[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 14, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55691-55692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22847]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 14, 2010 /
Proposed Rules
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0853; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-116-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700,
-700C, -800, -900, and -900ER 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 Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series
airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive testing of the
stabilizer takeoff warning switches, and corrective actions if
necessary. This proposed AD results from reports that the warning horn
did not sound during the takeoff warning system test of the S132 ``nose
up stab takeoff warning switch.'' We are proposing this AD to detect
and correct a takeoff warning system switch failure, which could reduce
the ability of the flightcrew to maintain the safe flight and landing
of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 29,
2010.
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 proposed AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, P.
O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; telephone 206-
544-5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; e-mail [email protected];
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review copies of the
referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
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: Jeffrey W. Palmer, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington
98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6472; 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-2010-0853;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-116-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 received reports that the warning horn did not sound during the
takeoff warning system test of the S132 ``nose up stab takeoff warning
switch.'' Certain airplanes were found to have switch failures, which
resulted in lack of aural warning when the stabilizer was positioned
outside of the green band limits. Also, operators found that both
internal contacts would not actuate during switch rotation. A takeoff
warning system switch failure, if not corrected, could result in auto-
rotation, resulting in tail strike, stall, high-speed runway overrun,
rejected takeoff, or failure to clear terrain or obstacles after
takeoff, which could reduce the ability of the flightcrew to maintain
the safe flight and landing of the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 737-27-1289, dated April
7, 2010, which describes procedures for repetitive testing of the
stabilizer takeoff warning switches. The corrective actions include
replacing failed stabilizer warning switches.
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 these same type
designs. 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 963 airplanes of
U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take 1 work-hour per
product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85
per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this
proposed AD to the U.S. operators to be $81,855, or $85 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,
[[Page 55692]]
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, Incorporation by
reference, 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:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2010-0853; Directorate Identifier
2010-NM-116-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by October 29, 2010.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -
700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes, certificated in any
category; as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-27-1289,
dated April 7, 2010.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27: Flight
Controls.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from reports that the warning horn did not
sound during the takeoff warning system test of the S132 ``nose up
stab takeoff warning switch.'' The Federal Aviation Administration
is issuing this AD to detect and correct a takeoff warning system
switch failure, which could reduce the ability of the flightcrew to
maintain the safe flight and landing of the airplane.
Compliance
(f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Test
(g) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, test
the stabilizer takeoff warning switches, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-27-1289,
dated April 7, 2010. Repeat the test at intervals not to exceed 750
flight hours.
Replacement and Re-test
(h) If any stabilizer takeoff warning switch fails the test
required in paragraph (g) or (h) of this AD, replace the stabilizer
takeoff warning switch with a new switch and test the new switch
before further flight, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-27-1289, dated April 7,
2010. Within 750 flight hours after replacement of any switch, test
the replaced switch, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-27-1289, dated April 7,
2010, and repeat this test on the replaced switch thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 750 flight hours.
Special Flight Permit
(i) Special flight permits, as described in Section 21.197 and
Section 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197
and 21.199), are not allowed.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(j)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to
Attn: Jeffrey W. Palmer, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment
Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6472; fax (425) 917-6590.
Information may be e-mailed to: [email protected].
(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 principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office.
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 3, 2010.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-22847 Filed 9-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P