[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6692-6694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3036]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0110; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-148-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company 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 The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and
-500 series airplanes equipped with analog transient suppression
devices (ATSDs) installed in accordance with Supplemental Type
Certificate number ST00146BO. This proposed AD was prompted by multiple
reports of corrosion on ATSDs. This proposed AD would require revising
the maintenance program to incorporate certain limitations. We are
proposing this AD to detect and correct corrosion on ATSDs, which could
result in the loss of high voltage transient protection (e.g.,
lightning protection) in the fuel tanks and consequent fuel tank
explosion and loss of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 26, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, 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
Goodrich Corporation, Sensors and Integrated Systems, 100 Panton Road,
Vergennes, Vermont 05491; phone: 802-877-4580; fax: 802-877-4444;
email: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.goodrich.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: Marc Ronell, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine and Propeller Directorate, ANE-150, FAA, New England Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington,
Massachusetts 01803; phone: 781-238-7776; fax: 781-238-7170; email:
[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-2012-0110;
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-148-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 at least six reports of corrosion on the housings
of ATSDs. This condition, if not corrected, could result in the loss of
high voltage transient protection (e.g., lightning protection) in the
fuel tanks and consequent fuel tank explosion and loss of the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Goodrich Principal Instructions for Continued
Airworthiness Manual for the Analog Transient Suppression Device
Installation Applicable to Boeing 737-100 through -500 Airplanes
Supplemental Type Certificate--ST00146BO, Document T3044-0010-0101,
Revision D, dated September 26, 2011, which describes various
limitations, including Critical Design Control Limitations (CDCCL),
inspections, and checks of the ATSD, ground straps, and safe-side
harness.
FAA's Determination
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 the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information described previously.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 384 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
[[Page 6693]]
Estimated costs
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Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
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Revise maintenance program....... 1 work-hour x $85 $0 $85 $32,640
per hour = $85.
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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-2012-0110; Directorate Identifier
2011-NM-148-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by March 26, 2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -
200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes, certificated in any
category, with an original airworthiness certificate or original
export certificate of airworthiness issued before September 26,
2011, equipped with analog transient suppression devices (ATSDs)
installed in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate number
ST00146BO.
Note 1 to paragraphs (c), (g), and (h): This AD requires
revisions to certain operator maintenance documents to include new
actions (e.g., inspections and/or Critical Design Configuration
Control Limitations (CDCCLs). Compliance with these actions is
required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have been
previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas addressed by
these inspections, the operator may not be able to accomplish the
inspections described in the revisions. In this situation, to comply
with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance (AMOC) according to paragraph (i)
of this AD. The request should include a description of changes to
the required actions that will ensure the continued operational
safety of the airplane.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 2841, Fuel Quantity Indicator.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by multiple reports of corrosion on ATSDs.
We are issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion on ATSDs,
which could result in the loss of high voltage transient protection
(e.g., lightning protection) in the fuel tanks and consequent fuel
tank explosion and loss of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Maintenance Program Revision
Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, revise the
maintenance program to incorporate the limitations specified in
Goodrich Principal Instructions for Continued Airworthiness Manual
for the Analog Transient Suppression Device Installation Applicable
to Boeing 737-100 through -500 Airplanes Supplemental Type
Certificate--ST00146BO, Document T3044-0010-0101, Revision D, dated
September 26, 2011. The initial compliance time for accomplishing
each task is at the applicable time specified in Goodrich Principal
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness Manual for the Analog
Transient Suppression Device Installation Applicable to Boeing 737-
100 through -500 Airplanes Supplemental Type Certificate--ST00146BO,
Document T3044-0010-0101, Revision D, dated September 26, 2011, or
within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever
occurs later.
Note 2 to paragraph (g): Components that have been identified as
airworthy or installed on the affected airplanes before the revision
of the maintenance program, as required by paragraph (g) of this AD,
do not need to be reworked in accordance with the CDCCLs. However,
once the maintenance program has been revised, paragraph (g) of this
AD requires that future maintenance actions on these components must
follow the CDCCLs.
(h) No Alternative Actions Intervals, and/or Critical Design
Configuration Control Limitations
After accomplishing the revision required by paragraph (g) of
this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections), intervals, and/
or CDCCLs may be used other than those specified in Goodrich
Principal Instructions for Continued Airworthiness Manual for the
Analog Transient Suppression Device Installation Applicable to
Boeing 737-100 through -500 Airplanes Supplemental Type
Certificate--ST00146BO, Document T3044-0010-0101, Revision D, dated
September 26, 2011, unless the actions, intervals, and/or CDCCLs are
approved as an AMOC in accordance with the procedures specified in
paragraph (i) of this AD.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(1) The Manager, Boston 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,
[[Page 6694]]
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.
(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.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Marc Ronell,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine and Propeller Directorate, ANE-150, FAA,
New England Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; phone: 781-238-
7776; fax: 781-238-7170; email: [email protected].
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Goodrich Corporation, Sensors and Integrated Systems, 100 Panton
Road, Vergennes, Vermont 05491; phone: 802-877-4580; fax: 802-877-
4444; email: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.goodrich.com/TechPubs. 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 23, 2012.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-3036 Filed 2-8-12; 8:45 am]
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