23906 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 82 / Tuesday, April 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

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/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 14, 

2014. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–09309 Filed 4–28–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0837; Directorate 

Identifier 2013–NM–112–AD; Amendment 

39–17832; AD 2014–08–08] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; the Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 737–200, 

–200C, –300, –400, and –500 series 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by 

reports of cracking found in the skin at 

the lower aft corner of the forward entry 

doorway on airplanes that do not have 

an airstair door cutout. This AD requires 

repetitive inspections for cracking in the 

lower corners of the forward entry 

doorway on airplanes that do not have 

an airstair door cutout, and repair if 

necessary. We are issuing this AD to 

detect and correct cracking in the lower 

corners of the forward entry doorway, 

which could lead to crack progression 

and consequent rapid decompression of 

the airplane. 

DATES: This AD is effective June 3, 2014 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of June 3, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, WA 98124–2207; 

telephone 206–544–5000, extension 1; 

fax 206–766–5680; 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– 

0837; 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: 

Alan Pohl, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6450; fax: 

425–917–6590; email: alan.pohl@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain The Boeing Company 

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

–500 series airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

October 2, 2013 (78 FR 60807). The 

NPRM was prompted by reports of 

cracking found in the skin at the lower 

aft corner of the forward entry doorway 

on airplanes that do not have an airstair 

door cutout. The NPRM proposed to 

require repetitive inspections for 

cracking in the lower corners of the 

forward entry doorway on airplanes that 

do not have an airstair door cutout, and 

repair if necessary. We are issuing this 

AD to detect and correct cracking in the 

lower corners of the forward entry 

doorway, which could lead to crack 

progression and consequent rapid 

decompression of the airplane. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the proposal (78 FR 60807, 

October 2, 2013) and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. 

Support for the Proposed Requirements 

Boeing stated that it concurs with the 

proposed requirements. 

Statement Regarding Effect of Winglets 

on Accomplishment of AD 

Requirements 

Aviation Partners Boeing stated that 

the installation of winglets per APB 

Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 

ST01219SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/

Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/

rgstc.nsf/0/

be866b732f6cf31086257b9700692796/

$FILE/ST01219SE.pdf) does not affect 

the accomplishment of the 

manufacturer’s service instructions. 

We agree. We have redesignated 

paragraph (c) of the NPRM (78 FR 

60807, October 2, 2013) as paragraph 

(c)(1) and added paragraph (c)(2) to this 

final rule to state that installation of 

APB STC ST01219SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/ 

Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/

rgstc.nsf/0/

be866b732f6cf31086257b9700692796/

$FILE/ST01219SE.pdf) does not affect 

the ability to accomplish the actions 

required by this AD. Therefore, for 

airplanes on which APB STC 

ST01219SE is installed, a ‘‘change in 

product’’ alternative method of 

compliance (AMOC) approval request is 

not necessary to comply with the 

requirements of section 39.17 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 

39.17). 

Request To Allow Credit for Previously 

Accomplished Repairs 

Alaska Airlines (ASA) requested that 

we revise the NPRM (78 FR 60807, 

October 2, 2013) to allow credit for 

previously accomplished repairs. ASA 

stated that it has already installed 

repairs in the specified area using FAAand Boeing-approved data on some of 

its airplanes. ASA did not provide 

details for any specific repair. 

We do not agree to allow credit for 

unspecified repairs. ASA did not 

provide criteria for evaluating existing 

repairs or for demonstrating how such 

repairs would comply with the 

requirements of this AD. However, once 

we issue this AD, any person may 

request approval of an existing repair as 

an AMOC under the provisions of 

paragraph (j) of this AD. We have not 

changed this final rule in this regard. 

Request To Allow Certain Terminating 

Repairs for Certain Airplanes 

Southwest Airlines (SWA) requested 

that certain structural repairs specified 

in Part 2 of the Work Instructions of 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737– 

53A1329, dated June 4, 2013, terminate 

both the initial and repetitive 

inspections required by paragraph (g) of 

the NPRM (78 FR 60807, October 2, 

2013). SWA pointed out that Boeing 


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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 82 / Tuesday, April 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 23907 

Alert Service Bulletin 737–53A1329, 

dated June 4, 2013, states that certain 

repairs provided in Part 2 of the Work 

Instructions terminate both the initial 

and the repetitive inspections specified 

in that service bulletin for Group 3 

airplanes. 

We agree that the structural repairs 

specified in Part 2 of the Work 

Instructions of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 737–53A1329, dated June 4, 

2013, terminate both the initial and 

repetitive inspections required for 

Group 3 airplanes identified in that 

service bulletin. We have revised 

paragraph (h) of this final rule to specify 

that both the initial and repetitive 

inspections are terminated by the 

specified repairs for Group 3 airplanes. 

Request To Consider Certain STC 

Modifications as an AMOC With This 

AD 

ASA requested that modifications per 

STC ST03387AT (http://rgl.faa.gov/

Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/

rgstc.nsf/0/

bd126e373ba4c5da86257a79006f31bf/

$FILE/ST03387AT.pdf) and STC 

SA2969SO (http://rgl.faa.gov/

Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/

rgstc.nsf/0/

2a10f5d4090a534686257a79006f0f97/

$FILE/SA2969SO.pdf) be considered as 

an AMOC for the requirements of this 

AD. ASA noted that it has passenger/

cargo configured airplanes that have 

been modified per these STCs. 

We disagree with the commenter’s 

request. ASA did not demonstrate how 

these modifications would address the 

identified unsafe condition. We also 

need to clarify the AMOC process. 

AMOCs provide an alternative method 

of compliance to the methods required 

to be used in the associated AD. An 

AMOC is issued only after an AD has 

been issued and only after data are 

provided to show that the proposed 

solution is complete and addresses the 

unsafe condition. However, once we 

issue this AD, any person may request 

approval of an AMOC under the 

provisions of paragraph (j) of this AD. 

Request To Delegate Repair Approval 

Authority to the Manufacturer 

SWA requested that AMOC authority 

be granted to the manufacturer for 

existing repairs approved previously 

using FAA Form 8100–9, ‘‘Statement of 

Compliance with Airworthiness 

Standards.’’ SWA provided no 

justification for this request. 

We do not agree that a change to this 

final rule is necessary in this regard. 

Paragraph (j)(3) of this AD already 

delegates the authority to approve an 

AMOC for any repair required by this 

AD to the Boeing Commercial Airplanes 

Organization Designation Authorization, 

as long as the repair meets the 

certification basis of the airplane and 

the approval specifically refers to this 

AD. We have made no change to this 

final rule in this regard. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this AD 

with the changes 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 

60807, October 2, 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 60807, 

October 2, 2013). 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 376 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts 

cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators 

Inspection of the lower corners of the forward entry doorway (Groups 2 and 3 

airplanes) 1.

5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $425, per 

inspection cycle.

$0 $425, per inspection 

cycle.

$159,800, per inspection cycle. 

1We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide cost estimates for the inspection on Group 1 airplanes. 

We have received no definitive data 

that would enable us to provide 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. 

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 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 


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23908 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 82 / Tuesday, April 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

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): 

2014–08–08 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–17832; Docket No. 

FAA–2013–0837; Directorate Identifier 

2013–NM–112–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective June 3, 2014. 

(b) Affected ADs 

For The Boeing Company Model 737–300, 

–400, and –500 series airplanes: Certain 

requirements of AD 2008–09–13, 

Amendment 39–15494 (73 FR 24164, May 2, 

2008), may be affected by certain 

requirements of this AD. 

(c) Applicability 

(1) This AD applies to The Boeing 

Company Model 737–200, –200C, –300, 

–400, and –500 series airplanes, certificated 

in any category, without an airstair door 

cutout, as identified in Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 737–53A1329, dated June 4, 2013. 

(2) Installation of Supplemental Type 

Certificate (STC) ST01219SE (http://

rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_

Library/rgstc.nsf/0/

be866b732f6cf31086257b9700692796/$FILE/

ST01219SE.pdf) 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 section 

39.17 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 

CFR 39.17). 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53, Fuselage. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

cracking found in the skin at the lower aft 

corner of the forward entry doorway on 

airplanes that do not have an airstair door 

cutout. We are issuing this AD to detect and 

correct cracking in the lower corners of the 

forward entry doorway, which could lead to 

crack progression and consequent rapid 

decompression of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Repetitive Inspections 

Except as provided by paragraph (i)(1) of 

this AD, at the applicable times specified in 

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

Alert Service Bulletin 737–53A1329, dated 

June 4, 2013, do the actions specified in 

paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, as 

applicable. 

(1) For Group 1 airplanes, as identified in 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737–53A1329, 

dated June 4, 2013: Except as provided by 

paragraph (i)(2) of this AD, inspect the lower 

corners of the forward entry doorway for 

cracking, using a method approved in 

accordance with the procedures specified in 

paragraph (j) of this AD. 

(2) For Group 2 and Group 3 airplanes, as 

identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–53A1329, dated June 4, 2013: At the 

forward entry doorway lower forward and aft 

corners, as applicable, do an internal detailed 

inspection of the skin assembly and bear 

strap, an internal high frequency eddy 

current (HFEC) inspection of the bear strap, 

and external detailed and HFEC inspections 

of the skin assembly for cracking, in 

accordance with Part 2 of the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–53A1329, dated June 4, 

2013. If no cracking is found during any 

inspection required by this paragraph: Except 

as provided by paragraph (i)(1) of this AD, 

repeat the applicable inspections at the 

applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 737–53A1329, dated June 4, 2013. 

(h) Repair 

(1) If any cracking is found during any 

inspection required by paragraph (g) of this 

AD: For Group 3 airplanes with cracking at 

the aft lower corner of the forward entry 

doorway, before further flight, repair in 

accordance with Part 2 of the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–53A1329, dated June 4, 

2013. Accomplishment of this repair 

terminates the initial and repetitive 

inspections required by this AD in the area 

common to the repair for Group 3 airplanes 

only. For all other cracking found, before 

further flight, repair using a method 

approved in accordance with the procedures 

specified in paragraph (j) of this AD. 

(2) Installation of a repair approved in 

accordance with paragraph (j) of this AD 

terminates the repetitive inspections required 

by this AD for the repaired area only. 

(i) Exceptions to Service Information 

Specifications 

(1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–53A1329, dated June 4, 2013, specifies 

a compliance time ‘‘after the original issue 

date of this service bulletin,’’ this AD 

requires compliance within the specified 

compliance time after the effective date of 

this AD. 

(2) Although Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

737–53A1329, dated June 4, 2013, specifies 

contacting Boeing for information on certain 

inspections and repairs, this AD requires that 

those actions be done by using a method 

approved in accordance with the procedures 

specified in paragraph (j) of this AD. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(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. 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 ACO, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (k) of this AD. Information may be 

emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOCRequests@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 

required by this AD if it is approved by The 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization 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. 

(k) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Alan Pohl, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; 

phone: 425–917–6450; fax: 425–917–6590; 

email: alan.pohl@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) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737– 

53A1329, dated June 4, 2013. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(3) For The Boeing Company service 

information identified in this AD, contact 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: 

Data & Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, WA 98124–2207; 

telephone 206–544–5000, extension 1; fax 

206–766–5680; Internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at 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. 

(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/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 14, 

2014. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–08987 Filed 4–28–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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