Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/10/13/E9-23877/airworthiness-directives-boeing-model-737-300-and-737-400-series-airplanes
Timestamp: 2018-08-18 09:10:36
Document Index: 301915425

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 39', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3']

Federal Register :: Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-300 and 737-400 Series Airplanes
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-300 and 737-400 Series Airplanes
This AD is effective November 17, 2009.
74 FR 52395
52395-52398 (4 pages)
Docket No. FAA-2009-0429
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-059-AD
Amendment 39-16038
AD 2009-21-01
E9-23877
Request To Allow Use of Previous Service Information
Request To Publish Effectivity and Compliance Information
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-23877 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-23877
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-300 and 737-400 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections to detect cracking of the aft fuselage skin, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of cracks in the aft fuselage skin on both sides of the airplane. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the aft fuselage skin along the longitudinal edges of the bonded skin doubler, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of November 17, 2009.
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 Boeing Model 737-300 and 737-400 series airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2009 (74 FR 21278). That NPRM proposed to require repetitive inspections to detect cracking of the aft fuselage skin, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary.
Southwest Airlines requests that skin panel replacements accomplished in accordance with Part 3 of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 1, dated August 17, 1995; and Revision 2, dated November 27, 1996; also be considered as terminating action for the inspections specified in paragraph (g) of the NPRM. (We referred to Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006, as the appropriate source of service information for accomplishing the actions specified in paragraph (g) of the NPRM for Model 737-300 series airplanes.)
We agree. We have reviewed the following service bulletins and have determined that these documents are also acceptable for terminating the inspections specified in paragraph (g) of this AD. Therefore, we have revised paragraph (j) of this AD to include these additional documents. Also, for easier Start Printed Page 52396readability, we have added a table in paragraph (j) of this AD to specify the acceptable service documents.
Table—Acceptable Service Information for Optional Terminating Action
Model 737-300 series airplanes Part 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, dated March 16, 1995.
Part 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 1, dated August 17, 1995.
Part 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 2, dated November 27, 1996.
Model 737-400 series airplanes Part III of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, dated November 2, 1995.
Part III of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 1, dated January 16, 1997.
The Aviation Group requests that paragraphs 1.E., “Compliance,” and 1.A., “Effectivity,” of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006; and Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007; be added to the NPRM, either within the body of the AD or as an incorporated attachment. The commenter asserts that many owners, lessors, or their respective representatives, are routinely denied access to the manufacturer's Web site where the referenced service information is archived, making it very difficult or impossible to evaluate and schedule compliance with this AD.
We do not agree to add the compliance and effectivity sections of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006; and Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007; to this AD. Due to the length and complexity of the applicability and compliance times required in this AD, we referred directly to the service information to ensure the accuracy of those sections in this AD. We also gave notice for the compliance times in the “Relevant Service Information” section of the NPRM. Operators should note that type certificate holders are required under the Federal Aviation Regulations to make available the service information necessary for accomplishing AD requirements to affected operators. All service information that we incorporate by reference in our AD is available to those who operate the product that is the subject of the AD. The necessary service information has also been incorporated by reference in this AD; therefore, this information is also available for review at the FAA or the Office of the Federal Register, as specified in the Addresses section and paragraph (n) of this AD. We have made no change to this AD in this regard.
We estimate that this AD affects about 516 airplanes of U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work hour.
Inspection to determine inspection zones 1 $0 $80 516 $41,280.
Repetitive inspections—Option 1 64 0 $5,120, per inspection cycle 516 Up to $2,641,920.
Repetitive inspections—Option 2 62 0 $4,960, per inspection cycle 516 Up to $2,559,360.
Internal inspection 5, per inspection zone (3 zones) 0 $1,200 516 $619,200.
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 Start Printed Page 52397responsibilities among the various levels of government.
2009-21-01 Boeing: Amendment 39-16038. Docket No. FAA-2009-0429; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-059-AD.
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective November 17, 2009.
(1) Boeing Model 737-300 series airplanes as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006.
(2) Boeing Model 737-400 series airplanes as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007.
(e) This AD results from reports of cracks in the aft fuselage skin on both sides of the airplane. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the aft fuselage skin along the longitudinal edges of the bonded skin doubler, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.
(g) At the applicable times specified in Tables 1 and 2 of paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006 (for Model 737-300 series airplanes); or Table 1 of paragraph 1.E., of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007 (for Model 737-400 series airplanes); except as provided by paragraph (k) of this AD: Do the applicable inspections and related investigative actions to detect cracks in the aft fuselage skin panels, by accomplishing all of the applicable actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006; or Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007; as applicable; including Note (f) of Table 1 of paragraph 1.E. And, do the applicable corrective actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006; or Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007; as applicable; except as provided by paragraphs (h), (i), and (l) of this AD. Repeat the applicable inspections and related investigative actions thereafter at the applicable intervals specified in Tables 1 and 2 of paragraph 1.E. of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006; or Table 1 of paragraph 1.E. of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007; as applicable.
(h) If any crack is found during any inspection or corrective action required by this AD, before further flight, repair in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006 (for Model 737-300 series airplanes); or Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007 (for Model 737-400 series airplanes); except, where Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006; or Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007; as applicable; specifies to contact Boeing, before further flight, repair according to a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (m) of this AD.
(i) If any cracking of a repaired area is found during any inspection required by this AD, and Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006 (for Model 737-300 series airplanes); or Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007 (for Model 737-400 series airplanes); specifies contacting Boeing for appropriate action: Before further flight, repair the cracking using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (m) of this AD.
(j) Doing the skin panel replacement before the effective date of this AD, in accordance with the service information specified in Table 1 of this AD, as applicable, terminates the inspection requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD for that skin panel only. As of the effective date of this AD, doing the skin panel replacement, in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006; or Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007; as applicable; terminates the inspection requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD for that skin panel only.
Table 1—Acceptable Service Information for Optional Terminating Action
Part 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006.
Part III of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007.
(k) Where Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006 (for Model 737-300 series airplanes); or Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007 (for Model 737-400 series airplanes); specifies compliance times after the release date of those service bulletins, this AD requires that the specified actions be done within the specified compliance times after the effective date of this AD.
(l) Although Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006 (for Model 737-300 series airplanes); and Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007 (for Model 737-400 series airplanes); specify to submit information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include such a requirement.
(m)(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: Wayne Lockett, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6447; fax (425) 917-6590. Or, e-mail information to 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.
(n) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1168, Revision 3, dated November 28, 2006; or Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1187, Revision 2, dated May 9, 2007; as applicable; to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. If you do the optional terminating action specified in this AD, you must use the service information specified in Table 2 of this AD, as applicable, to do the optional terminating action, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
Table 2—Service Information for Optional Terminating Action
737-53-1168 Original March 16, 1995.
737-53-1168 1 August 17, 1995.
737-53-1168 2 November 27, 1996.
737-53-1168 3 November 28, 2006.
737-53-1187 Original November 2, 1995.
737-53-1187 1 January 16, 1997.
737-53-1187 2 May 9, 2007.
[FR Doc. E9-23877 Filed 10-9-09; 8:45 am]