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Air Safety Week, April 10, 2006

Fatigue cracks: Final rule -- Boeing model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, - 400, and -500 series airplanes.

March 31, 2006 FR Doc. 06-3066 Docket No. FAA-2005-20918

This airworthiness directive (AD) requires a one-time inspection for scribe lines and cracks in the fuselage skin at certain lap joints, butt joints, external repair doublers, and other areas; and related investigative/corrective actions. There have been reports of fuselage skin cracks adjacent to the skin lap joints on airplanes that had scribe lines. Scribe line damage can also occur at many other locations, including butt joints, external doublers, door scuff plates, the wing-to-body fairing, and areas of the fuselage where decals have been applied or removed, FAA adds. The agency wants to prevent rapid decompression of the airplane due to fatigue cracks resulting from scribe lines on pressurized fuselage structure.

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There are 1,384 affected U.S. airplanes, costs for inspections and repairs per plane could be as high as $4,550 in zone one, $43,335 in zone two, and $8,190 in zone three.

This AD is effective May 5.

>>Contacts: Boeing Commercial Airplanes, PO Box 3707, Seattle, WA 98124-2207, for service information; Sue Lucier, FAA, (425) 917-6438<<

Fuselage frame cracks: Final rule -- McDonnell Douglas model DC-9-10, DC-9-20, DC-9-30, DC-9-40, and DC-9-50 series airplanes.

March 31, 2006 FR Doc. 06-3061 Docket No. FAA-2005-23197

This AD requires repetitive inspections for stress corrosion cracks of the main fuselage frame, and corrective actions. This also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. There have been several reports of cracking of the main fuselage frame. FAA wants to detect and correct stress corrosion cracking of the main fuselage frame, which could result in extensive damage to the adjacent structure and reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

There are up to 376 affected U.S. airplanes, costs of inspections and optional terminating actions (replacing the frame) per airplane will be up to $13,675.

This AD is effective May 5.

>>Contacts: Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach Division, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90846, Attention: Data and Service Management, Dept. C1-L5A (D800-0024); Wahib Mina, FAA, (562) 627-5324<<

Engines: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) -- General Electric Co. (GE) CF6-45 and CF6-50 series turbofan engines.

March 31, 2006 FR Doc. E6-4702 Docket No. FAA-2006-24145

This AD would require inspecting and reworking certain forward and aft center bodies of the long fixed core exhaust nozzle (LFCEN) assembly. There have been reports of separation of LFCEN assembly forward and aft center bodies, due to high imbalance engine conditions during flight. FAA wants to prevent the forward and aft center body of the LFCEN assembly from separating, leading to additional damage to the engine and airplane, possible damage to other airplanes, and to objects on the ground.

This action would affect 238 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry; total repair costs would be $1,846,880.

Comments are due by May 30.

>>Contacts: GE Aviation, (513) 552-3272; Karen Curtis, FAA, (781) 238- 7192<<

Doorway frames: Final rule -- Boeing model 727 airplanes.

April 3, 2006 FR Doc. 06-3065 Docket No. FAA-2005-21593

The FAA is superseding an existing AD, which currently requires repetitive visual inspections for cracking of the forward entry doorway forward frame and repair. That AD also provides an optional modification that constitutes terminating action. This new AD requires adding new post-repair and post-modification inspections for previously repaired or modified airplanes, mandating the optional modification, and adding airplanes to the applicability of the AD. FAA wants to prevent the loss of the structural integrity of the forward entry doorway due to cracking of the frame at body station 303.9, and consequent cracking of the fuselage skin and rapid decompression of the airplane.

616 U.S. airplanes would be affected by this AD; per airplane costs would be $3,770 for the required actions retained from the prior AD, up to $390 for the new actions, and up to $9,349 for the terminating action.

This AD becomes effective May 8, 2006.

>>Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, WA 98124-2207, Daniel F. Kutz, FAA, (425) 917-6456<<

Fire penetration resistance: NPRM -- Thermal acoustic insulation installed on transport category airplanes.

April 3, 2006 FR Doc. E6-4791 Docket No. FAA-2006-24277

The FAA proposes extending, from Sept. 2, 2007, to Sept. 2, 2008, the date for operators to comply with the fire penetration resistance requirements of thermal/acoustic insulation used in transport category airplanes manufactured after September 2, 2007. This action is necessary to allow airframe manufacturers enough time, after getting an acceptable certification test facility, to select and certificate appropriate installations.

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Air Safety Week, April 10, 2006

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