2016-07-31: 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) 2013-22-11, Amendment 39-17643 (78 FR 66254, November 5, 2013), and adding the following new AD: \n\n2016-07-31 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-18476; Docket No. FAA- 2015-2464; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-195-AD. \n\n(a) Effective Date \n\n\n\tThis AD is effective May 18, 2016. \n\n(b) Affected ADs \n\n\n\tThis AD replaces AD 2013-22-11, Amendment 39-17643 (78 FR 66254, November 5, 2013) (''AD 2013-22-11''). \n\n(c) Applicability \n\n\n\tThis AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and -400D series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing AlertService Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014. \n\n(d) Subject \n\n\n\tAir 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 upper chords of the upper deck floor beam are subject to widespread fatigue damage. This AD was also prompted by reports that certain fastener holes in the upper deck floor beam upper chords in Section 41, may not have been inspected in accordance with AD 2013-22-11. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking in certain upper chords of the upper deck floor beam, which could become large and cause the floor beams to become severed and result in rapid decompression or reduced controllability of the airplane. \n\n(f) Compliance \n\n\n\tComply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. \n\n(g) Section 41--Repetitive Inspections, and Corrective Actions \n\n\n\tAt the applicable time specified in table 1 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, do open hole or surface high frequency eddy current inspections (HFEC) for cracking of the floor panel attachment holes in the upper deck floor beam upper chords, in accordance with Part 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014. If any crack is found during any inspection, before further flight, repair in accordance with Part 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, or repair using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (o) of this AD. Repeat the inspections thereafter at the applicable time specified in table 1 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, until an action specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD is done. \n\t(1) Doing a repair as a hole modification in accordance with Part 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, except as required by paragraph (m)(2) of this AD, terminates the inspections required by paragraph (g) of this AD for the modified hole only. \n\t(2) Doing a modification in accordance with Figure 5 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747- 53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, except as required by paragraph (m)(2) of this AD, terminates the inspections required by paragraph (g) of this AD for the modification only. \n\n(h) Section 41--Repetitive Inspection of Repaired or Modified Holes, and Corrective Actions \n\n\n\tFor airplanes on which a repair specified in Part 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747- 53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, is done, or a modification specified in Figure 5 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, is done: At the applicable time specified in table 2 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, except as required by paragraph (m)(3) of this AD, do open hole or surface HFEC for cracking of repaired or modified floor panel attachment holes in the upper deck floor beam upper chords, in accordance with Part 1 or Part 3, as applicable, of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747- 53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014. If any crack is found during any inspection required by this paragraph, before further flight, repair using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (o) of this AD. Repeat the inspections thereafter at the applicable time specified in table 2 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014. \n\n(i) Section 44--Repetitive Inspection, and Corrective Actions \n\n\n\tFor airplanes identified in Group 1 in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014: At the applicable time specified in table 3 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, except as required by paragraph (m)(4) of this AD, do open hole or surface HFEC inspections of the floor panel attachment holes in the upper deck floor beam upper chords, in accordance with Part 4 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014. If any crack is found during any inspection required by this paragraph, before further flight, repair in accordance with Part 5 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, except as required by paragraph (m)(2) of thisAD. Repeat the inspections thereafter at the applicable time specified in table 3 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, until an action specified in paragraph (i)(1) or (i)(2) of this AD is done. \n\t(1) Doing a repair as a hole modification in accordance with Part 5 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, except as required by paragraph (m)(2) of this AD, terminates the inspections required by paragraph (i) of this AD for that modified hole only. \n\t(2) Doing a modification in accordance with Figure 21 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747- 53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, \n\n((Page 21729)) \n\n2014, except as required by paragraph (m)(2) of this AD, terminates the inspections required by paragraph (i) of this AD for that modified hole only. \n\n(j) Section 44--Repetitive Inspection of Repairedor Modified Holes, and Corrective Actions \n\n\n\tFor airplanes identified in Group 1 in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, on which a repair specified in Part 5 of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747- 53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, is done or the modification specified in Figure 21 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, is done: At the applicable time specified in table 4 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, except as required by paragraph (m)(3) of this AD, do open hole or surface HFEC inspections of repaired or modified floor panel attachment holes in the upper deck floor beam upper chords, in accordance with Part 4 or Part 6, as applicable, of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747- 53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014. If any crack is found during any inspection by this paragraph, before further flight, repair using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (o) of this AD. Repeat the inspections thereafter at the applicable time specified in table 4 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014. \n\n(k) Sections 41 and 44--Replacement and Post-Replacement Repetitive Inspections \n\n\n\tAt the applicable time specified in table 5 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014: Replace all upper deck floor beam upper chords, in accordance with Part 7 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014. Within 20,000 flight cycles after doing the replacement, do the inspections specified in paragraphs (g) and (i) of this AD, as applicable. Thereafter, repeat the inspections required by paragraphs (g) and (i) of this AD, as applicable, at the times specified in paragraphs (g) and (i) of this AD. \n\n(l) Section 41--Repetitive Inspection of Plugged or Re-Used Holes, and Corrective Actions \n\n\n\tFor airplanes identified in Group 2 in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014: At the applicable time specified in table 6 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, except as required by paragraph (m)(1) of this AD, at all plugged or reused floor panel attachment holes in the affected floor beam upper chords, do a surface HFEC inspection of the upper deck floor beam upper chords and detailed inspection for cracks on the vertical flange, in accordance with Part 8 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014. If any crack is found during any inspection required by this paragraph, before further flight, repairusing a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (o) of this AD. Repeat the inspections thereafter at the applicable time specified in table 6 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014. \n\n(m) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications \n\n\n\t(1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, specifies a compliance time ''after the Revision 2 date of this service bulletin,'' this AD requires compliance within the specified compliance time after the effective date of this AD. \n\t(2) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014; specifies to contact Boeing for certain procedures: Do the specified actions before further flight using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (o) of this AD. \n\t(3) Where table 2 or table 4 of paragraph 1.E., ''Compliance,'' of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, specifies to contact Boeing for inspections and compliance times: Before further flight, contact the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, for inspections and compliance times and accomplish the inspections at the given times. \n\t(4) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014, specifies a compliance time ''after the Revision 1 date of this service bulletin,'' this AD requires compliance within the specified compliance time after December 10, 2013 (the effective date of AD 2013-22-11). \n\n(n) Credit for Previous Actions \n\n\n\t(1) This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (o) of AD 2013-22-11, with new reference to paragraph (h) of this AD. This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD, if those actions were performed before December 10, 2013 (the effective date of AD 2013-22-11), using Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, dated August 21, 2008, which was incorporated by reference in AD 2009-10-16, Amendment 39-15901 (74 FR 22424, May 13, 2009). \n\t(2) This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by paragraphs (g) through (k) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2688, Revision 1, dated September 19, 2012, which was incorporated by reference in AD 2013-22-11. \n\n(o) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) \n\n\n\t(1) The Manager, Seattle 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 (p) 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, modification, or alteration 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. 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. \n\t(4) AMOCs approved for AD 2013-22-11 are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of paragraphs (g) through (k) of this AD. \n\n(p) Related Information \n\n\n\tFor more information about this AD, contact Nathan Weigand, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057- 3356; phone: 425-917-6428; fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected]. \n\n(q) 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 747-53A2688, Revision 2, dated August 21, 2014. \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; phone: 206-544- 5000, extension 1; fax: 206-766-5680; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. \n\t(4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 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.