[Federal Register: February 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 27)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 7492-7494]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08fe08-18]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0152; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-348-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-400, -500, -600, -700,
-700C, -800, and -900 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Boeing Model 737-400, -500, -600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900
series airplanes. This proposed AD would require an inspection to
determine the part and serial numbers of the windshield wiper motors
for the pilot's and first officer's windshields, and the applicable
corrective action. This proposed AD results from two reports that the
left and right windshield wipers stopped working in flight. We are
proposing this AD to prevent failure of the windshield wipers in wet
weather, which could result in decreased visibility for the flightcrew.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 24, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
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 proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Wilson, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin
Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6476; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2008-0152;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-348-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
We have received two reports that the left and right windshield
wipers stopped working in flight. In one incident, the left and right
windshield wiper motors stopped at the same time during a landing
approach in wet weather. Investigation revealed that the power
converter module for the windshield wipers was not properly soldered.
Failure of the windshield wipers in wet weather, if not corrected,
could result in decreased visibility for the flightcrew.
Other Related Rulemaking
On October 2, 2003, we issued AD 2003-20-13, amendment 39-13331 (68
FR 58268, October 9, 2003), applicable to certain Boeing Model 737-400,
-500, -600, -700, and -800 series airplanes. That AD requires either
modification of the wiring to the windshield wiper motors in the flight
compartment or replacement of those windshield wiper motor/converters
with new motor/converters. That AD resulted from reports of the
windshield motors stalling during flight. We issued that AD to prevent
a reduction in flightcrew visibility due to stalled wiper motors during
heavy precipitation and a period of substantial crew workload, which
could result in damage to the airplane structure and injury to
flightcrew, passengers, or ground personnel during final approach for
landing. For certain airplanes, accomplishing the modification required
by paragraph (b) of AD 2003-20-13 is acceptable for compliance with
certain requirements of this proposed AD.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 737-30A1057, Revision 1,
dated October 31, 2007, for Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900
series airplanes; and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-30A1059, dated
September 10, 2007, for Model 737-400 and -500 series airplanes. The
service bulletins describe procedures for looking at the windshield
wiper motors for the pilot's and first officer's windshields to
determine the part number and serial number of the windshield wiper
motors, and doing the applicable corrective action. The corrective
actions include the following:
Replacing the windshield wiper motor with an improved
windshield wiper motor if the part and serial numbers cannot be read,
or if the part and serial numbers are listed in
[[Page 7493]]
Appendix A of Rosemount Aerospace Service Bulletin 2313M-347/2313M-348-
30-01, dated June 30, 2006, and the ``Module Replacement Completed
(Yes/No)'' column is marked ``No.'' (The part number is identified as
the model number in Appendix A of the Rosemount Aerospace service
bulletin.)
Changing the part number if the part and serial numbers
are not listed in Appendix A of Rosemount Aerospace service bulletin,
or if the part and serial numbers are listed in Appendix A of Rosemount
Aerospace service bulletin and the ``Module Replacement Completed (Yes/
No)'' column is marked ``Yes.''
The Boeing service bulletins refer to the Rosemount Aerospace
service bulletin as an additional source of service information for
determining whether the windshield wiper motor has been previously
replaced and for changing the part number.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the(se) same type
design(s). This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions
specified in the service information described previously.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 767 airplanes of
U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour
per product to comply with the proposed inspection. The average labor
rate is $80 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost
of this proposed AD to the U.S. operators to be $61,360 or $80 per
product.
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 determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866,
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of
compliance in the AD Docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2008-0152; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
348-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by March 24, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to the Boeing airplanes identified in
paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD, certificated in any
category.
(1) Model 737-400 and -500 series airplanes as identified in
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-30A1059, dated September 10, 2007.
(2) Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes
as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-30A1057, Revision 1,
dated October 31, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from two reports that the left and right
windshield wipers stopped working in flight. We are issuing this AD
to prevent failure of the windshield wipers in wet weather, which
could result in decreased visibility for the flightcrew.
Compliance
(e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
Inspection and Corrective Actions if Necessary
(f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD,
inspect to determine the part number and serial number of the
windshield wiper motors for the pilot's and first officer's
windshields, and do all the applicable corrective actions, by
accomplishing all of the applicable actions specified in the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-
30A1059, dated September 10, 2007 (for Model 737-400 and -500 series
airplanes); or Boeing Service Bulletin 737-30A1057, Revision 1,
dated October 31, 2007 (for Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -
900 series airplanes); as applicable. A review of airplane
maintenance records is acceptable in lieu of the inspection if the
part number and serial number of the windshield wiper motors can be
conclusively determined from that review.
Note 1: The Boeing service bulletins refer to Rosemount
Aerospace Service Bulletin 2313M-347/2313M-348-30-01, dated June 30,
2006, as an additional source of service information for determining
whether the windshield wiper motor has been previously replaced and
for changing the part number.
Credit for Modification Done According to AD 2003-20-13
(g) For Model 737-400, -500, -600, -700, and -800 series
airplanes: Accomplishing the modification required by paragraph (b)
of AD 2003-20-13, amendment 39-13331, is acceptable for compliance
with the requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD, provided that no
Rosemount Aerospace windshield wiper motor having part number (P/N)
2313M-347-3 or P/N 2313M-348-3 has been installed.
Credit for Actions Done According to Previous Issue of Service Bulletin
(h) For Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series
airplanes: Actions done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-30A1057, dated
October 6, 2006, are acceptable for compliance with the requirements
of paragraph (f) of this AD.
Parts Installation
(i) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install
Rosemount Aerospace windshield wiper motors having P/N 2313M-347-3
or P/N 2313M-348-3 on any airplane.
[[Page 7494]]
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(j)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
ATTN: Nick Wilson, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and
Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6476; fax (425)
917-6590; has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if
requested using 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 31, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-2355 Filed 2-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P