45548 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 175 / Monday, September 10, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 23, 

2018. 

Scott A. Horn, 

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–19431 Filed 9–7–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0273; Product 

Identifier 2018–NM–017–AD; Amendment 

39–19382; AD 2018–18–03] 

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 737–100, 

–200, –200C, –300, –400, and –500 

series airplanes. This AD was prompted 

by several reports of cracks in a certain 

floor beam lower chord at door stop 

fitting No. 1 of the forward airstair door 

cutout. This AD requires repetitive 

inspections for any cracks and 

applicable on-condition actions. We are 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 15, 

2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of October 15, 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– 

0273. 

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– 

0273; 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: 

Galib Abumeri, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, Los Angeles ACO 

Branch, FAA, 3960 Paramount 

Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712–4137; 

phone: 562–627–5324; fax: 562–627– 

5210; email: galib.abumeri@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 737–100, –200, –200C, –300, 

–400, and –500 series airplanes. The 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on April 13, 2018 (83 FR 

16010). The NPRM was prompted by 

several reports of cracks in a certain 

floor beam lower chord at door stop 

fitting No. 1 of the forward airstair door 

cutout. The NPRM proposed to require 

repetitive inspections for any cracks and 

applicable on-condition actions. 

We are issuing this AD to address 

such cracking, which could result in the 

inability of a principal structural 

element to sustain limit loads and 

possible rapid decompression. 

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. 

Support for the NPRM 

Boeing stated that it concurs with the 

NPRM. 

Effect of Winglets on Accomplishment 

of the Proposed Actions 

Aviation Partners Boeing stated that 

accomplishing supplemental type 

certificate (STC) ST01219SE does not 

affect the actions specified in the 

NPRM. 

We agree with the commenter’s 

request. 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 ST01219SE 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 14 CFR 39.17. 

Request To Allow Manual Operation of 

Airstair Door 

Swiftair S.A. requested that a note be 

included in this AD to allow for fully 

manual operation of the forward airstair 

door instead of the electrical operation 

as specified in Appendix A of Boeing 

Alert Requirements Bulletin 737– 

53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017. 

Swiftair S.A. observed that two steps in 

Appendix A of Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1370 

RB, dated December 13, 2017, cannot be 

performed on aircraft that have 

incorporated Boeing Service Bulletin 

737–52–1092. Boeing Service Bulletin 

737–52–1092 provides instructions for 

temporary or permanent removal of the 

forward airstair assembly, deactivation 

of the electrical system, and removal of 

the forward airstair door motor, among 

other actions. 

We agree because the forward airstair 

door cannot be operated electrically if 

the electrical system is deactivated and 

the motor is removed. We have changed 

paragraph (h) of this AD to include 

exceptions to certain steps of Appendix 

A of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

737–53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 

2017, that allow for both manual and 

electrical operation of the airstair door. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule 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 for 

addressing the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

We also determined that these 

changes 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 

Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1370 

RB, dated December 13, 2017. The 

service information describes 

procedures for repetitive high frequency 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 175 / Monday, September 10, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 45549 

eddy current inspections of the station 

(STA) 312 floor beam lower chord, and 

door stop fittings No. 2, No. 5, and No. 

8 on the forward airstair door for any 

cracks and applicable on-condition 

actions. 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 67 

airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate 

the following costs to comply with this 

AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Inspection ....... Up to 11 work-hours × $85 per 

hour = $935 per inspection cycle.

$0 Up to $935 per inspection cycle .... Up to $62,645 per inspection 

cycle. 

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. 

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 and associated appliances 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): 

2018–18–03 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–19382; Docket No. 

FAA–2018–0273; Product Identifier 

2018–NM–017–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective October 15, 2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

(1) This AD applies to The Boeing 

Company Model 737–100, –200, –200C, 

–300, –400, and –500 series airplanes, 

certificated in any category, as identified in 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737– 

53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017. 

(2) Installation of Supplemental Type 

Certificate (STC) ST01219SE 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 14 CFR 

39.17. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 52, Doors; 53, Fuselage. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by several reports 

of cracks in the station (STA) 312 floor beam 

lower chord at door stop fitting No. 1 of the 

forward airstair door cutout. We are issuing 

this AD to address such cracking, which 

could result in the inability of a principal 

structural element to sustain limit loads and 

possible rapid decompression. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) For airplanes identified as Group 1 in 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737– 

53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017: 

Within 120 days after the effective date of 

this AD, inspect the STA 312 floor beam 

lower chord and door stop fittings No. 2, No. 

5 and No. 8 for any cracks and do applicable 

on-condition actions, using a method 

approved in accordance with the procedures 

specified in paragraph (i) of this AD. 

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

this AD: For airplanes identified as Group 2 

in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737– 

53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017, at the 

applicable times specified in the 

‘‘Compliance’’ paragraph of Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1370 RB, 

dated December 13, 2017, do all applicable 

actions identified in, and in accordance with, 

the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Alert Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1370 

RB, dated December 13, 2017. 

Note 1 to paragraph (g)(2) of this AD: 

Guidance for accomplishing the actions 

required by this AD can be found in Boeing 

Alert Service Bulletin 737–53A1370, dated 

December 13, 2017, which is referred to in 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES
45550 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 175 / Monday, September 10, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737– 

53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017. 

(h) Exceptions to Service Information 

Specifications 

(1) For purposes of determining 

compliance with the requirements of this AD: 

Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

737–53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017, 

uses the phrase ‘‘the original issue date of 

Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1370 RB,’’ 

this AD requires using ‘‘the effective date of 

this AD.’’ 

(2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin 737–53A1370 RB, dated December 

13, 2017, specifies contacting Boeing, this AD 

requires repair using a method approved in 

accordance with the procedures specified in 

paragraph (i) of this AD. 

(3) Where Step 2. of Appendix A of Boeing 

Alert Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1370 

RB, dated December 13, 2017, specifies 

‘‘Electrically close the door,’’ this AD allows 

closing the door electrically or manually. 

(4) Where Step 6. of Appendix A of Boeing 

Alert Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1370 

RB, dated December 13, 2017, specifies to 

‘‘Cycle the door electrically and make sure it 

operates smoothly,’’ this AD allows cycling 

the door electrically or manually and making 

sure it operates smoothly. 

(i) 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 (j) 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, FAA, 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 (i)(4)(i) and (i)(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. 

(j) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Galib Abumeri, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 

FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, 

CA 90712–4137; phone: 562–627–5324; fax: 

562–627–5210; email: galib.abumeri@faa.gov. 

(k) 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 

737–53A1370 RB, dated December 13, 2017. 

(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 

August 21, 2018. 

James Cashdollar, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–18740 Filed 9–7–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0789; Product 

Identifier 2018–NM–120–AD; Amendment 

39–19395; AD 2018–18–16] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are superseding 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018–12– 

08, which applied to certain Airbus SAS 

Model A330–200 and –300 series 

airplanes, and Model A340–212, –213, 

–312, and –313 airplanes. AD 2018–12– 

08 required repetitive inspections of 

certain fastener holes, and related 

investigative and corrective actions if 

necessary. This new AD corrects certain 

compliance time references. This AD 

was prompted by a report of cracking at 

fastener holes located at a certain frame 

(FR) on the lower shell panel junction. 

We are issuing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective September 

25, 2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of August 22, 2018 (83 FR 33821, July 

18, 2018). 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by October 25, 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: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this final rule, contact Airbus SAS, 

Airworthiness Office—EAL, Rond-Point 

Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700 Blagnac 


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