AD 2020–01–17 

required repetitive checks of the 

pressure gauges on the inflation 

reservoir of each emergency escape 

slide/raft to determine the amount of 

pressure and, depending on findings, 

accomplishment of applicable corrective 

actions. This AD retains the 

requirements of AD 2020–01–17, 

expands the list of affected parts to be 

checked, and provides optional 

terminating action for the repetitive 

checks; as specified in a European 

Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 

AD, which is incorporated by reference. 

This AD was prompted by the 

determination that certain parts that 

were not identified in AD 2020–01–17 

are also subject to the unsafe condition. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

the unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

December 28, 2020. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of December 28, 2020. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain other publication listed in 

this AD as of February 14, 2020 (85 FR 

5310, January 30, 2020). 

The FAA must receive comments on 

this AD by January 25, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For material incorporated by reference 

(IBR) in this AD, contact the EASA, 

Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 

8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; 

internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may 

find this IBR material on the EASA 

website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. 

You may view this IBR material at the 

FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 206–231–3195. 

It is also available in the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

1105. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

1105; or in person at Docket Operations 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The AD docket contains this AD, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone and fax 206–231–3223; email 

Sanjay.Ralhan@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The FAA issued AD 2020–01–17, 

Amendment 39–19823 (85 FR 5310, 


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