Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 124 / Wednesday, June 29, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 38651 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0788; Project 

Identifier AD–2021–00489–T; Amendment 

39–22063; AD 2022–11–13] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 737–700, 

–800, and –900ER series airplanes. This 

AD was prompted by reports of 

incorrectly installed fuselage skin 

fasteners. This AD requires a detailed 

inspection of a certain body station 

bulkhead, between certain stringers, for 

any incorrectly installed fastener 

common to fuselage skin, and 

applicable on-condition actions. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective August 3, 

2022. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of August 3, 2022. 

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, 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. 

It is also available at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0788. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0788; 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, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for 

Docket Operations is 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: Bill 

Ashforth, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe 

Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 

South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

phone and fax: 206–231–3520; email: 

bill.ashforth@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA 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 737–700, –800, and –900ER 

series airplanes. The NPRM published 

in the Federal Register on October 13, 

2021 (86 FR 56840). The NPRM was 

prompted by reports of incorrectly 

installed fuselage skin fasteners found at 

the station (STA) 727 bulkhead. This 

condition was the result of incorrect 

procedures used to install affected 

fasteners during airplane production 

that occurred within a certain time 

period. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed 

to require a detailed inspection of STA 

727 body station bulkhead, between 

stringers S–22 and S–27, for any 

incorrectly installed fastener common to 

fuselage skin, and applicable oncondition actions. The FAA is issuing 

this AD to prevent continuous operation 

of the airplane with undetected 

incorrectly installed fasteners, which 

may generate fatigue cracking that could 

adversely affect the structural integrity 

of the airplane. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received comments from 

Boeing, United Airlines, Air Line Pilots 

Association, International, and an 

individual commenter, who supported 

the NPRM without change. 

The FAA received additional 

comments from two commenters, 

including Aviation Partners Boeing and 

Delta Air Lines (DAL). The following 

presents the comments received on the 

NPRM and the FAA’s response. 

Effects of Winglets on Accomplishment 

of the Proposed Actions 

Aviation Partners Boeing and DAL 

commented regarding the installation of 

blended or split scimitar winglets per 

Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 

ST00830SE and the effect of that 

installation on compliance with the 

proposed actions. DAL further requested 

a change to paragraph (c) of the 

proposed AD to clarify that the 

installation of STC ST00830SE does not 

affect the accomplishment of the 

manufacturer’s service instructions. 

The FAA agrees to clarify that the 

installation of winglets per STC 

ST00830SE does not affect the 

accomplishment of the manufacturer’s 

service instructions. Therefore, the 

installation of STC ST00830SE does not 

affect the ability to accomplish the 

actions required by this AD. Operators 

of airplanes with these winglets do not 

need to request a ‘‘change in product’’ 

alternative method of compliance 

(AMOC) approval as specified in 14 CFR 

39.17. The FAA has redesignated 

paragraph (c) of the proposed AD as 

paragraph (c)(1) of this AD, and added 

paragraph (c)(2) to this AD accordingly. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, 

considered any comments received, and 

determined that air safety requires 

adopting this AD as proposed. Except 

for minor editorial changes, and any 

other changes described previously, this 

AD is adopted as proposed in the 

NPRM. None of the changes will 

increase the economic burden on any 

operator. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1384 

RB, dated September 10, 2020. This 

service information specifies procedures 

for a detailed inspection for incorrectly 

installed fasteners at the STA 727 

bulkhead outer chord common to the 

fuselage skin between stringers S–22 

and S–27 on the left and right sides, and 

applicable on-condition actions. In 

addition to repair and replacement, oncondition actions include repetitive 

inspections for cracking of the fuselage 

skin between stringers S–22 and S–27; 

an open hole high frequency eddy 

current (HFEC) inspection for cracking 

at all incorrectly installed fastener 

locations; and external and internal 

general visual inspections for repairs of 

the STA 727 bulkhead. On-condition 

actions also include repetitive HFEC 

and low frequency eddy current (LFEC) 

inspections in unrepaired areas for 

cracking of the inner skin from the 

wheel well; of the outer, upper, and 

lower chords from the wheel well; and 

of the fail-safe chord from the cargo 

compartment. 

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 ADDRESSES. 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1
38652 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 124 / Wednesday, June 29, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 78 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 

FAA estimates the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Inspections ......................................... 13 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,105 ......................... $0 $1,105 $86,190 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to do any necessary actions that 

would be required based on the results 

of the inspection. The agency has no 

way of determining the number of 

aircraft that might need these oncondition actions. 

ON-CONDITION COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product 

Open hole HFEC inspections .................. 21 work-hours × $85 per hour = $85 per 

inspection cycle.

$0 $1,785 per inspection cycle. 

HFEC and LFEC inspections .................. 36 work-hours × $85 per hour = $3,060 

per inspection cycle.

0 3,060 per inspection cycle. 

The FAA has received no definitive 

data on which to base the work-hour 

estimates for the repair and replacement 

specified in this AD. The cost of any 

required fasteners, which are operator 

supplied, would be minimal. 

The FAA has included all known 

costs in its cost estimate. According to 

the manufacturer, however, some or all 

of the costs of this AD may be covered 

under warranty, thereby reducing the 

cost impact on affected operators. 

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 

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) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

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: 

2022–11–13 The Boeing Company: 

Amendment 39–22063; Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0788; Project Identifier AD– 

2021–00489–T. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective August 3, 2022. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

(1) This AD applies to The Boeing 

Company Model 737–700, –800, and –900ER 

series airplanes, certificated in any category, 

and identified in Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin 737–53A1384 RB, dated September 

10, 2020. 

(2) Installation of Supplemental Type 

Certificate (STC) ST00830SE does not affect 

the ability to accomplish the actions required 

by this AD. Therefore, for airplanes on which 

STC ST00830SE 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 53, Fuselage. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

incorrectly installed fuselage skin fasteners. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

incorrectly installed fasteners. This 

condition, if not addressed, could result in 

incorrectly installed fasteners going 

undetected. Continuous operation of the 

airplane with undetected incorrectly 

installed fasteners may generate fatigue 

cracking that could adversely affect the 

structural integrity of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 124 / Wednesday, June 29, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 38653 

(g) Required Actions 

Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this 

AD: At the applicable times specified in the 

‘‘Compliance’’ paragraph of Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1384 RB, 

dated September 10, 2020, do all applicable 

actions identified in, and in accordance with, 

the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Alert Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1384 

RB, dated September 10, 2020. 

Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for 

accomplishing the actions required by this 

AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 737–53A1384, dated September 10, 

2020, which is referred to in Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1384 RB, 

dated September 10, 2020. 

(h) Exceptions to Service Information 

Specifications 

(1) Where the Compliance Time column 

and the notes of the tables in the 

‘‘Compliance’’ paragraph of Boeing Alert 

Requirements Bulletin 737–53A1384 RB, 

dated September 10, 2020, use the phrase 

‘‘the Original Issue date of Requirements 

Bulletin 737–53A1384 RB,’’ this AD requires 

using ‘‘the effective date of this AD.’’ 

(2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements 

Bulletin 737–53A1384 RB, dated September 

10, 2020, 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, 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 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) of this 

AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANMSeattle-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 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, Seattle 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. 

(j) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Bill Ashforth, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 

2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 

98198; phone and fax: 206–231–3520; email: 

bill.ashforth@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 

737–53A1384 RB, dated September 10, 2020. 

(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, 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. 

(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, 

fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to: https://

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued on May 25, 2022. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–13750 Filed 6–28–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0864; Airspace 

Docket No. 21–AAL–13] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Establishment of United States Area 

Navigation (RNAV) Route T–415; 

Gulkana, AK 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This action establishes United 

States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T– 

415 in the vicinity of Gulkana, AK in 

support of a large and comprehensive Troute modernization project for the state 

of Alaska. 

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, 

September 8, 2022. The Director of the 

Federal Register approves this 

incorporation by reference action under 

1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual 

revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 and 

publication of conforming amendments. 

ADDRESSES: FAA Order JO 7400.11F, 

Airspace Designations and Reporting 

Points, and subsequent amendments can 

be viewed online at https://

www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. 

For further information, you can contact 

the Rules and Regulations Group, 

Federal Aviation Administration, 800 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267–8783. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jesse Acevedo, Rules and Regulations 

Group, Office of Policy, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 800 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267–8783. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

The FAA’s authority to issue rules 

regarding aviation safety is found in 

Title 49 of the United States Code. 

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. This rulemaking is 

promulgated under the authority 

described in Subtitle VII, Part A, 

Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that 

section, the FAA is charged with 

prescribing regulations to assign the use 

of the airspace necessary to ensure the 

safety of aircraft and the efficient use of 

airspace. This regulation is within the 

scope of that authority as it expands the 

availability of RNAV in Alaska and 

improve the efficient flow of air traffic 

within the National Airspace System by 

lessening the dependency on ground 

based navigation. 

History 

The FAA published a notice of 

proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0864 in the Federal Register 

(86 FR 59068; October 26, 2021), 

establishing United States Area 

Navigation (RNAV) route T–415 in the 

vicinity of Gulkana, AK in support of a 

large and comprehensive T-route 

modernization project for the state of 

Alaska. Interested parties were invited 

to participate in this rulemaking effort 

by submitting comments on the 

proposal. There were no comments 

received. 

United States Area Navigation Routes 

are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA 

Order JO 7400.11F dated August 10, 

2021 and effective September 15, 2021, 

which is incorporated by reference in 14 

CFR 71.1. The RNAV route listed in this 

document would be published 

subsequently in FAA Order JO 

7400.11F. 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1