# AD 2004-06-12: External fuselage skin - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: Boeing 747-400F Series - Effective: April 30, 2004 - Published: March 26, 2004, 69 FR 15663–15664 - Issued: March 16, 2004 - Issued as: Final rule - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Large airplane - Amendment: 39-13538 - Docket: 2002-NM-288-AD - Registered aircraft: 15 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - Official PDF: https://openairdocs.org/files/sha256/0e/b4/0eb49ec8c1da6b5d2a398ccc106d727ba89e2dae5c2da0c4b7351c0e74659c1f (from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2004-03-26/pdf/04-6579.pdf) - Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2004/03/26/04-6579/airworthiness-directives-boeing-model-747-400f-series-airplanes - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/75F6511F330294EC86256E63005C3135.0001 - DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/2004-06-12 ## Summary This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 747-400F series airplanes, that requires repetitive detailed and general visual inspections of the external fuselage skin for cracks; various inspections of the affected area where cracks are found to determine the extent of the damage; and repair of cracks. This action is necessary to detect and correct fatigue cracks in the fuselage skin and frame shear tie assemblies, which could propagate and result in possible in-flight decompression of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition. ## The airworthiness directive ### Adoption of the Amendment Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows: ## Rule preamble ### Dates Effective April 30, 2004. The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April 30, 2004. ### Addresses The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. ### For further information contact Candice Gerretsen, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6428; fax (425) 917-6590. ### SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 747-400F series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on November 26, 2003 (68 FR 66384). That action proposed to require repetitive detailed and general visual inspections of the external fuselage skin for cracks; various inspections of the affected area where cracks are found to determine the extent of the damage; and repair of cracks. ### Comments Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public. ### Conclusion The FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed. ### Cost Impact There are approximately 72 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 12 airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the required inspections, and that the average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $780, or $65 per airplane, per inspection cycle. The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other administrative actions. Manufacturer warranty remedies may be available for labor costs associated with this AD. As a result, the costs attributable to the AD may be less than stated above. Regulatory Impact The regulations adopted herein will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a “significant rule” under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES. ## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS A20WE](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A20WE): The Boeing Company; names 1 of 14 models: 747-400F Series ## Registered aircraft it may apply to (OpenAirDocs) Matched by airframe and engine model; the AD's applicability may narrow it by serial number, part number or equipment. - Aircraft: 15 (15 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Boeing 15 Models with the most aircraft: - [Boeing 747-400F](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-400f): 4 aircraft (airframe model) - [Boeing 747-481F](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-481f): 3 aircraft (airframe model) - [Boeing 747-409F](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-409f): 3 aircraft (airframe model) - [Boeing 747-428F](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-428f): 3 aircraft (airframe model) - [Boeing 747-412F](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-412f): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Boeing 747-467F](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-467f): 1 aircraft (airframe model) All 6 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/2004-06-12/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/2004-06-12/aircraft.md ## Related documents - [Proposed rule 2002-NM-288-AD](https://openairdocs.org/proposed/2002-NM-288-AD): Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), published Nov 26, 2003 Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.