2013-23-15: Fuselage

Adoption of the Amendment \n\n\n\tAccordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: \n\nPART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES \n\n0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: \n\n\n\tAuthority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. \n\n\n\nSec. 39.13 (Amended) \n\n0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-06-02, Amendment 39-15838 (74 FR 11013, March 16, 2009), and adding the following new AD: \n\n2013-23-15 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17670; Docket No. FAA- 2013-0461; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-169-AD. \n\n(a) Effective Date \n\n\n\tThis AD is effective December 30, 2013. \n\n(b) Affected ADs \n\n\n\tThis AD supersedes AD 2009-06-02, Amendment 39-15838 (74 FR 11013, March 16, 2009). \n\n(c) Applicability \n\n\n\tThis AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747- 400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and747SP series airplanes, as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2682, Revision 1, dated May 24, 2012. \n\n(d) Subject \n\n\n\tJoint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage. \n\n(e) Unsafe Condition \n\n\n\tThis AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder indicating that certain fuselage frames are subject to widespread fatigue damage. The actions were developed to support the airplane's limit of validity of the engineering data that support the established structural maintenance program. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks in the fuselage skin that can propagate and grow, and result in reduced structural integrity and sudden decompression of the airplane in flight. \n\n(f) Compliance \n\n\n\tComply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. \n\n(g) Repetitive Inspections \n\n\n\tAt the applicable compliance time specified in paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2682, Revision 1, dated May 24, 2012, except as provided by paragraphs (i)(1) and (i)(2) of this AD, do an external detailed or high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection for skin cracks at specified shear tie end fastener locations of the fuselage frames, and do all applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747- 53A2682, Revision 1, dated May 24, 2012, except as required by paragraph (i)(3) of this AD. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight. Repeat the external detailed or HFEC inspection thereafter at the applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2682, Revision 1, dated May 24, 2012. \n\n(h) Post-Repair Inspections \n\n\n\tFor any external repair doubler in the inspection area specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2682, Revision 1, dated May 24, 2012, that has an upper or lower fastener row that is common to a shear tie end fastener: At the applicable time specified in paragraph (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this AD, whichever occurs later, do an internal HFEC inspection for cracks in the skin next to the shear tie, and do all applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2682, Revision 1, dated May 24, 2012, except as required by \n\n((Page 70216)) \n\nparagraph (i)(3) of this AD. Do all corrective actions before further flight. Repeat the internal HFEC inspection thereafter at the time specified in Table 4 or Table 5 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2682, Revision 1, dated May 24, 2012, as applicable. \n\t(1) Before further flight after an inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD. \n\t(2) Within 2,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD. \n\n(i) Service Information Clarifications and Exceptions(1) Paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2682, Revision 1, dated May 24, 2012, specifies certain compliance times in terms of the effective date of AD 2009- 06-02, Amendment 39-15838 (74 FR 11013, March 16, 2009). The effective date of AD 2009-06-02 is April 20, 2009. \n\t(2) Where paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2682, Revision 1, dated May 24, 2012, specifies counting the compliance time ''after the revision 1 date of this service bulletin,'' this AD requires compliance within the applicable time after the effective date of this AD. \n\t(3) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2682, Revision 1, dated May 24, 2012, specifies to contact Boeing for repair instructions, this AD requires repair before further flight using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (l) of this AD. \n\n(j) Credit for Previous Actions \n\n\n\tThis paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747- 53A2682, dated May 8, 2008. \n\n(k) Special Flight Permit \n\n\n\tSpecial flight permits, as described in Section 21.197 and Section 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199), are not allowed. \n\n(l) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) \n\n\n\t(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 (m)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected]. \n\t(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. \n\t(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. \n\n(m) Related Information \n\n\n\t(1) For more information about this AD, contact Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6577; fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected]. \n\t(2) Service information identified in this AD that is not incorporated by reference may be obtained at the addresses specified in paragraphs (n)(3) and (n)(4) of this AD. \n\n(n) Material Incorporated by Reference \n\n\n\t(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. \n\t(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. \n\t(i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2682, Revision 1, dated May 24, 2012. \n\t(ii) Reserved. \n\t(3) 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. \n\t(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. \n\t(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, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.