2024-24-01: 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: 2024-24-01 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-22891; Docket No. FAA-2023-1053; Project Identifier AD-2023-00164-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 13, 2025. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and -200PF series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0115 RB, dated January 25, 2022. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a crack growth analysis, which indicated that current inspections are not adequate to detect cracks in the Sections 43 and 46 upper frame at the frame splice between stringers S-13 and S-14 before a single frame fails. The FAA is issuing this AD to address cracking at the upper frames common to the splice at stringers S-13 to S-14, which could interact with fuselage skin cracking at the stringer S-14 lap splice. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in the inability of a principal structural element to sustain limit loads, 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 757-53A0115 RB, dated January 25, 2022, do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0115 RB, dated January 25, 2022. Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-53A0115, dated January 25, 2022, which is referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0115 RB, dated January 25, 2022. (h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications (1) Where the Compliance Time columns of the tables in the "Compliance" paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0115 RB, dated January 25, 2022, use the phrase "the original issue date of Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0115 RB," this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0115 RB, dated January 25, 2022, specifies contacting Boeing for repair instructions or for alternative inspections: This AD requires doing the repair and doing the alternative inspections and applicable on-condition actions using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (i) of this AD. (3) For airplanes on which winglet structural provisions (original equipment manufacturer (OEM) wingtips) or Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) winglets have been installed in accordance with APB Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01518SE: This AD requires dividing the applicable compliance times and repeat intervals specified in the "Compliance" paragraph of Boeing Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0115 RB, dated January 25, 2022, by a factor of two. (4) For airplanes modified by VT MAE STC ST03562AT: Where paragraph (g) of this AD requires doing "all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0115 RB, dated January 25, 2022," this AD requires obtaining inspection instructions and applicable repair instructions in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (i) of this AD at the later of the compliance times specified in paragraphs (h)(4)(i) and (ii) of this AD. Comply with all applicable instructions at the time specified in the instructions. (i) Before 50,000 total flight cycles. (ii) Within 2,500 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD. (i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, AIR-520, 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)(1) 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, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, 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 (1) For more information about this AD, contact Wayne Ha, Aviation Safety Engineer, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 562-627-5238; email: [email protected] . (2) Service information identified in this AD that is not incorporated by reference is available at the address specified in paragraph (k)(3) of this AD. (k) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-53A0115 RB, dated January 25, 2022. (ii) [Reserved] (3) For Boeing material 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 material 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 material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected] . Issued on November 19, 2024. Peter A. White, Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2024-28782 Filed 12-6-24; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P