2023-12-08: Fuselage

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: 2023-12-08 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-22466; Docket No. FAA-2023-0157; Project Identifier AD-2022-01309-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 11, 2023. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-8 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2909 RB, dated September 21, 2022. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report of stress corrosion cracking in the stringers and end stringer splice assemblies located between station (STA) 2285 and STA 2300 from stringers S-17 to S-25 on the left and right sides of the airplane caused by excessive and sustained internal tensile stresses that were due to no shim being installed or shimmed gaps exceeding engineering limits at production. A crack in a stringer or end stringer splice assembly could grow in length and go undetected. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in the inability of a structural element to sustain limit load and could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (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 747-53A2909 RB, dated September 21, 2022, do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2909 RB, dated September 21, 2022. For this AD, terminating action for certain end stringer springer splice assemblies are specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (4) of this AD. Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2909, dated September 21, 2022, which is referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2909 RB, dated September 21, 2022. (1) For any end stringer splice assembly on which no cracking is found after accomplishing CONDITION 3 (OPTION 2) (ACTION 1) and CONDITION 3 (OPTION 2) (ACTION 2) inspections specified in Table 1 of the Accomplishment Instruction of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2909 RB, dated September 21, 2022, no further action is required by this AD for that end stringer splice assembly. (2) For any end stringer splice assembly on which no cracking is found after accomplishing CONDITION 6 (OPTION 2) (ACTION 1) and CONDITION 6 (OPTION 2) (ACTION 2) inspections specified in Table 2 of the Accomplishment Instruction of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2909 RB, dated September 21, 2022, no further action is required by this AD for that end stringer splice assembly. (3) For any end stringer splice assembly on which no cracking is found after accomplishing CONDITION 8 (OPTION 2) (ACTION 1) and CONDITION 8 (OPTION 2) (ACTION 2) inspections specified in Table 3 of the Accomplishment Instruction of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2909 RB, dated September 21, 2022, no further action is required by this AD for that end stringer splice assembly. (4) For any end stringer splice assembly on which no cracking is found after accomplishing CONDITION 10 (OPTION 2) (ACTION 1) and CONDITION 10 (OPTION 2) (ACTION 2) inspections specified in Table 4 of the Accomplishment Instruction of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2909 RB, dated September 21, 2022, no further action is required by this AD for that end stringer splice assembly. (h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications (1) Where the Compliance Time column and certain notes of the tables in the "Compliance" paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2909 RB, dated September 21, 2022, use the phrase "the original issue date of Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2909 RB," this AD requires using "the effective date of this AD." (2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 747-53A2909 RB, dated September 21, 2022, specifies contacting Boeing for repair instructions: This AD requires doing the repair 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, Continued Operational Safety 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: [email protected]. (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, Continued Operational Safety 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 Stefanie N. Roesli, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3964; email: [email protected]. (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 747-53A2909 RB, dated September 21, 2022. (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; website 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, [email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. Issued on June 13, 2023. Michael Linegang, Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2023-14331 Filed 7-6-23; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P