AD 2012-12-15 Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

Models named: 757-200, -200PF, -200CB, -300 series. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

(1) This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200PF, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes, certificated in any category. (2) This AD requires revisions to certain operator maintenance documents to include new actions ( e.g., inspections) and/or critical design configuration control limitations (CDCCLs). Compliance with these actions and/or CDCCLs is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able to accomplish the actions described in the revisions. In this situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must request approval of an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) according to paragraph(s) of this AD. The request should include a description of changes to the required actions that will ensure the continued operational safety of the airplane.

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.

This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (g) of AD 2008-10-11, Amendment 39-15517 (73 FR 25974, May 8, 2008). Before December 16, 2008, revise the AWLs section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) by incorporating the information in the subsections specified in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(3) of this AD into the maintenance planning data (MPD) document; except that the initial inspections specified in table 1 to paragraph (h)(1) of this AD must be done at the compliance times specified in table 1 to paragraph (h)(1) of this AD. Accomplishing the requirements of paragraph (k) of this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph. (1) Subsection E, “AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS—FUEL SYSTEMS,” of Boeing Temporary Revision (TR) 09-008, dated March 2008, to Section 9, “Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) and Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs),” of the Boeing 757 MPD Document, D622N001-9. (2) Subsection F, “PAGE FORMAT: SYSTEMS AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS,” of Boeing TR 09-008, dated March 2008, to Section 9, “Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) and Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs),” of the Boeing 757 MPD Document, D622N001-9. (3) Subsection G, “AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS—FUEL SYSTEM AWLs,” AWLs No. 28-AWL-01 through No. 28-AWL-24 inclusive, of Boeing TR 09-008, dated March 2008, to Section 9, “Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) and Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs),” of the Boeing 757 MPD Document, D622N001-9. As an optional action, AWLs No. 28-AWL-25 and No. 28-AWL-26, as identified in Subsection G of Boeing TR 09-008, dated March 2008, to Section 9, “Airworthiness Limitations (AWLs) and Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMRs),” of the Boeing 757 MPD Document, D622N001-9, also may be incorporated into the AWLs section of the ICA.

This AD results from a design review of the fuel tank systems. The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing this AD to prevent the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

This AD supersedes AD 2008-10-11, Amendment 39-15517 (73 FR 25974, May 8, 2008). Certain requirements of this AD terminate certain requirements of AD 2008-11-07, Amendment 39-15529 (73 FR 30755, May 29, 2008); AD 2008-06-03, Amendment 39-15415 (73 FR 13081, March 12, 2008); and AD 2009-06-20, Amendment 39-15857 (74 FR 12236, March 24, 2009).