[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 184 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57885-57886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23857]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0856; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-117-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -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 Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes.
This proposed AD would require inspecting for part numbers of the
operational program software of the flight control computers, and doing
corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports
of erroneous undetected output from a single radio altimeter channel,
which resulted in premature autothrottle retard during approach. We are
proposing this AD to detect and correct erroneous output from a radio
altimeter channel, which could result in premature autothrottle landing
flare retard and the loss of automatic speed control, and consequent
loss of control of 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.
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: Richard Reed, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6431; 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-2010-0856;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-117-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 reports of a number of instances in service, of
erroneous undetected output from a single radio altimeter channel,
which resulted in premature autothrottle retard during approach. This
condition can lead to premature autothrottle landing flare retard and
the loss of automatic speed control, and consequent loss of control of
the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-22A1211, dated
April 13, 2010, which describes procedures for inspecting to determine
the operational program software part numbers of the flight control
computers, and installing new software if necessary.
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 207 airplanes of
U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour
per product to comply with the inspection of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we
estimate the cost of the inspection of this proposed AD to the U.S.
operators to be $17,595, 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, 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
[[Page 57886]]
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-2010-0856; Directorate
Identifier 2010-NM-117-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by November 8, 2010.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -
700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes, certificated in any category;
as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-22A1211, dated
April 13, 2010.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 22: Auto
Flight.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from reports of erroneous undetected output
from a single radio altimeter channel, which resulted in premature
autothrottle retard during approach. The Federal Aviation
Administration is issuing this AD to detect and correct erroneous
output from a radio altimeter channel, which could result in
premature autothrottle landing flare retard and the loss of
automatic speed control, and consequent loss of control 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.
Inspection for Parts
(g) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, inspect
to determine the part number of operational program software (OPS)
of the flight control computers. For any OPS having a part number
identified in Table 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 737-22A1211, dated April 13, 2010, before
further flight, install new software, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-
22A1211, dated April 13, 2010. For any OPS having a part number
identified in Table 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing
Alert Service Bulletin 737-22A1211, dated April 13, 2010, no further
action is required by this paragraph.
Special Flight Permit
(h) 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)
(i)(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: Richard Reed, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment
Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6431; 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 10, 2010.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-23857 Filed 9-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P