[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 5, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61643-61645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25579]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-0996; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-068-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 the
products listed above. This proposed AD would require replacement of
the thumbnail fairing edge seals on both sides of the engines with
Nitronic 60 stainless steel alloy seals. This proposed AD was prompted
by reports of excessive in-service wear damage of the thumbnail fairing
edge seal and the fan cowl panel rub strip and fan cowl skin assembly.
We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the fire seal, which
could allow a fire in the fan compartment to spread beyond the firewall
and reach the flammable fluid leakage zones, resulting in an
uncontrolled fire.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 21,
2011.
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: Deliver to Mail address above 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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Parker, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone:
425-917-6496; fax: 425-917-6590; e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2011-0996;
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-068-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 of repetitive occurrences of excessive in-
service wear damage of the thumbnail fairing edge seal and of the fan
cowl panel rub strip and fan cowl skin assembly. Identical abrasion
damage was also reported at the location where the thumbnail fairing
edge seal rests against the top surface of the hinge beam forward
firewall. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of
the fire seal, which could allow a fire in the fan compartment to
spread beyond the firewall and reach the flammable fluid leakage zones,
resulting in an uncontrolled fire.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-1046,
dated February 16, 2011. That service bulletin describes procedures for
replacing the thumbnail fairing edge seals on both the left side and
the right side of both engine 1 and engine 2 with new Nitronic 60
stainless steel alloy seals.
FAA's Determination and Proposed AD Requirements
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the 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.
[[Page 61644]]
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 989 airplanes of U.S.
registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Replace thumbnail faring edge 6 work-hours x $85 per $2,032 $2,542 $2,514,038
seals. hour = $510.
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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 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),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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.
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
airworthiness directive (AD):
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2011-0996; Directorate Identifier
2011-NM-068-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by November 21, 2011.
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 Special Attention Service Bulletin
737-54-1046, dated February 16, 2011.
Subject
(d) Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport
Association (ATA) of America Code 54: Nacelles/Pylons.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD was prompted by reports of excessive in-service wear
damage of the thumbnail fairing edge seal and the fan cowl panel rub
strip and fan cowl skin assembly. We are issuing this AD to prevent
failure of the fire seal, which could allow a fire in the fan
compartment to spread beyond the firewall and reach the flammable
fluid leakage zones, resulting in an uncontrolled fire.
Compliance
(f) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
Replacement of the Thumbnail Fairing Edge Seals
(g) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD,
replace the thumbnail fairing edge seals, on both the left side and
the right side of engine 1 and engine 2, with new Nitronic 60
stainless steel alloy seals, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-
1046, dated February 16, 2011.
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
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the
attention of the person identified in the Related Information
section of this AD. Information may be e-mailed to: [email protected].
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
Related Information
(i) For more information about this AD, contact Chris Parker,
Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6496; fax: 425-917-6590; e-
mail: [email protected].
(j) For service information identified in this 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, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
[[Page 61645]]
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 22, 2011.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-25579 Filed 10-4-11; 8:45 am]
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