[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 184 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57882-57885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23841]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0855; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-066-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400,
and -500 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness
directive (AD) that applies to all Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series
airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections
for discrepancies of the fuse pins of the inboard and outboard midspar
fittings of the nacelle strut, and corrective actions if necessary.
This proposed AD would add replacing the midspar fuse pins with new,
improved fuse pins, which would terminate the repetitive inspections.
This proposed AD results from a report of corrosion damage of the
chrome runout on the head side found on all four midspar fuse pins of
the nacelle strut. Additionally, a large portion of the chrome plate
was missing from the corroded area of the shank. We are proposing this
AD to prevent damage of the fuse pins of the inboard and outboard
midspar fittings of the nacelle strut, which could result in reduced
structural integrity of the fuse pins, and consequent loss of the strut
and separation of the engine from the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 8,
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.
[[Page 57883]]
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: Alan Pohl, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
917-6450; 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-2010-0855;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-066-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
On September 29, 2008, we issued AD 2008-21-03, amendment 39-15687
(73 FR 59493, October 9, 2008), for all Model 737-300, -400, and -500
series airplanes. That AD requires repetitive inspections for
discrepancies of the fuse pins of the inboard and outboard midspar
fittings of the nacelle strut, and corrective actions if necessary.
That AD resulted from a report of corrosion damage of the chrome runout
on the head side found on all four midspar fuse pins of the nacelle
strut. Additionally, a large portion of the chrome plate was missing
from the corroded area of the shank. We issued that AD to detect and
correct discrepancies of the fuse pins of the inboard and outboard
midspar fittings of the nacelle strut, which could result in reduced
structural integrity of the fuse pins, and consequent loss of the strut
and separation of the engine from the airplane.
Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued
In the preamble to the NPRM of AD 2008-21-03, the FAA specified
that the actions required by that AD were considered ``interim action''
and that the manufacturer was developing a modification to address the
unsafe condition. The FAA indicated that it may consider further
rulemaking action once the modification was developed, approved, and
available. The manufacturer now has developed such a modification, and
the FAA has determined that further rulemaking action is indeed
necessary; this proposed AD follows from that determination.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-54A1044,
Revision 2, dated January 20, 2010. The repetitive detailed inspections
and corrective actions are similar to those described in Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-1044, dated December 10, 2007
(referenced in AD 2008-21-03 as the appropriate source of service
information). Revision 2 of the service bulletin adds procedures for
replacing the midspar fuse pins with new, improved fuse pins.
Replacement with the new, improved fuse pin eliminates the need for
repetitive detailed inspections.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to develop on other airplanes of the
same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, which
would supersede AD 2008-21-03 and would retain the requirements of the
existing AD. This proposed AD would also require replacing the midspar
fuse pins with new, improved fuse pins, which would terminate the
requirement for repetitive detailed inspections.
Change to Existing AD
This proposed AD would retain all requirements of AD 2008-21-03.
Since AD 2008-21-03 was issued, the AD format has been revised, and
certain paragraphs have been rearranged. As a result, paragraph (f) of
the existing AD has been re-identified as paragraph (g) in this NPRM.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 1,961 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.
Estimated Costs
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Number of
Average labor U.S.-
Action Work hours rate per hour Parts Cost per airplane registered Fleet cost
airplanes
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Repetitive detailed inspections 4.................... $85 None................ $340, per inspection 616 $209,440, per
(required by AD 2008-21-03). cycle. inspection cycle.
Midspar fuse pin replacement (new 1 per pin (up to 4 85 $843 per pin........ Up to $3,712........ 616 Up to $2,286,592.
proposed action). pins per airplane).
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[[Page 57884]]
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 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 that the 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed 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.
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 removing amendment 39-15687 (73 FR
59493, October 9, 2008) and adding the following new AD:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2010-0855; Directorate Identifier
2010-NM-066-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by November
8, 2010.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2008-21-03, Amendment 39-15687.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -
400, and -500 series airplanes, certificated in any category.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 54:
Nacelles/Pylons.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from a report of corrosion damage of the
chrome runout on the head side found on all four midspar fuse pins
of the nacelle strut. Additionally, a large portion of the chrome
plate was missing from the corroded area of the shank. The Federal
Aviation Administration is issuing this AD to prevent damage of the
fuse pins of the inboard and outboard midspar fittings of the
nacelle strut, which could result in reduced structural integrity of
the fuse pins, and consequent loss of the strut and separation of
the engine from 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.
Restatement of Requirements of AD 2008-21-03
Repetitive Inspections/Corrective Actions, With Revised Service
Information
(g) At the applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E.,
``Compliance'' of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-
1044, dated December 10, 2007; except, where the service bulletin
specifies a compliance time after the date on the service bulletin,
this AD requires compliance within the specified compliance time
after November 13, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008-21-03): Do a
detailed inspection for discrepancies of the fuse pins of the
inboard and outboard midspar fittings of the nacelle strut by doing
all the actions, including all applicable corrective actions, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-1044, dated December 10, 2007; or
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-54A1044, Revision 2, dated January
20, 2010. Do all applicable corrective actions before further
flight. Repeat the inspection at the time specified in paragraph
1.E. of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-1044, dated
December 10, 2007. Accomplishing the actions of paragraph (h) of
this AD terminates the requirements of this paragraph.
New Requirements of This AD
Replacement
(h) Within 120 months after the effective date of this AD,
replace all midspar fuse pins having part number (P/N) 311A1092-2
with a midspar fuse pin having P/N 311A1092-3, in accordance with
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
737-54A1044, Revision 2, dated January 20, 2010. Accomplishing the
requirements of this paragraph terminates the requirements of
paragraph (g) of this AD for that fuse pin.
Actions Accomplished According to Previous Revision of Service
Information
(i) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-
1044, Revision 1, dated November 26, 2008, are acceptable for
compliance with the corresponding requirements of this AD.
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: Alan Pohl, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA,
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6450; 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.
(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair required by this AD if it is approved by the
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization
(ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make
those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the repair must
meet the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must
specifically refer to this AD.
(4) AMOCs approved in accordance with the requirements of AD
2008-21-03 are acceptable for the corresponding requirements of this
AD.
[[Page 57885]]
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 15, 2010.
Robert D. Breneman,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-23841 Filed 9-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P