Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 23, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 83753 

Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

206–231–3195. This material may be found 

in the AD docket on the internet at https:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating Docket No. FAA–2020–0841. 

(5) You may view this material 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/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued on December 9, 2020. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–28269 Filed 12–22–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–0844; Product 

Identifier 2020–NM–100–AD; Amendment 

39–21364; AD 2020–26–09] 

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 737–100, –200, 

–200C, –300, –400, and –500 series 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by a 

report of cracks found in fastener holes 

at a certain station of the center wing 

box. This AD requires repetitive 

external surface high frequency eddy 

current (HFEC) inspections and 

repetitive external surface ultrasonic 

inspections; or repetitive internal 

detailed inspections; of a certain station 

of the center wing box for any cracking, 

and repair if necessary. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 27, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of January 27, 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–2020–0844. 

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– 

0844; 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: 

Wayne Ha, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles 

ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount 

Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712–4137; 

phone: 562–627–5238; email: 

Wayne.Ha@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 

737–100, –200, –200C, –300, –400, and 

–500 series airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

September 22, 2020 (85 FR 59449). The 

NPRM was prompted by a report of 

cracks found in fastener holes at a 

certain station of the center wing box. 

The NPRM proposed to require 

repetitive external surface HFEC 

inspections and repetitive external 

surface ultrasonic inspections; or 

repetitive internal detailed inspections; 

of a certain station of the center wing 

box for any cracking, and repair if 

necessary. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

any cracking found in fastener holes at 

the center wing box, which could result 

in inability of a principal structural 

element to sustain limit load and could 

adversely affect the structural integrity 

of the airplane. 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this final rule. The following presents 

the comments received on the NPRM 

and the FAA’s response to each 

comment. 

Support for the NPRM 

Jason Carrig and Boeing stated their 

support for the NPRM. 

Effect of Winglets on Accomplishment 

of the Proposed Actions 

Aviation Partners Boeing stated that 

accomplishing Supplemental Type 

Certificate (STC) ST01219SE does not 

affect the actions specified in the 

proposed AD. 

The FAA concurs with the 

commenter. The FAA has redesignated 

paragraph (c) of the proposed AD as 

paragraph (c)(1) of this AD and added 

paragraph (c)(2) to this AD to state that 

installation of STC ST01219SE does not 

affect the ability to accomplish the 

actions required by this AD. Therefore, 

for airplanes on which STC ST01219SE 

is installed, a ‘‘change in product’’ 

alternative method of compliance 

(AMOC) approval request is not 

necessary to comply with the 

requirements of 14 CFR 39.17. 

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 with the changes described 

previously and 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. 

The FAA also determined that these 

changes will not increase the economic 

burden on any operator or increase the 

scope of this final rule. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 737–57A1348 

RB, dated June 1, 2020. The service 

information describes procedures for 

repetitive external surface HFEC 

inspections and repetitive external 

surface ultrasonic inspections; or 

repetitive internal detailed inspections; 

of the center wing box, station 663.75 

rear spar, lower skin, and lower chord 

between left buttock line 31.83 and right 

buttock line 31.83, for any cracking, and 

repair if necessary. This service 

information is reasonably available 

because the interested parties have 

access to it through their normal course 


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83754 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 23, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 

of business or by the means identified 

in the ADDRESSES section. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 141 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 

Repetitive external 

HFEC and external ultrasonic inspections.

3 work-hours × $85 per hour = $255 per inspection cycle.$0 $255 per inspection 

cycle.

Up to $35,955 per inspection cycle. 

Repetitive internal detailed inspections.28 work-hours × $85 per hour = $2,380 per inspection cycle.$0 $2,380 per inspection 

cycle.

Up to $335,580 per inspection cycle. 

The FAA has received no definitive 

data that would enable providing cost 

estimates for the on-condition 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: 

2020–26–09 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–21364 ; Docket No. 

FAA–2020–0844; Product Identifier 

2020–NM–100–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective January 27, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

(1) This AD applies to all The Boeing 

Company Model 737–100, –200, –200C, 

–300, –400, and –500 series airplanes, 

certificated in any category. 

(2) Installation of Supplemental Type 

Certificate (STC) ST01219SE does not affect 

the ability to accomplish the actions required 

by this AD. Therefore, for airplanes on which 

STC ST01219SE is installed, a ‘‘change in 

product’’ alternative method of compliance 

(AMOC) approval request is not necessary to 

comply with the requirements of 14 CFR 

39.17. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 57, Wings. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of 

cracks found in fastener holes at the center 

wing box, station 663.75 rear spar, of the 

lower skin located at left buttock line 6.50. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address any 

cracking found in fastener holes at the center 

wing box, which could result in inability of 

a principal structural element to sustain limit 

load and could adversely affect the structural 

integrity of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions for Group 1 Airplanes 

For airplanes identified as Group 1 in 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737– 

57A1348 RB, dated June 1, 2020: Within 120 

days after the effective date of this AD, 

inspect the airplane and do all applicable oncondition actions using a method approved 

in accordance with the procedures specified 

in paragraph (j) of this AD. 

(h) Required Actions for Group 2 Airplanes 

For airplanes identified as Group 2 in 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737– 

57A1348 RB, dated June 1, 2020, except as 

specified by paragraph (i) of this AD: At the 

applicable times specified in the 

‘‘Compliance’’ paragraph of Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 737–57A1348 RB, 

dated June 1, 2020, do all applicable actions 

identified in, and in accordance with, the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 737–57A1348 RB, 

dated June 1, 2020. 

Note 1 to paragraph (h): Guidance for 

accomplishing the actions required by this 

AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 737–57A1348, dated June 1, 2020, 

which is referred to in Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 737–57A1348 RB, 

dated June 1, 2020. 

(i) Exceptions to Service Information 

Specifications 

(1) Where Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin 737–57A1348 RB, dated June 1, 

2020, uses the phrase ‘‘the original issue date 

of Requirements Bulletin 737–57A1348 RB,’’ 

this AD requires using ‘‘the effective date of 

this AD,’’ except where Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 737–57A1348 RB, 

dated June 1, 2020, uses the phrase ‘‘the 

original issue date of Requirements Bulletin 

737–57A1348 RB’’ in a note or flag note. 

(2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin 737–57A1348 RB, dated June 1, 

2020, specifies contacting Boeing for repair 

instructions: This AD requires doing the 

repair using a method approved in 


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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 23, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 83755 

accordance with the procedures specified in 

paragraph (j) of this AD. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Los Angeles 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 (k)(1) of 

this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9- 

ANM-LAACO-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, Los Angeles 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. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Wayne Ha, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO 

Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 

Lakewood, CA 90712–4137; phone: 562–627– 

5238; email: Wayne.Ha@faa.gov. 

(2) Service information identified in this 

AD that is not incorporated by reference is 

available at the addresses specified in 

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

(l) 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 

737–57A1348 RB, dated June 1, 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 December 9, 2020. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–28270 Filed 12–22–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–0465; Product 

Identifier 2020–NM–074–AD; Amendment 

39–21363; AD 2020–26–08] 

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 The 

Boeing Company Model 787–8, 787–9, 

and 787–10 airplanes powered by Rolls 

Royce Trent 1000 engines. This AD was 

prompted by reports of damage to the 

inner fixed structure (IFS) forward 

upper fire seal and damage to thermal 

insulation blankets in the forward upper 

area of the thrust reverser (TR). This AD 

requires repetitive inspections of the IFS 

forward upper fire seal and thermal 

insulation blankets in the forward upper 

area of the TR for damage 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 27, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of January 27, 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–2020–0465. 

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– 

0465; 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: Tak 

Kobayashi, Aerospace Engineer, 

Propulsion Section, FAA, Seattle ACO 

Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA; phone: 206–231–3553; 

email: Takahisa.Kobayashi@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 The Boeing Company Model 

787–8, 787–9, and 787–10 airplanes 

powered by Rolls Royce Trent 1000 

engines. The NPRM published in the 

Federal Register on June 16, 2020 (85 

FR 36352). The NPRM was prompted by 

reports of damage to the IFS forward 

upper fire seal and damage to thermal 

insulation blankets in the forward upper 

area of the TR. The NPRM proposed to 

require repetitive inspections of the IFS 

forward upper fire seal and thermal 

insulation blankets in the forward upper 

area of the TR for damage and 

applicable on-condition actions. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

damage to the IFS forward upper fire 

seal and the thermal insulation blankets 

of the TR due to airflow through 

structural gapping that could occur at 

the interface between the leading edge 

of the IFS and the engine splitter 

structure during flight. Failure of the 

IFS forward upper fire seal could cause 

the loss of seal pressurization and 

degrade the ability to detect and 

extinguish an engine fire, resulting in an 

uncontrolled fire. Damage to the TR 

insulation blanket could result in 

thermal damage to the TR inner wall, 

the subsequent release of engine exhaust 

components, and consequent damage to 

critical areas of the airplane. 

Furthermore, damage to the TR inner 

wall and IFS forward upper fire seal 

could compromise the integrity of the 

firewall and its ability to contain an 

engine fire, resulting in an uncontrolled 

fire. 


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