AD 2013-16-24

AD Final Rules - 2013-16-24.pdf
Copy URL
Document Versions
 Feedback
DetailsAttachments/Public Comments
AD Number:
2013-16-24
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2013-0364
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Subject:
Fuselage
Status:
Current
Citation:
(Federal Register Volume 78, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 4, 2013))
Citation Publish Date:
09/04/2013
Effective Date:
10/09/2013
Make:
The Boeing Company
Model:
747-100 Series | 747-100B Series | 747-200B Series | 747-200C Series | 747-200F Series | 747-300 Series | 747SP Series | 747SR Series
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Large Airplane
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
90-23-14
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
Automatic Zoom
Actual Size
Page Fit
Page Width
⁨50⁩%
⁨75⁩%
⁨100⁩%
⁨125⁩%
⁨150⁩%
⁨200⁩%
⁨300⁩%
⁨400⁩%
125%
of ⁨10⁩
1


[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 4, 2013)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 54387-54391]


From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[FR Doc No: 2013-21397]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2013-0364; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-114-AD; Amendment 39-17562;


AD 2013-16-24]


RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes


AGENCY:
 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.


ACTION:
 
Final rule.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


SUMMARY:
 
We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 90-23-14 for certain The Boeing


Company Model 747 series airplanes. AD 90-23-14 required inspections of the fuselage skin lap


splice between body station (BS) 340 and BS 400 at stringers (S)-6L and S-6R, and repair if


necessary. This new AD adds new repetitive inspections for cracking in the S-6 skin lap splice, which


terminates the inspections required by AD 90-23-14; eventual modification of the lap splice, which


terminates the repetitive inspections; post-modification inspections; and corrective actions if


necessary. This AD also adds airplanes to the applicability. This AD was prompted by a report of


cracks up to 18.5 inches that were found at S-6L and S-6R on several airplanes, and subsequent


analysis results that indicated that the protruding head fastener modification and related post-


modification inspections required by AD 90-23-14 are not adequate to prevent cracking at the upper


row of fasteners in the S-6 lap joint before the cracks reach a critical length. We are issuing this AD


to detect and correct cracking at the upper row of fasteners in the S-6 lap joint, which could result in a


sudden loss of cabin pressurization and the inability of the fuselage to withstand failsafe loads.


DATES:
 
This AD is effective October 9, 2013.


The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain


publications listed in this AD as of October 9, 2013.


ADDRESSES:
 
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;


telephone 206-544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.


You may review copies of the 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.
2


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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is 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:
 
Bill Ashforth, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe


Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,


WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6432; fax: 425-917-6590; email: bill.ashforth@faa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Discussion


We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD


90-23-14, Amendment 39-6801 (Docket No. 90-NM-110-AD; 55 FR 46652, November 6, 1990),


(''AD 90-23-14''). AD 90-23-14 applied to the specified products. The NPRM published in the


Federal Register on May 3, 2013 (78 FR 25898). The NPRM proposed to continue to require


inspections of the fuselage skin lap splice between BS 340 and BS 400 at S-6L and S-6R, and repair


if necessary. The NPRM also proposed to add new repetitive inspections for cracking in the stringer 6


skin lap splice, which would terminate the inspections required by AD 90-23-14; eventual


modification of the lap splice, which would terminate the new repetitive inspections; post-


modification inspections; and corrective actions if necessary. The NPRM also proposed to add


airplanes to the applicability.


Comments


We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no


comments on the NPRM (78 FR 25898, May 3, 2013) or on the determination of the cost to the


public.


Clarification


We have revised the wording of paragraphs (i) and (j) of this AD to clarify that certain


compliance time adjustment factors were allowed in AD 90-23-14 (Docket No. 90-NM-110-AD; 55


FR 46652, November 6, 1990), but are no longer allowed in this new AD.


Conclusion


We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and the public interest require


adopting this AD with the changes described previously–and minor editorial changes. We have


determined that these minor changes:


•
 
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM (78 FR 25898, May 3, 2013)


for correcting the unsafe condition; and


•
 
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM


(78 FR 25898, May 3, 2013).


We also determined that these changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or


increase the scope of this AD.