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[Federal Register: July 13, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 133)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 39818-39820]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13jy10-10]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0383; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-214-AD; 
Amendment 39-16362; AD 2010-14-17]
RIN 2120-AA64

 
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-
100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 
747SR, and 747SP Series 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 
Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 
747-300, 747-400, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes. This AD requires 
repetitive detailed inspections of certain overwing intercostal webs, 
and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD 
results from reports of cracks in overwing intercostal webs. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct such cracking, which could grow 
and result in a severed intercostal. If an intercostal is severed, 
cracks could develop in the adjacent frame structure and skin, 
resulting in a rapid loss of cabin pressure.

DATES: This AD is effective August 17, 2010.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of August 17, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail me.boecom@boeing.com; 
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; 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 (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document 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: Ivan Li, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe 
Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
917-6437; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to 
certain Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-
200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes. That NPRM 
was published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2010 (75 FR 20792). 
That NPRM proposed to require repetitive detailed inspections of 
certain overwing intercostal webs, and related investigative and 
corrective actions if necessary.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comment received. Boeing supports the NPRM.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 86 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to 
comply with this AD.

                                                                                     Table--Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                                              Number of U.S.-
                Action                    Work hours     Average labor             Parts                Cost per product         registered                        Fleet cost
                                                         rate per hour                                                           airplanes
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection...........................               4              $85   None.....................  $340 per inspection                   86   $29,240 per inspection cycle.
                                                                                                     cycle.
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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

[[Page 39819]]

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), and
    (3) 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.
    You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of 
compliance in the AD Docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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 AD:
    2010-14-17 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-16362. Docket No. FAA-
2010-0383; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-214-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 17, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-100B, 
747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747SR, 
and 747SP series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified 
in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2750, dated August 27, 2009.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53: Fuselage.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from reports of cracks in overwing intercostal 
webs between station (STA) 1160 and STA 1220. The Federal Aviation 
Administration is issuing this AD to detect and correct such cracking, 
which could grow and result in a severed intercostal. If an intercostal 
is severed, cracks could develop in the adjacent frame structure and 
skin, resulting in a rapid loss of cabin pressure.

Compliance

    (f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD 
performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions 
have already been done.

Repetitive Inspections of the Overwing Intercostal Web

    (g) Before the accumulation of 8,000 total flight cycles, or within 
1,500 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever 
occurs later: Do a detailed inspection of the left-side and right-side 
STAs 1160, 1180, 1200, and 1220 overwing intercostal webs, and do all 
applicable related investigative and corrective actions, in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 
747-53A2750, dated August 27, 2009, except as required by paragraph (i) 
of this AD. Do all applicable related investigative and corrective 
actions before further flight. If no cracking is found during any 
detailed inspection, repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals not 
to exceed 3,000 flight cycles.
    (h) For any airplane with an overwing intercostal web replaced in 
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2750, dated August 
27, 2009: Within 6,000 flight cycles after the web was replaced, do a 
detailed inspection of the replacement overwing intercostal web, and do 
all applicable related investigative and corrective actions, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 747-53A2750, dated August 27, 2009, except as required by 
paragraph (i) of this AD. Do all applicable related investigative and 
corrective actions before further flight. If no cracking is found 
during any detailed inspection, repeat the inspection thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 3,000 flight cycles.

Exception to Service Bulletin

    (i) If any cracking is found during any inspection required by this 
AD, and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2750, dated August 27, 
2009, specifies contacting Boeing for appropriate action: Before 
further flight, repair the cracking using a method approved in 
accordance with the procedures provided in paragraph (j) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j)(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. Send information to Attn: Ivan 
Li, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6437; fax (425) 917-6590. 
Information may be e-mailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or principal 
avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a principal 
inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. The AMOC 
approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
    (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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2750, dated 
August 27, 2009, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD 
specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation 
by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 
CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing 
Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.O. Box 
3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-5000, 
extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet 
https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the 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.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that is 
incorporated

[[Page 39820]]

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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 25, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-16435 Filed 7-12-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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