2024-17338. Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

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Department of Transportation

Federal Aviation Administration

1. 14 CFR Part 39
2. [Docket No. FAA-2023-2395; Project Identifier AD-2023-00767-T; Amendment 39-22773; AD 2024-12-09]
3. RIN 2120-AA64

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule; correction.

SUMMARY:

The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that was published in the Federal Register . That AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. As published, the AD number referenced throughout the final rule is incorrect. This document corrects that error. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

DATES:

This correction is effective August 22, 2024. The effective date of AD 2024-12-09 remains August 22, 2024.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 22, 2024 (89 FR 58257, July 18, 2024).

ADDRESSES:

AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-2395; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Material Incorporated by Reference:

• 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 [phone]; websitemyboeingfleet.com.
• 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. It is also available atregulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-2395.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Wayne Ha, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone [phone]; email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

AD 2024-12-09, Amendment 39-22773 (89 FR 58257, July 18, 2024), requires an inspection or records check of the wing upper skin at the drag fitting attachment holes for any existing repair; repetitive inspections for loose fasteners, skin cracking, and shim migration at the upper link drag fittings, and for cracking in the diagonal brace and diagonal brace fittings; repetitive inspections for cracking of the fastener holes and loose bolt holes; and applicable on-condition actions for all The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 3, dated May 5, 2023. This material specifies procedures for a general visual inspection or records check of the wing upper skin at the drag fitting attachment holes for any existing repair; repetitive general visual and detailed inspections for loose fasteners, skin cracking, and shim migration at the upper link drag fittings, and for cracking in the diagonal brace and diagonal brace fittings; repetitive open-hole high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracking of the fastener holes and loose bolt holes; and applicable on-condition actions. On-condition actions include performing an ultrasonic inspection for cracks at any repaired upper wing skin location; installing the upper link and upper link pins; replacing drag fittings; installing bolts, washers, and nuts; performing a torque check of fasteners on the affected shims; trimming affected shims and applying chemical conversion coating on the shims, fillet seal, and drag fittings; and repairing cracks, migrated shims, mistorqued bolts, and loose fasteners. This material is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in ADDRESSES .

Need for Correction

As published, the AD number referenced throughout the final rule is incorrect. The final rule incorrectly references “AD 2023-12-09.” The correct AD number is “AD 2024-12-09.”

Correction of Publication

This document corrects an error and correctly adds the AD as an amendment to 14 CFR 39.13. Although no other part of the preamble or regulatory information has been corrected, the FAA is publishing the entire rule in the Federal Register .

The effective date of this AD remains August 22, 2024.

Since this action only corrects an incorrect AD number, it has no adverse economic impact and imposes no additional burden on any person. Therefore, the FAA has determined that notice and public comment procedures are unnecessary.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Incorporation by reference
• Safety

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13

[Corrected]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-08-12, Amendment 39-22015 ( 87 FR 26964, May 6, 2022); and

b. Adding the following new AD:

2024-12-09 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-22773; Docket No. FAA-2023-2395; Project Identifier AD-2023-00767-T.

(a) Effective Date

This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 22, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

This AD replaces AD 2022-08-12, Amendment 39-22015 (87 FR 26964, May 6, 2022) (AD 2022-08-12).

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 757-200, PF, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 57, Wings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by reports of bolt rotation in the engine drag fitting joint and fastener heads and cracks found in the skin of the fastener holes, a determination that certain drag fittings may be made of alternate materials, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the engine strut, and a determination that additional inspections and revised compliance times are needed. The FAA is issuing this AD to address cracking in the wing upper skin and forward drag fittings, which could lead to a compromised upper link and reduced structural integrity of the engine strut, and possible separation of a strut and engine from the airplane during flight.

(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 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 3, dated May 5, 2023, do all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 3, dated May 5, 2023.

Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-57A0073, Revision 3, dated May 5, 2023, which is referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 3, dated May 5, 2023.

(h) Exceptions to Service Information Specifications

(1) Where the Compliance Time columns of the tables in the “Compliance” paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 3, dated May 5, 2023, use the phrase “the Original Issue date of Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB,” this AD requires using “September 10, 2018 (the effective date of AD 2018-16-05, Amendment 39-19345 (83 FR 38250, August 6, 2018))” (AD 2018-16-05).

(2) Where the Compliance Time columns and notes of the tables in the “Compliance” paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 3, dated May 5, 2023, use the phrase “the Revision 1 date of Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB,” this AD requires using “January 14, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2020-21-17, Amendment 39-21290 (85 FR 79418, December 10, 2020))” (AD 2020-21-17).

(3) Where the Compliance Time columns and notes of the tables in the “Compliance” paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 3, dated May 5, 2023, use the phrase “the Revision 2 date of Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB,” this AD requires using “June 10, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-08-12).”

(4) Where the Compliance Time columns and notes of the tables in the “Compliance” paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 3, dated May 5, 2023, use the phrase “the Revision 3 date of Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB,” this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.

(5) Where Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 3, dated May 5, 2023, specifies contacting Boeing for repair instructions or for alternative inspections: This AD requires doing the repair, or doing the alternative inspections and applicable on-condition actions using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

(1) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in paragraph (g) of this AD, except for the open-hole high frequency eddy current inspections at fastener locations 11-18, if those actions were performed before January 14, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2020-21-17) using Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, dated July 14, 2017.

(2) This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before June 10, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022-08-12) using Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 1, dated August 1, 2019.

(3) This 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 Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 2, dated March 1, 2021.

(j) 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 (k)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [e-mail].

(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, 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.

(k) Related Information

(1) For more information about this AD, contact Wayne Ha, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone [phone]; email [e-mail].

(2) Service information identified in this AD that is not incorporated by reference is available at the address specified in paragraph (l)(3) of this AD.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) 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 this AD specifies otherwise.

(3) The following material was approved for IBR on August 22, 2024 (89 FR 58257, July 18, 2024).

(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 3, dated May 5, 2023.

(ii) [Reserved]

(4) 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 [phone]; website myboeingfleet.com.

(5) 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.

(6) 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 [e-mail].

Issued on August 1, 2024.

Peter A. White,

Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft Certification Service.