```

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 20 (Friday, January 31, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8690-8692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01973]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2025-0012; Project Identifier AD-2024-00219-T]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and -300 series 
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking found 
in new locations at a certain body station (STA) during frame segment 
replacement repairs, including in the web at the K-hole between certain 
stringers, in the outer chord above the lower hinge intercostal, and in 
the inner chord and web between certain stringers. This proposed AD 
would require an inspection or records check for the presence of 
approved or local repairs, repetitive eddy current inspections for 
cracking, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 17, 
2025.

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 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-0012; 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, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For the Boeing material identified in this proposed 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; website myboeingfleet.com.
     For the Aviation Partners Boeing material identified in 
this proposed AD, contact Aviation Partners Boeing, 2811 South 102nd 
St., Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98168; telephone 206-830-7699; fax 206-767-
0535; email partners.com">leng@aviationpartners.com; website 
aviationpartnersboeing.com.
     You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 206-231-3195. Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 
RB, dated March 13, 2024, is also available at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2025-0012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Ha, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 562-627-5238; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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-2025-0012; 
Project Identifier AD-2024-00219-T'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Wayne 
Ha, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 
98198; phone: 562-627-5238; email: [email protected]. Any commentary 
that the FAA receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will 
be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA has received a report indicating that cracks were found in 
new locations at STA 1640 during frame segment replacement repairs, 
including in the web at the K-hole between stringer S-9 and S-10, in 
the outer chord above the lower hinge intercostal, and in the inner 
chord and web between S-10 and S-19. The existing inspection program 
for the STA 1640 frame is not sufficient to detect cracks in these 
locations because most of the frame is hidden by adjacent structure 
that makes the maintenance planning data (MPD) document inspections 
inadequate to detect cracks before they reach a critical size. 
Additionally, existing AD-mandated inspections are at other locations. 
Undetected cracks in the

[[Page 8691]]

fuselage frame at STA 1640 could affect a principal structural 
element's ability to sustain limit load. This condition, if not 
addressed, could result in reduced structural integrity of the 
airplane.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, 
dated March 13, 2024. This material specifies procedures for an 
inspection or records check for the presence of approved repairs at STA 
1640 frame between S-9 and S-19, left and right sides, or local repairs 
at specified locations at STA 1640, repetitive eddy current inspections 
for cracking of the STA 1640 frame inner chord, web and outer chord at 
specified locations, and applicable on-condition actions. On-condition 
actions include contacting Boeing for repair.
    The FAA also reviewed Aviation Partners Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin AP757-53-006, dated May 7, 2024. This material specifies 
procedures for an inspection or records check for the presence of 
approved repairs at STA 1640 frame between S-9 and S-19, left and right 
sides, or local repairs at specified locations at STA 1640, repetitive 
eddy current inspections for cracking of the STA 1640 frame inner 
chord, web and outer chord at specified locations, and applicable on-
condition actions. On-condition actions include contacting Boeing for 
repair.
    These documents are distinct since they apply to different airplane 
configurations. This material 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.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the material already described, except for any differences 
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. 
For information on the procedures and compliance times, see Boeing 
Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123, dated March 13, 2024, at 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0012.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 481 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                    Labor cost          Parts cost      Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection for presence of        69 work-hours x $85  None.............  $5,865............  $2,821,065.
 repairs.                          per hour = $5,865.
Eddy current inspections........  Up to 74 work-hours  None.............  Up to $6,290 per    Up to $3,025,490
                                   x $85 per hour =                        inspection cycle.   per inspection
                                   $6,290 per                                                  cycle.
                                   inspection cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost 
estimates for the repairs 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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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

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 airworthiness 
directive:

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2025-0012; Project Identifier AD-
2024-00219-T.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by March 17, 2025.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and 
-300 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified 
in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, dated March 
13, 2024.

[[Page 8692]]

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of cracking found in new 
locations at body station (STA) 1640 during frame segment 
replacement repairs, including in the web at the K-hole between 
stringer S-9 and S-10, in the outer chord above the lower hinge 
intercostal, and in the inner chord and web between stringers S-10 
and S-19. The FAA is issuing this AD to address undetected cracks in 
the fuselage frame at STA 1640, which could affect a principal 
structural element's ability to sustain limit load. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced structural 
integrity of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For all airplanes except those identified in paragraph 
(g)(2) of this AD: Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this AD: 
At the applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of 
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, dated March 13, 
2024, do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance 
with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements 
Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, dated March 13, 2024.
    Note 1 to paragraph (g)(1): Guidance for accomplishing the 
actions required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 757-53A0123, dated March 13, 2024, which is referred to in 
Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, dated March 13, 
2024.
    (2) For airplanes identified in Aviation Partners Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin AP757-53-006, dated May 7, 2024: Except as 
specified in paragraph (h) of this AD, at the applicable times 
specified in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of Aviation Partners 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin AP757-53-006, dated May 7, 2024, do 
all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 
757-53A0123 RB, dated March 13, 2024.

(h) Exceptions to Requirements Bulletin Specifications

    (1) Where Compliance Time columns of the tables in the 
``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-
53A0123 RB, dated March 13, 2024, refer to the original issue date 
of Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, this AD requires using the 
effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, 
dated March 13, 2024, specifies contacting Boeing for repair 
instructions or for alternative inspections: This AD requires doing 
the repair, or doing the alternative inspections and applicable on-
condition actions using a method approved in accordance with the 
procedures specified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
    (3) Where Compliance Time columns of the tables in the 
``Compliance'' paragraph of Aviation Partners Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin AP757-53-006, dated May 7, 2024, refer to the original 
issue date of Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, this AD requires 
using the effective date of this AD.
    (4) Where Aviation Partners Boeing Alert Service Bulletin AP757-
53-006, dated May 7, 2024, specifies contacting Boeing for repair 
instructions or for alternative inspections: This AD requires doing 
the repair, or doing the alternative inspections and applicable on-
condition actions using a method approved in accordance with the 
procedures specified in paragraph (i) of this AD.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety 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 
responsible Flight Standards 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)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the responsible Flight Standards 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 Company Organization Designation 
Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, AIR-
520, Continued Operational Safety 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Wayne Ha, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 
98198; phone: 562-627-5238; email: [email protected].
    (2) Material identified in this AD that is not incorporated by 
reference is available at the address specified in paragraph (k)(3) 
of this AD.

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph 
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0123 RB, dated 
March 13, 2024.
    (ii) Aviation Partners Boeing Alert Service Bulletin AP757-53-
006, dated May 7, 2024.
    (3) For the Boeing material 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; website myboeingfleet.com.
    (4) For the Aviation Partners Boeing material identified in this 
AD, contact Aviation Partners Boeing, 2811 South 102nd St., Suite 
200, Seattle, WA 98168; telephone 206-830-7699; fax 206-767-0535; 
email partners.com">leng@aviationpartners.com; website 
aviationpartnersboeing.com.
    (5) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
    (6) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on January 27, 2025.
Suzanne Masterson,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-01973 Filed 1-30-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
```