This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

40159 

Vol. 83, No. 157 

Tuesday, August 14, 2018 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0708; Product 

Identifier 2018–NM–072–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 737–600, 

–700, –700C, –800, –900, and –900ER 

series airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by reports of cracks in the 

skin and a certain chord at three 

fastener locations common to the drag 

link assembly at the chord. This 

proposed AD would require repetitive 

inspections of the skin under the drag 

link assembly for any cracks, and 

applicable on-condition actions. We are 

proposing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by September 28, 

2018. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this NPRM, 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 referenced 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–2018–0708. 

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– 

0708; 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 NPRM, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Office (phone: 800–647– 

5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Alan Pohl, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO 

Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206– 

231–3527; email: alan.pohl@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2018–0708; Product Identifier 2018– 

NM–072–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this NPRM. We will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this NPRM 

because of those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

We have received reports of cracks in 

the skin and the station (STA) 540 

bulkhead chord at the three fastener 

locations common to the drag link 

assembly at the STA 540 bulkhead 

chord. The cracks were found during 

the accomplishment of AD 2017–02–10, 

Amendment 39–18789 (82 FR 10258, 

February 10, 2017). The crack findings 

indicate that fatigue stresses in this area 

may be higher than predicted, and 

current maintenance inspections do not 

provide adequate opportunity for cracks 

to be detected. Cracking in the STA 540 

bulkhead chord or skin can potentially 

result in the inability of a primary 

structural element to sustain limit load. 

This condition, if not addressed, could 

result in possible rapid decompression 

and loss of structural integrity of the 

airplane. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 737–53A1368, dated February 

27, 2018. This service information 

describes procedures for an ultrasonic 

inspection of the skin under the drag 

link assembly and repair for any cracks; 

repetitive inspections for any cracks, 

including ultrasonic inspections, high 

frequency eddy current (HFEC) 

inspections, low frequency eddy current 

(LFEC) inspections, and detailed 

inspections; and a preventive 

modification if no crack is found. 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. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishment of the actions 

identified as ‘‘RC’’ (required for 

compliance) in the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 737–53A1368, dated February 

27, 2018, described previously, except 

for any differences identified as 


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40160 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

exceptions in the regulatory text of this 

proposed AD. 

For information on the procedures 

and compliance times, see this service 

information at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0708. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 1,664 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators 

Inspection ........... 28 work-hours × $85 per hour = 

$2,380 per inspection cycle.

$0 $2,380 per inspection cycle .......... $3,960,320 per inspection cycle. 

We estimate the following costs to do 

any necessary on-condition actions that 

would be required. We have no way of 

determining the number of aircraft that 

might need these on-condition actions: 

ESTIMATED COSTS OF ON-CONDITION ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product 

Up to 56 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,760 ......................................................................................... $24,020 Up to $28,780. 

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. 

This proposed 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 

We determined that this proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

the 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. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 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): 

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA– 

2018–0708; Product Identifier 2018– 

NM–072–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by September 

27, 2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to The Boeing Company 

Model 737–600, –700, –700C, –800, –900, 

and –900ER series airplanes, certificated in 

any category, as identified in Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 737–53A1368, dated 

February 27, 2018 (‘‘ASB 737–53A1368’’). 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53, Fuselage. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of cracks 

in the skin and the station (STA) 540 

bulkhead chord at the 3 fastener locations 

common to the drag link assembly at the STA 

540 bulkhead chord. We are issuing this AD 

to address cracking in the STA 540 bulkhead 

chord or skin, which could result in the 

inability of a primary structural element to 

sustain limit load. This condition, if not 

addressed, could result in possible rapid 

decompression and loss of structural 

integrity of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

Except as required by paragraphs (h)(1) and 

(h)(2) of this AD: At the applicable times 

specified in paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of 

ASB 737–53A1368, do all applicable actions 

identified as ‘‘RC’’ (required for compliance) 

in, and in accordance with, the 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Proposed Rules 40161 

Accomplishment Instructions of ASB 737– 

53A1368. 

(h) Exceptions to Service Information 

Specifications 

(1) For purposes of determining 

compliance with the requirements of this AD: 

Where ASB 737–53A1368 uses the phrase 

‘‘the original issue date of this service 

bulletin,’’ this AD requires using ‘‘the 

effective date of this AD.’’ 

(2) Where ASB 737–53A1368 specifies 

contacting Boeing: This AD requires repair 

before further flight using a method approved 

in accordance with the procedures specified 

in paragraph (j) of this AD. 

(i) Optional Terminating Action for 

Repetitive Inspections 

(1) Accomplishment of the repair in 

accordance with PART 4 of the 

Accomplishment Instructions of ASB 737– 

53A1368 terminates the repetitive 

inspections specified in PART 2 of ASB 737– 

53A1368 on the side of the airplane on which 

the repair was done, as required by paragraph 

(g) of this AD. 

(2) Accomplishment of the preventive 

modification in accordance with PART 5 of 

the Accomplishment Instructions of ASB 

737–53A1368 terminates the repetitive 

inspections specified in PART 2 or PART 6, 

as applicable, of ASB 737–53A1368 on the 

side of the airplane on which the preventive 

modification was done, as required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO Branch, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested using the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 

14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 

principal inspector or local Flight Standards 

District Office, as appropriate. If sending 

information directly to the manager of the 

certification office, send it to the attention of 

the person identified in paragraph (k)(1) of 

this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9- 

ANM-Seattle-ACO-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, Seattle 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 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 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Alan Pohl, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 

2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 

98198; phone and fax: 206–231–3527; email: 

alan.pohl@faa.gov. 

(2) 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. You may view this 

referenced 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. 

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on 

August 5, 2018. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–17323 Filed 8–13–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0538; Product 

Identifier 2012–NE–47–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce 

plc Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017–03– 

02, which applies to certain Rolls-Royce 

plc (RR) RB211 Trent 768–60, 772–60, 

and 772B–60 turbofan engines. AD 

2017–03–02 requires initial and 

repetitive ultrasonic inspections (UIs) of 

the affected low-pressure (LP) 

compressor blades. Since we issued AD 

2017–03–02, RR issued revised service 

information to reduce the inspection 

threshold for UIs of the affected blades. 

This proposed AD would retain the UIs 

in AD 2017–03–02 while reducing the 

inspection threshold. We are proposing 

this AD to address the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by September 28, 

2018. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact Rolls-Royce plc, 

P.O. Box 31, Derby, England, DE24 8BJ; 

phone: 011–44–1332–242424; fax: 011– 

44–1332–249936, or email: http://

www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_

team.jsp. You may view this service 

information at the FAA, Engine and 

Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 

District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 781–238– 

7759. 

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– 

0538; 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 NPRM, the 

mandatory continuing airworthiness 

information (MCAI), the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for 

Docket Operations (phone: 800–647– 

5527) is listed above. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kevin M. Clark, Aerospace Engineer, 

ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 

781–238–7088; fax: 781–238–7199; 

email: kevin.m.clark@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 


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