[Federal Register: November 15, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 220)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 64143-64145]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15no07-9]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-27740; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-290-AD;
Amendment 39-15256; AD 2007-23-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800
and -900 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800 and -900 series
airplanes. This AD requires an inspection of the fillet sealant at the
inboard and outboard sides of the receptacles in the wheel wells of the
main landing gear, and related investigative/corrective actions if
necessary. This AD results from reports of in-production airplanes with
missing or insufficient fillet sealant around the receptacles at the
disconnect bracket. We are issuing this AD to prevent corrosion damage
due to missing or insufficient fillet sealant. Such corrosion could
result in insufficient electrical bonding between the connectors and
the disconnect bracket, and consequent loss of the shielding that
protects the wire bundles from lightning, electromagnetic interference
(EMI), and high intensity radiated field (HIRF). Loss of lightning,
EMI, and HIRF protection at those receptacles could cause failure of
multiple electrical systems and subsequent loss of several critical
control systems that are necessary for safe flight. In addition, a
lightning strike could cause arcing in the fuel tank; this potential
ignition source, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could
result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective December 20, 2007.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of December 20,
2007.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The address for the
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Binh Tran, Aerospace Engineer, Systems
and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
[[Page 64144]]
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6485; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Examining the Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Operations
office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is located on the ground floor of the
West Building at the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES
section.
Discussion
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Boeing Model
737-600, -700, -700C, -800 and -900 series airplanes. That NPRM was
published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2007 (72 FR 15073). That
NPRM proposed to require an inspection of the fillet sealant at the
inboard and outboard sides of the receptacles in the wheel wells of the
main landing gear, and related investigative/corrective actions if
necessary.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.
Support for NPRM
Boeing and AirTran Airways support the NPRM's proposed actions.
Request for Parts Availability Accounting
AirTran Airways requests that the expected parts usage and parts
availability be reviewed and addressed for feasibility prior to the
release of the final rule to ensure that parts shortages will not
necessitate requests for unnecessary alternative means of compliance or
adjustments of the compliance time. The commenter adds that there are
36 part numbers that could possibly need replacement if there is
corrosion beyond the acceptable limits in the service bulletin. Of
these 36 connectors, 9 part numbers are not available; of those, 5 do
not appear to be in the production pipeline. Quite a few part numbers
show less than a dozen available.
We agree with the request and have coordinated with Boeing
regarding AirTran's concern. The NPRM cited Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 737-24-1169, dated December 15, 2006. Since we issued
the NPRM, Boeing has revised the service bulletin. Revision 1, dated
August 6, 2007, provides optional connector part numbers, which will
ensure adequate replacement parts for the specified corrective actions.
The remaining information in Revision 1 is essentially unchanged. We
have revised paragraphs (c) and (f) of this final rule to refer to
Revision 1 of the service bulletin as the appropriate source of service
information for the applicability and the required actions. We have
included credit for actions previously performed in accordance with the
original service bulletin.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 333 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Average Cost per U.S.-
Work hours labor rate airplane registered Fleet cost
per hour airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................................................... $80 $80 118 $9,440
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Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
(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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
[[Page 64145]]
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
2007-23-10 Boeing: Amendment 39-15256. Docket No. FAA-2007-27740;
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-290-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective December 20, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800
and -900 series airplanes; certificated in any category; as
identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-24-1169,
Revision 1, dated August 6, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of in-production airplanes with
missing or insufficient fillet sealant around the receptacles
installed in the wheel wells of the main landing gear (MLG). We are
issuing this AD to prevent corrosion damage due to missing or
insufficient fillet sealant. Such corrosion could result in
insufficient electrical bonding between the connectors and the
disconnect bracket, and consequent loss of the shielding that
protects the wire bundles from lightning, electromagnetic
interference (EMI), and high intensity radiated field (HIRF). Loss
of lightning, EMI, and HIRF protection at those receptacles could
cause failure of multiple electrical systems and subsequent loss of
several critical control systems that are necessary for safe flight.
In addition, a lightning strike could cause arcing in the fuel tank;
this potential ignition source, in combination with flammable fuel
vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of
the airplane.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Inspection
(f) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD,
perform a detailed inspection to determine if there is sufficient
fillet sealant at the inboard and outboard sides of the receptacles
in the MLG wheel wells, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-24-
1169, Revision 1, dated August 6, 2007. Do all applicable related
investigative and corrective actions before further flight in
accordance with the service bulletin.
(g) Accomplishment of an inspection and applicable related
investigative and corrective actions done before the effective date
of this AD in accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 737-24-1169, dated December 15, 2006, is considered
acceptable for compliance with the corresponding requirements of
paragraph (f) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-
24-1169, Revision 1, dated August 6, 2007, to perform the actions
that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1
CFR part 51. Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707,
Seattle, Washington 98124-2207, for a copy of this service
information. You may review copies at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington; or at the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information
on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or
go to http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html
.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 2, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-22000 Filed 11-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P