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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78703-78705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30779]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0706; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-067-AD; 
Amendment 39-17708; AD 2013-25-12]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
The Boeing Company Model DC-9-10, DC-9-30, and DC-9-40 series 
airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval 
holder (DAH) indicating that the aft pressure bulkhead web area is 
subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This AD requires modifying 
the aft pressure bulkhead. The modification includes inspecting for 
cracks around the rivet holes, and repair of any cracking. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of the aft pressure 
bulkhead, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective January 31, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 31, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
3855 Lakewood Boulevard, MC D800-0019, Long Beach, CA 90846-0001; 
telephone 206-544-5000, extension 2; fax 206-766-5683; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-
0706; 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 Docket 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: Eric Schrieber, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: (562) 
627-5348; fax: (562) 627-5210; email: eric.schrieber@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 78704]]

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to the specified products. The 
NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 11, 2013 (78 FR 
55662). The NPRM proposed to require modifying the aft pressure 
bulkhead. The modification includes inspecting for cracks around the 
rivet holes, and repair of any cracking.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (78 FR 55662, September 
11, 2013) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Change Made to this AD

    We have revised the service information citations throughout this 
final rule to correctly identify the manufacturer name specified on the 
service information.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting this AD with the change described 
previously and minor editorial changes. We have determined that these 
minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (78 FR 55662, September 11, 2013) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (78 FR 55662, September 11, 2013).
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 6 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification (includes inspection)..  542 work-hours x $85             $4,680          $50,750         $304,500
                                       per hour = $46,070.
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Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (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

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

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

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

    2013-25-12 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17708; Docket No. 
FAA-2013-0706; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-067-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective January 31, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model DC-9-11, DC-9-12, 
DC-9-13, DC-9-14, DC-9-15, and DC-9-15F airplanes, DC-9-31, DC-9-32, 
DC-9-32 (VC-9C), DC-9-32F, DC-9-33F, DC-9-34, DC-9-34F, and DC-9-32F 
(C-9A, C-9B) airplanes, and DC-9-41 airplanes, certificated in any 
category, identified in McDonnell Douglas DC-9 Alert Service 
Bulletin A53-144, Revision 2, dated February 23, 1984.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5312, Fuselage Main 
Bulkhead.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval 
holder (DAH) indicating that the fuselage bulkhead web area is 
subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). We are issuing this AD 
to prevent fatigue cracking of the bulkhead, which could result in 
reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

 (g) Modification

    For airplanes on which the modification (AD4 rivets replaced 
with AD5 rivets) required by AD 85-01-02 R1, Amendment 39-5241 (51 
FR 6101, dated February 20, 1986), has not been done: Before the 
accumulation of 72,000 total flight cycles, or within 18 months 
after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, modify 
the aft pressure bulkhead by removing all affected AD4 rivets and 
doing either a fluorescent penetrant or eddy current inspection 
around the rivet holes for cracks, repairing any cracking, and 
installing five-leaf doublers with AD5 rivets, in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of McDonnell Douglas DC-9 Alert 
Service Bulletin A53-144, Revision 2, dated February 23, 1984; 
except as required by paragraph (h) of this AD.

[[Page 78705]]

    Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD:  Information on additional 
procedures for the modification can be found in Notes 4, 5, and 6, 
as applicable, of paragraph 1.D., ``Compliance'' of McDonnell 
Douglas DC-9 Alert Service Bulletin A53-144, Revision 2, dated 
February 23, 1984.

 (h) Exception to Service Information

    If any crack is found during any inspection required by this AD, 
and McDonnell Douglas DC-9 Alert Service Bulletin A53-144, Revision 
2, dated February 23, 1984, specifies to contact the manufacturer 
for appropriate action: Before further flight, repair using a method 
approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph 
(j) of this AD.

 (i) No Reporting Required

    Sheet 1 of Service Sketch 3109, and Sheet 7 of Service Sketch 
3110B of McDonnell Douglas DC-9 Alert Service Bulletin A53-144, 
Revision 2, dated February 23, 1984; specify reporting the details 
of any cracks found; however, this AD does not require reporting.

 (j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Los Angeles 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. 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 Los Angeles ACO, send it 
to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of this 
AD.
    (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 required by this AD if it is approved by 
Structures Authorized Representative for the Boeing Commercial 
Airplanes Delegation Option Authorization Organization who has been 
authorized by the Manager, Los Angeles ACO, to make those findings. 
For a repair method to be approved, the repair must meet the 
certification basis of the airplane, and 14 CFR 25.571, Amendment 
45, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Eric Schrieber, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles 
Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, 
CA 90712-4137; phone: (562) 627-5348; fax: (562) 627-5210; email: 
eric.schrieber@faa.gov.

(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) McDonnell Douglas DC-9 Alert Service Bulletin A53-144, 
Revision 2, dated February 23, 1984.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
3855 Lakewood Boulevard, MC D800-0019, Long Beach, CA 90846-0001; 
telephone 206-544-5000, extension 2; fax 206-766-5683; Internet 
https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    (4) You may view this 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.
    (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, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 10, 2013.
John P. Piccola,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-30779 Filed 12-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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