17492 Federal Register/Vol. 66, Nu. 63/Munday, April 2, ZOOI/Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-127-AO: Amendment

39-12159; AD 2001--06-12]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing

Model 767 Series Airplanes Powered

by General Electric Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule,

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

flew airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to r.ortain Boeing Model 767

serios airplanes powered by General

Electric engines, that mquires

modification of the nacelle strut a,nil

wing stnH.:ture. This ;lnumdmout is

promplecl by reports indicating that the

ar.:hlal operational loads applied to the

nacelle are higher than the analytical

loads thai were used during the initial

design. Sucb an increase in loading can

lead lo fatigue crnckillg in the primary

strut structllr8 prior to an airplane

reaching its design service objective.

Tbe actiolls specified by tbis AD are

intended 10 prevent fatigue cracking in

tbe primarv strut stmcture and

consequellt reduced structmal integrity

of the stmt.

OATES: Effective MClY7, 2001.

The incorporation by rderence of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of lbe Federal Register a~ of May 7.

200l.

The inr.orpOl"Ation by reference of a

certain othur ptlbtication, as tisled in the

regulations. wns approved previously by

lhe Director of the Federall\egister as of

July 24. 2000 (65 F'R37t143, June 19,

2000).

The incorporalion by rdere[][:e of

certilin other publications, as listed in

the reguJations, was ilpproved

previously by the Director of the Federal

Register as of October 17, 2000 (65 FR

58641, October 2. 2000).

The incorporation by reference of

certain other ptlblications, as listed in

the regulations, was approved

previously by the Director of the Federal

Register as 01 March 5, 2001 (66 FR

d085, januHry 29, :WOl].

ADDRESSES; Tbe servic{-!infonnRlion

referenced in this AD mav be obtained

from Boeing CommerCial-Airplane

Group, P.O. Box ::170'1,Seattle,

Wnsbington 98124-2207, This

information mav be examined at the

FederaL Aviatioil Administration (F1\A),

Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules

Docket. 1601 Lind Avenue, SW"

Renton, W~shington: or at the Office of

the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW" suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATiON CONTACT; John

Craycraft, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe

Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle

Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind

Avenue. SW" RentolL Washington

98055-4056: telephone (425) 227-2782:

fax (425) 227-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthines~ directive (AD)

that is apphcablp. to certain Boeing

Model 767 series airplanes powered by

General Electric engin<ls was published

in the Federal Register on October 10,

2000 (65 FR 60126). Tbat action

proposed to require modification of tbe

n~celle strut and wing struchlre.

Comments

Interested persons have heen afforded

an opportunity to partjr.ipate in the

making of this amendmeDt. Due

consideration has been given 10 the

comments received.

Request To Reference Revised Service

Information

One commenter requests that. the FAA

revise parilgrapb (L) to reference Boeing

Service Bulletin 767-54-0069. Revision

2, dated AugUSI31. 2000, in addition to

Boeing Service Bulletin 767-54-0069.

Revision 1, dated January 29, 1998, as

an acceptable source of se,vice

information for the applicaule

requirement of that par<igraph.

The FAA concurs witli the

com menter's request. Since the issuance

of tile propo~al, the FA,\ has reviewed

and approved Boeing Service Bulletin

767-54-0069, Revision 2, in connection

,vab AD 2001-02-07, amendment 39-

12091 (SE,FR 8085, Januarv 29, 2001),

That AD, among other thin:gs, requires

ar.comp1i~hment of the actions in

Boelng Service Bulletin ;67-54-0069,

Revision 1 or Revision 2, Accordingly,

paragriJph (b) of Ihis AD ha~ been

revised to reference both Revisions]

and 2 ortllat service bulletin liS

appropri~te sources of service

information. Also, a new Note 4 has

been added to tllis final rule, ,md

subsequent notes have been reordered

accordingly, to reference AD 2001-02-

07.

Request To Delay Issuance of Final

Rule

One commentcr rcq)lesls that the FAA

delay issuance of the final rule until the

airplane manufacturer bas revised

Boeing Service Bulletin 767-54-0081,

dated July 29, 1999. The commenter

states that. while 'lccomplishing the

proposed requirements, tbe commellter

found numerous deviations from Boeing

Servir;e Bulletin 767-54-0081 and its

associnlerl service b\llletill,~. The

commente!" states that issuing the final

rule before the service bnlletin is

revised would force operalors 10 request

alternalive lllel.bods of complianr;e

(AMOC's) to <'lddress these deviations.

The FA./\ finds that a challge 10 the

final ruJe is necessary in this regard. but

we do not concur with the cOl11l11enler's

request to delay issuance oflhis final

rule, Hoeing Service Bulletin 767-54-

0081 is not schedtlled to be revised UTItil

June 2001. and the FAA finds that, in

view of the urgency of tbe unsafe

condition addressed by lhis 1\D, it

would be inappropriate to delay

issnance of the fi.nnl rule to wail fOl;

such a r[lvisioll oflhe servit.:e blllletin to

become available.

However, to relieve any bmden on

opBrations due to necessary deviation~

fr.om!be service bulletin, the FAA rinds

that it is appl'OpJ'illte to allow a Boeing

Company Designated Enginoering

Repr!;sentative (DER) 10 approve

AMOC"s. Accordingly, p,]f(lgraph (d] as

it appeared in the proposed rule hilS

bEien revised in this final rule to include

s1.lbparagrilphs (d)(l) and (d)(2). with

parRgraph (cl)(l) containing all

inform'ltion included in paragraph (d] of

the proposed rule, and paragraph (d)(2)

containing the information nbout

approval of AMOC's by a Boeing

Company DER.

Request To Give Credit for AMOC's

One commenter reqnests that AMOC's

approved for AD 200D-12-17,

amendment 3(J-11 ;95 (65 PR 37843,

June 19. 2000), and f\D 2000-07-05,

arnenrlment39-11659 (65 FR 18883,

April 10, 2000), also be approved for

this AD. The COl11menteris referring to

certain requirements of paragraph (b), as

c:larified by Notes 2 and:1, orthe

proposed rule, wllich state that service

bulletins required by those AD's ilre

acceptable for compliance with the

applicable actions required uy

paragraph (b) of tbig AD.

The FAA concurs with Lhe

commenter's request. AMOC's approved

for AD 2000-12-17 and AD 200lH}7-

05, as well flSthose approved for AD

94-11-02, amendment 39-1l918 [59 FR

27229, May 26, lU94}, and t\D 2001-02-

07 (which was mentioned above). are

considered approved for compliance

with the applicable actions required by

paragraph (b) of lhis AD. Accordingly, a

new paragrapb (d)(:'l) h~s been l1dded to

this final rule to ~tate thnt AMOC"s

approved for tll0se AD's are considered
Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 63/ Monday, April 2, 2001/ Rules and Regulations 17493

acceptable [aI' compliance \Nith

paragraph (b) of this AD.

R~quest To Clarify Flight Cycle

Threshold Formula

One commenter requests clarification

of certa in conditions for the use of the

flight cyds threshold formula listed in

Figure 1 of Boeing Service Bulletin 757-

54-00[J1, dated July 29, HH19.Condition

2 of the formula lists nine servlce

bulletill~ that mlJst be accompli~hed if

the formula is to be used. The

commellter specifically requests

clarification of the compliance

thresholds to accompllsh Ule actions

described in those service hullelins. The

commenter point~ out thDl Illany 01'the

listed service bulletins specify initial

inspection thresholds thal will h1l\'e

already pas~ed for some airplanes. The

commenter requests that the FAA revise

tbe requirement to state th"t "the

inspections should be accomplished

prior to reaching the servicu bullelin

threshold or 20 yef\r.~,whichever occurs

later."

The FAA (;oncw-s that it i8 necessary

to clarify the threshold for doing the

service bulletins lis led in Condition 2 of

the night cycle tlueshold formula,

though we do not concur with tlle

commenter's suggested change. The

FAA conc\Us that the action~ in the

listed service bulletins IllU8t be done no

later" than 20 years ~ince the date of

delivery of the airplane for the formula

to apply. However, Ule FAA does not

concur that the threshold sbould be 20

years siuce date of delivery or prior to

the threshold listed in the service

bulletin, whichever OCClirslater, The

FAA finds tbat deferring

accomplishment of the service bulletins

beyond 20 years would not provide an

acceptilble level oj"safety. Therefore,

paragraph (a)(l) of this AD has been

revised to clarify that, for the formula to

be used, the :;ctions in the service

bulletins rofenmced in Figure 1 must be

accomplished no later than 20 years

sin(;e date of manufadure of the

airplane.

Request To Revise Com.pliance Time in

Paragraph (a)(lJ

One commellter I"equests that the FAA

revise the compliunce time in (laff1.graph

(il)(l) to remove the refcrellce to 37,500

total flight cycles. The commenter states

thalthe compliance time should be,

"Prior to the airphmc * • *

accllmul:;ting :W calendar years from the

airplane initial delivery date, or having

reached the night cycle threshold as

defined by the flight cycle threshold

formula desr.ribed in Figure 1 of the

~ervicc bullutin, whichever occur~

first." The COllllnenteI' stateg that Ihis

revision would make the AD more

consistent with the scndee bulletin,

becallse the flight cycle threshold

formula take~ into accountlhe greater

fatigue damage resulting from longerduration flights, The commenter states

that the flight cycle count resulting from

this formula is never greater than 37,500

flight cycles. and may be significantly

less.

The FAA does not concur ,vi lh the

commenter's request to revise paragraph

(a)(1) of the AD. We acknovvledge that

the wording and logic of the compliance

times in the AD differ from those in Ule

service bulletin, but we have

determined that the compliance tim(>gin

this AD and in th~ service hulletin are

roughly equivalent for airplaneo flying

longer-duration flights, For example, an

airplane that nics routes that ave:rage 8

hours would reach the 20-year threshold

before it reached the 37,50-0 flight cycle

threshold. Once the airplane has

reached the 20-year tlHeshold, ifthe

operator does not choose to do the

requirements of this AD at that Ume, the

operator would then have the option to

use the flight cycle lhreshold formula to

determine the alternative Uuashold

(provided that the criteria in Fig-clre1

are met). No change to the tinal rule is

neccssax:y in this regard.

Request To Identify This AD as a

Superseuure of AD 94--11-02

One commenter requests that the FAA

revisc the proposed rule to stale that

this AD is a sup8~sedurH of AD 94-11-

02. The COnlmenter status that Boeing

Servir:e Bulletin 757-54-0069 was

approved as an alternative method of

compliance (AMOC) for the

requirements of that AD.

The FAA does not concur with the

commenter's I'equest. This AD does not

supersede AD 94-11-02 However, the

FAA acknowledges that

accomplishment of Boeing Service

Bullelill 767-54-00G9 docs terminatB

the inspections t'equired by AD 94-11-

02, No cJlange to the final rule is

necessary in this regard.

Request Tn Revise Cost Impact

Information

One commenter requests lbat the FAA

revise the proposed rule to more

accurately represent the cost impact of

this AD. The commenter states that the

costs estimated in the proposed rule do

not accurately rellect the actual costs

that will be incurred by operators. The

commenter states thaI the actual time

required to do Boeing Service Bulletin

7ll7-54-0081 is between 2.000 and

3,000 vvork hours, and the time for the

assor.iated service bulletins is betwesn

:140 and 550 work hours.

The FAA does not concur witb the

commenter's request to revioe the

estimate of cost impact. The number of

work hours necBssary to accomplish the

required actions, restated below, is

based on the information provided by

the airplane manufDcturer in its service

bulletins. Tllis number represents the

time necessary to perform only the

actions actually required by this ADth~ "direct" costs. The FAA recognizes

that, in accomplishing the requircments

of any AD, operators may incur

"incidental" costs ill Clddition to the

"direct" costs. The cost analysis in AD

rulemaking o.ctions. however, typically

does not inch,de incidental cosls, 5u(;h

as planning time or time necessitated by

other administrative actions. Because

incidental costs may vary significantly

from operator to operator. they are

almost impossible to calculate. No

change to the final rule is necessary in

tJlis regard.

Request To Address Warranty and

Reimbursement Issues

One commenter addresses its

comment to both Boeing and the FAA.

The commenter makes several requests

pertaining to warranty and cost

reimbur8ement issues.

The FAA finds that an airworthineos

directive is not an appropriate vehicle to

resolve these specific comments. The

FAA does not involve itscHin

contracnlOl issues between the airplanB

(or parts) manufacturer end its

cListomers. No change to the j\D can be

made in this regard.

Conclusion

After cal'&flll review of tllf! available

data. including the comments noted

above, the FAA has determined that air

safety und the public interest require t11e

adoptioll or the rule with the changes

pnwiously described The FAA has

determined that these changes will

neither illcrense the economic burden

on "ny operator !lor increase the scope

of the AD.

Cas! Impact

Therc are approximately 381 Modei

7117series airplanes of the affected

design ill the worldwide fleet. The FAA

estimates that 159 airplanes of U.S,

regisl'ry will be affected by this AD, that

it will take approximately 1,006 work

hours per airplane, including lime for

gaining access "nd closing up, to

accomplish the required modifications

per Boeing Service Bulletin 767-54-

0081, and that the avenlge L'lbor rate is

$60 per work hour. Based on Ulese

figures, the cost impact ofthis

requirmnent. all U,S. operators is
17494 Federal Register! Vol. 66, No. ("i3/ Monday, April 2, 2001! Rules and Regulations

estimated to be $9,597,240, or S60,360

per air\,lane.

It wi I take approximately 16 work

hours per airplane to accomplish the

required actions uescribed in Boeing

Survice Bulletin 767-29-0057, ilt an

average lahor rate of 560 per work hour.

Required pmts will be provided ilt no

cost by the <lirplane manufacturer.

Based on Ihese figures, Ihe cost imp<lct

of these actions on U.S. operators is

estimated to he $152.640, or $960 per

airplane.

It will take (lpproxim(ltely 106 work

hours per airplane to accomplish the

actions described in Boeing Service

Bulletin 767-:53-00G9, fit alllJverage

labor rate of $60 pel' work hour.

Required parts wilJ be provided at no

cost by Ihe airplane manufat..1urer.

Based 011 these figures, the cost impact

of the~e actions on U.S, operators is

estimated tu be $1,011,240, or $6,350

per airplane. Because the actions

described in this service bulletin are

already required hy another [\D action,

lhis requiremeJlt adds no new COgtsfor

flffected operators.

It will take approximately 1 work

hour per airplane to accompligh the

actions dllscribed in Boeing Service

Bulletin 7li7-54-008j, ill an average

labor rate of $60 per work llOLlr.

Reqllired parts will be provided al no

cost by the airplane manufactllHlr,

SMell on these figures, the cost impact

of these IJCtiOllSon U,S. operators is

estimated to be $9,540, or $60 per

airplilne.

It will t<ih: approximately 4 work

hourg per airplane to ilccomp1ish the

actions described in Boeing Service

Bulletin 71)7-54-00H8. Revision 1, at an

average labor rate or S60 per work hour.

Required parts win be provided at no

cost by the airplane manufacturer,

Based on these figures, the cOot impact

of these actions on U,S. operators is

estimated to be $38,160, or $240 per

airplane.

It will take approximately 20 work

hours per airplane to accomplish the

actions described in Boeing Service

Bulletin 767-54A0094, Revision 1, st all

average labor rate of $60 per work hour.

Required parts will be p~ovided at no

cost by the nirplane manufacturer.

l3ascd on these Figures, the cost imp>lct

of these actions on U.S. operators is

()stimateJ to u() S190,!JOO. or $1.200 per

airplane. Beclluse the actions described

in this service bulletin are already

required by another AD action, this

['eqllirement adds no new costs fo!

affer.ted oper;llors.

It will t,lke approximately:5 work

hOLliSper nirplane to accomplish the

actiollo described in Boeing Service

Bulletin 767-57-0033, Revision 2, <Itan

average labor rate of $60 per work hour,

Ba~ed on these figures, the cost impact

of the,e actions on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $47,700, or $300 per

airplane. Because the actions described

in tbis service bulletin are already

required by another AD action, this

requirement adds no new costs for

affected operi:ltors,

Some operators may have

~ccolllpHsbed certain lllodit'icat.ions on

some or all of the airplanes in their

fleets. while other operators may not

have accomplished any of the

modificatiom on any of the airplanes in

their f1eets. The future cost impact of

this AD may be reduced uelow the

estimates provided ilbove if some

airplanes have already been modified,

The cost impact figures discussed

above are based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any oj'

the requirements of tbis AD action, and

thalno operulor would accomplish

those actions in the future if this AD

',,'ere not adopted. The cost impact

figures discussed in AD rulemaking

actions represent only the Ume

necessary to perform the specific actions

actually required by the AD. These

figures typically do not include

incidental costs, such as the time

required to gain Rccess and close up,

planning time, or time necessitated by

othe1 administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

The regulstions adopted herein will

not have a suustantial direct effect on

the Stales. on the relationship between

the national Government and the States.

or on the distribution of power and

responsibilities among the various

levels of government. Therefore, it is

determined that this final rule does not

have federalism impLications'under

Executive Order 13132,

For the reasons discussed above. I

certifv that tbis action (1) is no1 a

"sigl11ficant regulatory action" under

Executive Order 12!J6(i; (2) is not a

"significant rule" under DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44

FR 11034. February 26,1979); and (3)

will !lot have a significant economic

impact, positive or negative, 011fl

substantiill number of small entities

under the criteria of the Regulatory

Flexibility Ar.t. A final evaiu(ltion ha,

been prepilred for this action and it is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of il may be obtained from the Rules

Docket at the locat ion provided unoer

the caption ADDRESSES.

List ofSubjucts in 14 CFR Pari 39

i\ir tnmsportation. Aircraft., Aviation

safelv. Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Auministration runends pa.rt 3D of t]1e

Federal Avifltion Regulations (14 CFR

pert 39) <IS follow~:

PART 39-AIRWORTHINESS

DIRECTIVES

1. Tbe authority citation for part :19

continues to read ilS fol1ows:

I\uthority: 48 U.S.c. 106(g1. '101 t:J, 44701.

§39.13 [Amended}

2. Section 39,13 is amenned by

adding the following I1f;1Wairworthiness

direc;tive:

2001-06-12 Hoeing:Amendment, ~9-121 !;9.

DockeL9S-NM-l27-AO.

li.pplicilbility: 1',.'jodel767 serie, airplanes

powered by Generllll:!ectric engines. linp,

numbers 1 through 663 incllJ.\iv~, c~l'li[icated

in any c<,.legory.

Nole 1:This AD OIpplie~to each airptane

identified in the precedillg applicabilily

provision, regardless of whether il h"s been

modIfied, altered, or repaired in tJ,,~ill'"''

subject 10 tho mquiremenLs of LhlsAIJ For

ail'planas LhaLhave be~a ll1odil'ied, altered, or

repaired so thatlhe porformance of Lhl!

requimments of this AD is aHected, the

()wnerIOp~ralOrJllllst request approvul for all

alternative method ofcomplianCB in

accordance with paraljfoph (dJ(l) of LhisAIJ.

The request ~hould include an nssessmenlol

the erfecLof the modification, allel"ulion, or

repair Ollthe uasafe condition addressed by

thl~ AD~and, if lh" unsafo condiLion has not

been eliminated, the requesl should include

~FecifiGpropos"d adions to addres~ iL.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unl('S5

accomplishod previously.

To prevent f"tigu" ~rad-.ing in Lh"primary

slrut structuro and con~equent reduGed

struc:Luralintegrity of the ,trllt. accolllpl ish

the following:

Modification

[a) Modify the nacelle st.ruLHnd wing

struclure on boLh the lell and righl sido~ of

the Eirplan", in a~cord"nco wilh !:lor-ing

Sel'vice Bulletin 7G7-54-00ll1 dated Jllly 19,

1999, aLthe IHterof Lho(imes specifi~d in

paragraphs {al[l) ;:lIle!(a)(2) of Ih;" Atl

(1) Prior 10tho m~CllmlllnLionof 37.500

total !light cycles. or within 20 years since

dale of manufaclure, whichev«r occurs first.

U3e oUlle optionHlthreshold formula

d"scribAd in Figure lon page 54 ofllle

servic;o ll\dletin is Hna(ceptuhl" alternative lO

the 20-year Lhre,hold provided thallhe

conditions spocifiod io Figur« 1 of Lheservice

bulletin are met. For tbe oplional thre"hold

fonnuia in Figure 'l to be us~d. aClions in Lh;,

service bulletins lj"led il1 ltem 2 of Figur" 1

lllustue ~ccomplislled no lafer tJlan 20 years

since the airplane',; d8te of manUf8dure,

(2) Within 3,lI(10night cycles aftor Ihe

affective dale of this AD.

(b) Prior to or cotlGuneIltly Wilh the

accomplishnwnl of th" modification of tho
Federal Regi.ster / VoL 66, No. 63/ Monday, April 2, 20011 Rules and Regulations ]7495

nacelle stnll and wing structure required by

jlaragraph (a) of lhis AD; as specified in

paragraph 1.D., T8ble 2. "Prior tir Concurrent

Service B\,lle\ins," on pagp, 8 of IJoeing

Service Bulletin 767-54-(J081. dated JL11y2,J,

1UD\l;occomplish the actions speciJied iJl

Boeing Service Bulletill 757-29-0057, daled

Decomber Hi, H193: lloeing Service Bulletin

767-54-(JOG8, Re"ision 1, dated January 29,

1988, Or RBvisiCm2, d~IH<1August oj, 2000;

[toeing Service Bulleli,ll 767-54-0083, dated

September 17, 1898; Boeing Service Bul10tin

757-54-0088, Revision 1, datsd July 28,

1990; Boeing Service flu iletin 767-54A0094,

Revision 1, daled Soptember 16, 1989: alld

Bo~ing ServiGil Bulletin 767~57-00S3,

Revision 2. dated September 23, 1999; as

appliL3ble, ill accorrLmce with lhose service

blilletins.

Not" 2: AD 200D-1~-17, ?mendmenl39-

11795, require, accomplishment of Booing

Service Bulletin 767-,'j7-(JOS3, RevisioD 2,

dated September 23, 19\19. f-iowm'8r,

inspections ~Tldrework accomplished in

8ccurdanLe with Boeing Service Bullelin

7G7-:,7-(JOS3, Revision '1, dated Octob~r 31,

1996, ~rf!flcceptnb1u for compliance with tbe

"pplicable action, re(juired by pal'ligr~pb (b]

of this AD

Note 3: i\U 2000-07-03, mnendment 39-

11659, requires ar:complishmeut of Hoeing

Service !JtJllelin 757-54/\0084, daleu M~v

22, ]998,lllspections and rswork '

accompli,hsd in accordance with Boeing

SSfvics Bullelin 7G7-54,\0094, dated May

22, 19\J8. are aCCf)plahle for compliance with

the applicable RGtions re'lll;wd by paragrepll

(b) of this AD,

Note 4: 1\0 2001-02-07. amendment 39-

120U1, rCl)\Iirf'S ncromplishrnenl of Boeing

Servicn H"L1elin 7G7~54-0009, Revision I.

uated January 29, 1998, Or Revision 2, dalod

Allgllsl 31, 2000, Inspections amI r~work

accomp1i~hed in acr;ordance wilh those

service bulletins ar" ar.c••ptable fur

compliance with L"teapplicable actions

reqllired by pawg,"ph (h) of this !\D.

Repairs

(c) If uny damage to the airplane stru~ture

i~ found during lhe HccolHpl1shrnont of the

lllDdificHtiofJ reqllired by pMagnlph (oj of this

i\D, ,md tlw survke blliletin specifies to

contact Booing for appropriate <,ction: 'Prior

to further night, I'op"il' in Jccol'dance will] a

mdhod approved by the Manager, Seattle

Ail'cra!'l C~rlifi(:ation Office (ACO), FA!\, or

C1Boeing Company Designated Engineering

Represenlalive (DE:R)who has been

authorized by the ICAAtu make such

findings, FDr a repair method to be approved

by Ihe M'mager, Sen!tle ACO, as reqlli.red by

tilis pnms"'ph, Ih[llvJ?nager's "ppwv"lleltpr

rllUStspecifiedl)' ,ef",ence this AD,

Allemative Method .• llf Compliance

(dJ(l) MI allernative m••thod of complianr.e

'or adjustment of the cOll1pliRnce lime I.h~t

provides an acceplable level of s~fety mijY bo

uosd if approved by I.hflManager. Seattle

ACO, OpHrator, shall sllbmit their r~qlle~ls

through an appropriate 1'I\A Principrd

Maintenance !n'pector, who may add

comments and thell ,end il \() the lvlanager,

Seattle ACO.

(2) An allernativs method of complianr;e

Ih~1 pwvide5 ~11acceptable Ie vol of safety

may be med 1'01'paragraph (a] of this AD, if

it is approvud by ~ Boeing Compijny DER

who has been ~ul.hori~ed by thll FAA 10 make

such findings,

(3) Alternative methods of compliance,

approved previously ill accordance with :\D

2000-12-17, :unendmenl 39-11 7Q5: AI)

2000-07-05, amendmenl 39-11G59; 1\0

2001-[12-07, amendmenl 39-12091; and AD

94-11-02, amendment 39-89'l8; am

Jpprov~d as allernaliv" methous of

compliance with the applicable actions in

paragraph (b) of this AO_

Note 5: in[llrm~tilln concerning the

existencu of~pproved alter.native methods of

compliance with th.is AD, if any, may be

oblainecl from Lhe Se~tl1e i\CO.

Special Flight Permits

(e] SpBcial fiighl p"rmiL<;ffi"Yb~ is'll ••d in

accord<!IlC8 with ~oCtiOllS21.197 amI 21.1 D9

of the ['edsral Avialion Reglilations (1~ CFR

21.197 and 21.199J to oper<lte the airplanr; to

a lo~alion where the requirement5 of lhis AD

can be accompLisbed,

Incorporatioll by Referf!ll[;e

(I) Except as required by paragr'lph [c) of

this Pill, the aclion> shall be done in

accordance with Boeing Sel'ViCBBulletin

767-54-0031, dal~d July 29, 1999; 80Aing

Selvic() Bulletin 767-28-0057. dated

December 16. 188:): 130eing Service Bulletin

fo7-S4-t)lj!j9, Hevision 1, dated )alluarv 2(J,

199B. or Revision 2, dalecl /\ugllsl 31, iOOD:

Boeing Service Bulletin 767-54-0083, dated

SlIptember 17, 1988; B(ming Snrvico Bulletin

767-54-U088, Revision J. dated July 28,

1999: Boeing Service Bulletin 767-54A0094.

Revisiolll, dated SeptemlJol' 16, 1988; and

Boeing Service Bulletin 767-57-(J053,

Revision 2, d~ted Septumber 23, 1999: 85

applkable,

(1) The incorporation by reference of

Boeing Service Bulletin 767-54-0081, dU1.ed

July 29, 1999, is a],!pl'oved by the Dir~ctor of

the Foderal Regist~r, in accordnnce with 5

lJ,S.G. 552(a) nnd 1 CFR part 51

(21 The incorporation by refllrence of

Boeing Service Bililetin 7G7-57-D053,

J\evisioll 2, dated September 23. t999, WriS

appwv"d previously by the Director of th~

Federal Regi,ter as of July 21, 2000 (65 FR

37843, June19, 2000),

{31The incorporation by reference of

Boeing Service Bulletin 767-29-0057, dated

Dncember 16. 1993: Bo[)ing SlIrvice Bulletin

767-5~-0069, Revision 1, dated January 28,

1998; Iloeing Ssrvice illlilelin 767-54-0083,

dated .':;eptember 17, 1986: ~nd Boeing

Service BullNin 7fi7-54-0088, Revision 1,

datlld July 29, 1998: WRSapproved previously

by the Director of the Federal Register as of

Oclober 17, 2000 (55 I'R 581';41. October 2.

2000),

[1}The incorporation by reference of

Boeing Service Bulletin 757~54---0069,

Revision 2. dnted August :n, 2000; and

lloeirtg Service Bnllelin 767-34A0094,

Revision 1, dated September 16. 1999, was

npprov\!<1 previously by the Director of the

Federal J{~gisler a~ of Marcb 5, 2001 (66 FR

8085. Ioflllary ZS, 200'l).

(5) Copies may be obtBineu lram Boeing

Commercial Airplane Group, P,O, Box 3707,

Seaule. Washington 91n24-2207. Copies nwy

be inspe~led at the FI\A, Transporl Airpl~J1e

Oire~torate, 1601 Lind Avonue, SW.. R\!nlOll.

Washi.ngton; or altho Office of the federal

Register. 800 North Capitol Slro)e!, NW., suite

700, Wa,hinglon, DC.

Effective Daie

(g) This amBndmenl bHcomes eff~dive lln

May 7, 2001

jssued In J\entOl!. Washington, on MHrch

22,2U01.

Donald L. Riggin,

AcIiJlgMan(jg~r. ]'rrm>pDrl/lirpJrm"

DilBclDrale, ;lircrafl Cel'Uficolioli 5<:11'1(;0,

[FR Doe, 01-77Ul Fi.led :1-30-01, 8:45 ~ml

BllltNG CODE491o-tJ_P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No, 2000-NM-316-AD: Amendment

39-~2158; AD 2001-06-111

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model

A330~301, -321, -322, -341, and ~342

Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule: request for

comments,

SliMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new ainvort1Jiness directive (AD) that is

applir.able to certain Airbus Model

A330-301, -321, -322, -341, and -342

series ai.rplanes, This action re!']uires

replacemetll of the eXisting fasteners on

the vertical web of stringers 13 and 20

of both wings with inlerferenre

f()stencrs. Tills action is necessary to

pre\'ent faligue cracking of the wing

bottom skin and vertical webs, which

could result in reduced structural

integrity of the wing, This action is

intended to addre,ss the identified

unsafe condition,

DATES: Effective April 17, 20m,

The Incorporation by reference of

Gertain publkations listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of April 17,

2001.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules

Docket must be received on DI' before

May 2,2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA). Transport

Alrplane Directorate, ANM-114.

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM31o-AD, 1501 Lind Avenue, SVV ..

Renton, Washington 98055-4056,

Comments may be inspected at llJis