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

25627 

Vol. 80, No. 86 

Tuesday, May 5, 2015 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–1270; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–NM–222–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 747–100, 

–200B, –200C, –200F, –300, –400, 

–400D, and –400F series airplanes. This 

proposed AD was prompted by reports 

of significant fuselage skin damage at 

certain parts of the dorsal fairing, due to 

wear from the dorsal fairing. This 

proposed AD would require repetitive 

detailed inspections for wear and cracks 

of the fuselage skin under the dorsal 

fairing, and related investigative and 

corrective actions if necessary. This 

proposed AD would also require 

repetitive post-repair external surface 

high frequency eddy current inspections 

of the blended areas of the skin and 

detailed inspections of the unrepaired 

areas, and related investigative and 

corrective actions if necessary. We are 

proposing this AD to detect and correct 

fuselage skin damage of the dorsal 

fairing area, which could result in skin 

cracking and consequent 

depressurization of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by June 19, 2015. 

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 proposed AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P. O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, WA 98124–2207; 

phone: 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. It is also available 

on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

1270. 

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–2015– 

1270; 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 proposed AD, 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: 

Nathan Weigand, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 

(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

WA 98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6428; 

fax: 425–917–6590; email: 

nathan.p.weigand@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– 

2015–1270; Directorate Identifier 2014– 

NM–222–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD 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 received reports of significant 

fuselage skin damage at the dorsal 

fairing forward of station (STA) 2280, 

due to wear from the dorsal fairing. 

These two airplanes had accumulated 

45,707 and 71,702 total flight hours. The 

skin damage occurred from inadequate 

clearance between fuselage crown skin 

and the lower aft corners of the dorsal 

fairing. Affected airplanes are limited to 

those delivered or retrofitted with 

certain dorsal fairing assemblies. 

Airplanes with other dorsal fairing 

configurations are not expected to 

develop skin wear. This inadequate 

clearance, if not corrected, could result 

in skin cracking and consequent 

depressurization of the airplane. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–53A2876, dated October 

22, 2014. This service information 

describes procedures for repetitive 

inspections, repair, and modification of 

the fuselage skin under the dorsal 

fairing. Refer to this service information 

for information on the procedures and 

compliance times. This service 

information is reasonably available at 

http://www.regulations.gov by searching 

for and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

1270. Or see ADDRESSES for other ways 

to access this service information. 

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. 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
25628 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 86 / Tuesday, May 5, 2015 / Proposed Rules 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

the service information identified 

previously, except as discussed under 

‘‘Differences Between this Proposed AD 

and the Service Information.’’ 

The phrase ‘‘related investigative 

actions’’ is used in this proposed AD. 

‘‘Related investigative actions’’ are 

follow-on actions that (1) are related to 

the primary actions, and (2) further 

investigate the nature of any condition 

found. Related investigative actions in 

an AD could include, for example, 

inspections. 

The phrase ‘‘corrective actions’’ is 

used in this proposed AD. ‘‘Corrective 

actions’’ are actions that correct or 

address any condition found. Corrective 

actions in an AD could include, for 

example, repairs. 

Explanation of ‘‘RC’’ Steps in Service 

Information 

The FAA worked in conjunction with 

industry, under the Airworthiness 

Directives Implementation Aviation 

Rulemaking Committee (ARC), to 

enhance the AD system. One 

enhancement was a new process for 

annotating which steps in the service 

information are required for compliance 

with an AD. Differentiating these steps 

from other tasks in the service 

information is expected to improve an 

owner’s/operator’s understanding of 

crucial AD requirements and help 

provide consistent judgment in AD 

compliance. The steps that are 

identified as RC (required for 

compliance) in any service information 

identified previously have a direct effect 

on detecting, preventing, resolving, or 

eliminating an identified unsafe 

condition. 

Steps that are identified as RC must 

be done to comply with the proposed 

AD. However, steps that are not 

identified as RC are recommended. 

Those steps that are not identified as RC 

may be deviated from using accepted 

methods in accordance with the 

operator’s maintenance or inspection 

program without obtaining approval of 

an alternative method of compliance 

(AMOC), provided the steps identified 

as RC can be done and the airplane can 

be put back in a serviceable condition. 

Any substitutions or changes to steps 

identified as RC will require approval of 

an AMOC. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the Service Information 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747– 

53A2876, dated October 22, 2014, 

specifies to contact the manufacturer for 

instructions on how to repair certain 

conditions, but this proposed AD would 

require repairing those conditions in 

one of the following ways: 

• In accordance with a method that 

we approve; or 

• Using data that meet the 

certification basis of the airplane, and 

that have been approved by the Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) whom 

we have authorized to make those 

findings. 

Tables 4 and 5 in paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–53A2876, dated October 

22, 2014, specify accomplishing the 

post-repair inspections identified in Part 

8 of the service bulletin. Part 8 of the 

service bulletin allows the option of 

high frequency eddy current (HFEC) or 

low frequency eddy current (LFEC) 

inspections of the blended areas of the 

skin; however, this proposed AD does 

not allow the option of an LFEC 

inspection. This difference has been 

coordinated with Boeing. 

Tables 3, 6, and 7 in paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–53A2876, dated October 

22, 2014, specify post-modification 

inspections at certain fuselage crown 

skin locations, which may be used in 

support of compliance with section 

121.1109(c)(2) or 129.109(b)(2) of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 

121.1109(c)(2) or 129.109(b)(2)). 

However, this NPRM does not propose 

to require those post-modification 

inspections. This difference has been 

coordinated with Boeing. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 93 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

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

Inspections ....................... Up to 15 work-hours × 

$85 per hour = $1,275.

$0 Up to $1,275 per inspection cycle.Up to $118,575 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 proposed 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 

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. 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 86 / Tuesday, May 5, 2015 / Proposed Rules 25629 

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– 

2015–1270; Directorate Identifier 2014– 

NM–222–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by June 19, 

2015. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to The Boeing Company 

Model 747–100, –200B, –200C, –200F, –300, 

–400, –400D, and –400F series airplanes; 

certificated in any category, as identified in 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747–53A2876, 

dated October 22, 2014. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 53, Fuselage. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

significant fuselage skin damage at the dorsal 

fairing forward of station (STA) 2280 due to 

wear from the dorsal fairing. We are issuing 

this AD to detect and correct fuselage skin 

damage of the dorsal fairing area, which 

could result in skin cracking and consequent 

depressurization of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Inspections and Repair 

At the applicable time specified in tables 

1 and 2 of paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747–53A2876, 

dated October 22, 2014, except as provided 

by paragraph (j)(1) of this AD, do a detailed 

inspection of the fuselage skin under the 

dorsal fairing for wear or cracks, and do all 

applicable related investigative and 

corrective actions, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 747–53A2876, dated October 

22, 2014, except as required by paragraph 

(j)(2) of this AD. Do all applicable related 

investigative and corrective actions at the 

time specified in paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–53A2876, dated October 22, 

2014. Repeat the applicable inspections of 

the fuselage skin thereafter at the applicable 

times specified in paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–53A2876, dated October 22, 

2014. 

(h) Post-Repair Inspections 

At the applicable time specified in tables 

4 and 5 of paragraph 1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of 

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747–53A2876, 

dated October 22, 2014, except as provided 

by paragraph (j)(1) of this AD, do an external 

surface high frequency eddy current 

inspection of the blended areas of the skin 

and a detailed inspection of the unrepaired 

areas, and do all applicable related 

investigative and corrective actions, in 

accordance with Part 8 of the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 747–53A2876, dated October 

22, 2014, except as required by paragraph 

(j)(2) of this AD. Do all applicable related 

investigative and corrective actions at the 

time specified in paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–53A2876, dated October 22, 

2014. Repeat the applicable inspections of 

the blended areas of the skin thereafter at the 

applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–53A2876, dated October 22, 

2014. 

(i) Post-Modification Inspections 

The post-modification inspections 

specified in tables 3, 6, and 7 of paragraph 

1.E., ‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–53A2876, dated October 22, 

2014, are not required by this AD. 

Note 1 to paragraph (i) of this AD: The 

post-modification inspections specified in 

tables 3, 6, and 7 of paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 747–53A2876, dated October 22, 

2014, may be used in support of compliance 

with section 121.1109(c)(2) or 129.109(b)(2) 

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 

121.1109(c)(2) or 14 CFR 129.109(b)(2)). The 

corresponding actions specified in the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 747–53A2876, dated October 

22, 2014, are not required by this AD. 

(j) Exceptions to Service Information 

Specifications 

(1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

747–53A2876, dated October 22, 2014, 

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 

747–53A2876, dated October 22, 2014, 

specifies to contact Boeing for repair data, 

and specifies that action as ‘‘RC’’ (Required 

for Compliance), this AD requires repair 

before further flight using a method approved 

in accordance with the procedures specified 

in paragraph (k) of this AD. 

(k) 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)(1) 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 (ODA) 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. 

(4) Except as required by paragraph (j)(2) 

of this AD: If any service information 

contains steps that are identified as RC 

(Required for Compliance), those steps must 

be done to comply with this AD; any steps 

that are not identified as RC are 

recommended. Those steps that are not 

identified 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 steps identified as RC 

can be done and the airplane can be put back 

in a serviceable condition. Any substitutions 

or changes to steps identified as RC require 

approval of an AMOC. 

(l) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Nathan Weigand, Aerospace 

Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, 

FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 

(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6428; fax: 425– 

917–6590; email: nathan.p.weigand@faa.gov. 

(2) 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; phone: 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. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 27, 

2015. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–10315 Filed 5–4–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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