Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 38247 

(i) Exceptions to Service Information 

Specifications 

(1) For purposes of determining 

compliance with the requirements of this AD: 

Where Boeing Alert Requirements Service 

Bulletin 737–53A1371 RB, dated January 19, 

2018, uses the phrase ‘‘the original issue date 

of Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1371 RB,’’ 

this AD requires using ‘‘the effective date of 

this AD.’’ 

(2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin 737–53A1371 RB, dated January 19, 

2018, specifies contacting Boeing, this AD 

requires repair 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, 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) of this 

AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANMLAACO-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 

Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that has 

been authorized by the Manager, Los Angeles 

ACO Branch, 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 

For more information about this AD, 

contact David Truong, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO 

Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 

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

5224; fax: 562–627–5210; email: 

david.truong@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 Requirements Bulletin 

737–53A1371 RB, dated January 19, 2018. 

(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, Transport Standards 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, call 

202–741–6030, or go to: http://

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

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on July 

25, 2018. 

James Cashdollar, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16479 Filed 8–3–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0805; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–051–AD; Amendment 

39–19235; AD 2018–07–04] 

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 all The 

Boeing Company Model DC–9–81 (MD– 

81), DC–9–82 (MD–82), DC–9–83 (MD– 

83), and DC–9–87 (MD–87) airplanes, 

Model MD–88 airplanes, and Model 

MD–90–30 airplanes. This AD was 

prompted by a report of loss of airspeed 

indication due to icing. This AD 

requires modifying the air data heat 

(ADH) system. We are issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective September 

10, 2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of September 10, 2018. 

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, Transport Standards 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 

http://www.regulations.gov by searching 

for and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0805. 

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–2017– 

0805; 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 final rule, 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 

Igama, Aerospace Engineer, Systems 

and Equipment Section, FAA, Los 

Angeles ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount 

Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712–4137; 

phone: 562–627–5388; fax: 562–627– 

5210; email: roderick.igama@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 all The Boeing Company Model 

DC–9–81 (MD–81), DC–9–82 (MD–82), 

DC–9–83 (MD–83), and DC–9–87 (MD– 

87) airplanes, Model MD–88 airplanes, 

and Model MD–90–30 airplanes. The 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on August 25, 2017 (82 FR 

40505). The NPRM was prompted by a 

report of loss of airspeed indication due 

to icing. The NPRM proposed to require 

modifying the ADH system. We are 

issuing this AD to prevent operation of 

unheated air data sensors in icing 

conditions. Failure to activate the ADH 

system in icing conditions could result 

in irregular airspeed or altitude 

indications, which could possibly result 

in a runway overrun during a high 

speed rejected takeoff (RTO) due to 

failure to rotate before the end of the 

runway, or a stall/overspeed during 

flight. 

Comments 

We 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. 


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38248 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

Support for the NPRM 

Boeing and the Air Line Pilots 

Association, International (ALPA) 

expressed support for the NPRM. 

Request To Allow the Use of 

Alternative Ground Terminal Locations 

Delta Airlines (DAL) requested that 

we revise the proposed AD to allow 

alternative ground terminal locations for 

certain wires. DAL noted that, during 

prototype testing, it was unable to 

relocate ground wire 2EB292B20N or 

ground wire 1EB292B20N to certain 

ground termination points because 

those points were already full of 

existing wires. DAL noted that Boeing 

Alert Service Bulletin MD90–30A031, 

dated June 2, 2017, specifies locating 

ground wires in specific ground 

termination points, and that action is 

required for compliance (RC). DAL 

suggested that varied wiring 

configurations on Model MD–90 

airplanes would lead it to make 

multiple requests for alternative 

methods of compliance (AMOCs), 

which could require additional out-ofservice time for the affected airplanes. 

For this reason, DAL requested that we 

add language allowing the use of 

alternative ground terminal locations as 

specified in standard wiring practices 

manual (SWPM) chapter 20 and Boeing 

Service Request (SR) concurrence that 

provide an equivalent level of safety. 

We disagree with the commenter’s 

request. If an airplane has a different 

wiring or ground termination 

configuration than that identified in 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90– 

30A031, dated June 2, 2017, an operator 

must request an AMOC in accordance 

with the procedures specified in 

paragraph (j) of this AD. We have not 

changed this AD in this regard. 

Request To Extend the Compliance 

Times 

DAL requested that the compliance 

times specified in paragraphs (g)(1) and 

(g)(2) of the proposed AD (within 28 

months after the effective date of this 

AD and within 27 months after the 

effective date of this AD, respectively) 

be extended by 6 months. DAL noted 

that the actions required by this AD 

would have to be done outside of 

regularly scheduled heavy maintenance 

checks. DAL stated that Boeing is 

providing a lead time of 174 days to 

procure the needed kits. For these 

reasons, DAL requested that the 

compliance time be extended by 6 

months for both Model MD–88 and MD– 

90 airplanes. 

We disagree with the commenter’s 

request. We confirmed with Boeing that 

the lead time for kit procurement will be 

75–90 days, with some components 

already available, not 174 days as 

suggested by DAL. If an operator needs 

additional time to comply with this AD, 

they may request an AMOC in 

accordance with the procedures 

specified in paragraph (j) of this AD. We 

have not changed this AD in this regard. 

Changes to Paragraph (i) of This AD 

We have clarified the language of 

paragraph (i) of this AD. Paragraph (i) of 

the proposed AD would have allowed 

for the operation of the airplane even if 

the modified ADH system is inoperable, 

so long as the Master Minimum 

Equipment List (MMEL) and the 

operator’s Minimum Equipment List 

(MEL) have a provision to allow for this 

inoperability. The FAA has revised 

paragraph (i) of this AD to make it clear 

that, if there is a provision in the 

operator’s MEL that allows for the 

modified ADH system to be inoperable 

then the operator can operate the 

airplane with an inoperable modified 

ADH system. We have removed the 

references to the MMEL because it is 

unnecessary to reference the MMEL, as 

operators are required in 14 CFR part 91 

to have an MEL to operate with 

inoperable equipment and a provision 

cannot be in an MEL without first being 

part of the MMEL. The intent of the 

provision has not changed. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comment received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule 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 for 

correcting the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

We also determined that the change 

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 

We reviewed Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin MD80–30A132, dated April 28, 

2017; and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

MD90–30A031, dated June 2, 2017. This 

service information describes 

procedures for modifying the ADH 

system so that it activates when the left 

and right fuel switches are in the ON 

position. These documents are distinct 

since they apply to different airplane 

models. 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 

We estimate that this AD affects 553 

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 

Modification, MD–80 Group 1, 84 airplanes ... 56 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,760 ........ $4,459 $9,219 $774,396 

Modification, MD–80 Group 2, 11 airplanes ... 57 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,845 ........ 11,014 15,859 174,449 

Modification, MD–80 Group 3, 336 airplanes 57 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,845 ........ 8,589 13,434 4,513,824 

Modification, MD–80 Group 4, 1 airplane ....... 56 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,760 ........ 4,479 9,239 9,239 

Modification, MD–80 Group 5, 37 airplanes ... 57 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,845 ........ 11,034 15,879 587,523 

Modification, MD–90 Group 1, 84 airplanes ... 37 work-hours × $85 per hour = $3,145 ........ 4,395 7,540 633,360 

We have received no definitive data 

that would enable us to provide cost 

estimates for doing the modification on 

Model MD–80 Group 6 airplanes. 

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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 38249 

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. 

This AD is issued in accordance with 

authority delegated by the Executive 

Director, Aircraft Certification Service, 

as authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. 

In accordance with that order, issuance 

of ADs is normally a function of the 

Compliance and Airworthiness 

Division, but during this transition 

period, the Executive Director has 

delegated the authority to issue ADs 

applicable to transport category 

airplanes to the Director of the System 

Oversight Division. 

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: 

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): 

2018–07–04 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–19235; Docket No. 

FAA–2017–0805; Product Identifier 

2017–NM–051–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective September 10, 2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all The Boeing 

Company Model DC–9–81 (MD–81), DC–9– 

82 (MD–82), DC–9–83 (MD–83), and DC–9– 

87 (MD–87) airplanes, Model MD–88 

airplanes, and Model MD–90–30 airplanes, 

certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 30, Ice and rain protection. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of loss 

of airspeed indication due to icing. We are 

issuing this AD to prevent operation of 

unheated air data sensors in icing conditions. 

Failure to activate the air data heat (ADH) 

system in icing conditions could result in 

irregular airspeed or altitude indications, 

which could possibly result in a runway 

overrun during a high speed rejected takeoff 

(RTO) due to failure to rotate before the end 

of the runway, or a stall/overspeed during 

flight. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

At the applicable time specified in 

paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD: Do all 

applicable actions identified as ‘‘RC’’ 

(required for compliance) in, and in 

accordance with, the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

MD80–30A132, dated April 28, 2017; or 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90–30A031, 

dated June 2, 2017; as applicable; except as 

required by paragraph (h) of this AD. 

(1) For Model DC–9–81 (MD–81), DC–9–82 

(MD–82), DC–9–83 (MD–83), DC–9–87 (MD– 

87), and Model MD–88 airplanes: Within 28 

months after the effective date of this AD. 

(2) For Model MD–90–30 airplanes: Within 

27 months after the effective date of this AD. 

(h) Exception to Certain Service Information 

Specifications 

Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

MD80–30A132, dated April 28, 2017, 

specifies contacting Boeing, and specifies 

that action as ‘‘RC’’ (Required for 

Compliance): This AD requires using a 

method approved in accordance with the 

procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this 

AD. 

(i) Minimum Equipment List (MEL) 

In the event that the ADH system as 

modified by this AD is inoperable, an 

airplane may be operated as specified in the 

operator’s MEL, provided provisions that 

address the modified ADH system are 

included in the MEL. 

(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) of this 

AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANMLAACO-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 

Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that has 

been authorized by the Manager, Los Angeles 

ACO Branch, 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. 

(4) Except as required by paragraph (h) of 

this AD: For service information that 

contains steps that are labeled as Required 

for Compliance (RC), the provisions of 

paragraphs (j)(4)(i) and (j)(4)(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. 

(k) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Eric Igama, Aerospace Engineer, 

Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Los 

Angeles ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount 

Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712–4137; 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
38250 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

phone: 562–627–5388; fax: 562–627–5210; 

email: roderick.igama@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 MD80– 

30A132, dated April 28, 2017. 

(ii) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD90– 

30A031, dated June 2, 2017. 

(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, Transport Standards 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, call 

202–741–6030, or go to: http://

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

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on 

March 20, 2018. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16320 Filed 8–3–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0110; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–125–AD; Amendment 

39–19345; AD 2018–16–05] 

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 757 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by 

reports of bolt rotation in the engine 

drag fitting joint and fasteners heads; an 

inspection of the fastener holes revealed 

that cracks were found in the skin on 

two airplanes. This AD requires 

repetitive inspections for skin cracking 

and shim migration at the upper link 

drag fittings, diagonal brace cracking, 

and fastener looseness; and applicable 

on-condition actions. We are issuing 

this AD to address the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective September 

10, 2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of September 10, 2018. 

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, Transport Standards 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 

http://www.regulations.gov by searching 

for and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0110. 

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–2018– 

0110; 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, 

the regulatory evaluation, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The address for Docket 

Operations (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

Docket Operations, 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: 

Chandra Ramdoss, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles 

ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount 

Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712–4137; 

phone: 562–627–5239; fax: 562–627– 

5210; email: chandraduth.ramdoss@

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 757 airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

February 16, 2018 (83 FR 6984). The 

NPRM was prompted by reports of bolt 

rotation in the engine drag fitting joint 

and fasteners heads; an inspection of the 

fastener holes revealed that cracks were 

found in the skin on two airplanes. The 

NPRM proposed to require repetitive 

inspections for skin cracking and shim 

migration at the upper link drag fittings, 

diagonal brace cracking, and fastener 

looseness; and applicable on-condition 

actions. 

We are issuing this AD to address 

cracking in the wing upper skin and 

forward drag fittings, which could lead 

to a compromised upper link and 

reduced structural integrity of the 

engine strut. 

Comments 

We 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. Micaela 

Murrugarra and United Airlines stated 

that they supported the NPRM. 

Effect of Winglets on Accomplishment 

of the Proposed Actions 

Aviation Partners Boeing stated that 

accomplishing the supplemental type 

certificate (STC) ST01518SE does not 

affect the actions specified in the 

NPRM. 

We concur with the commenter. We 

have 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 

ST01518SE does not affect the ability to 

accomplish the actions required by this 

AD. Therefore, for airplanes on which 

STC ST01518SE 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. 

Request To Include Additional 

Inspections 

American Airlines (AAL) and FedEx 

requested that we revise the proposed 

AD to include additional inspections. 

FedEx stated that releasing the proposed 

AD using Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin 757–57A0073 RB, dated July 

14, 2017, would have potential safety 

and economic implications on the 

operator. FedEx stated that the safety 

concern in its entirety is not addressed 

in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

757–57A0073 RB, dated July 14, 2017, 

and any additional mandated 

inspections issued later would require a 

duplication of effort to address the 

remaining fastener locations. FedEx 

requested that the proposed AD include 

additional inspections. 

AAL stated that due to the ongoing 

efforts at Boeing to conduct a safety 

analysis on cracking found in the upper 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES