Boeing 757 Airplane Safety Inspection Requirements

|2024-15827|558 days overdue
View on Federal Register

Summary

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-08- 12, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. AD 2022-08-12 required repetitive inspections for skin cracking and shim migration at the upper link drag fittings, diagonal brace cracking, and fastener looseness; and applicable on-condition actions. 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. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2022-08-12 with revised compliance times for certain actions and requires adding inspections for existing repairs and applicable on condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Compliance Requirements

  1. #1

    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.; 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))'; 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))'; 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)'; 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; 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; Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done

    Deadline: 2024-08-22(Effective date of this AD (35 days after publication in Federal Register on 07/18/2024))

Market Impacts

  • Mandatory repetitive inspections and maintenance actions required for all Boeing 757 aircraft models, restricting operations until compliance is achieved; Restrictions on AMOC approvals for scimitar blended winglet configurations (STC ST01518SE) create barriers for operators with these modifications, requiring direct FAA approval rather than Boeing ODA approval; Mandatory compliance with Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 757-57A0073 RB, Revision 3 requirements, including specific inspection procedures and documentation standards

Validated Company Impacts

BAScore: 100%

BOEING CO

Boeing is the direct manufacturer of the affected Boeing 757 aircraft models specified in the airworthiness directive, making this rule specifically targeted at their commercial airplane production operations. The company's core business of developing, producing, and marketing commercial jet aircraft directly aligns with the rule's requirements for mandatory inspections and maintenance actions on their manufactured products. The FAA airworthiness directive specifically targets aircraft maintenance and safety compliance risks, which are not reflected in the company's disclosed risk profile that focuses primarily on financial, pension, and supplier-related risks. There is no overlap between the mandatory aircraft inspection requirements and the company's identified risk factors such as pension underfunding, debt covenants, or ERISA obligations.