[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34879-34881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14245]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0591; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-015-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 supersede an existing airworthiness directive
(AD) that applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -
700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. The existing AD currently
requires replacing the drain tube assemblies and support clamps on the
aft fairing of the engine struts. Since we issued that AD, we received
an additional report of a broken drain tube assembly on the aft fairing
of the left engine strut at the clamp support location under the aft
fairing compartment, inside the heat shield cavity of the aft fairing.
There have also been reports of tube wear at the clamp location on
additional airplanes. This proposed AD would require replacing the
drain tube assembly of the left and right engine strut aft fairings
with a new one which includes an integral support clamp made of nickel
alloy 625. This proposed AD would also add airplanes to the
applicability. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the drain
tube assemblies and clamps on the aft fairings of the engine struts.
Such failure could allow leaked flammable fluids in the drain systems
to discharge onto the heat shields of the aft fairings of the engine
struts, which could result in an undetected and uncontrollable fire.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 27, 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
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; email [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: Ansel James, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone:
425-917-6497; fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].
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-2012-0591;
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-015-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 April 8, 2008, we issued AD 2008-08-24, Amendment 39-15478 (73
FR 21242, April 21, 2008), for certain Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -
800, and -900 series airplanes. That AD requires replacing the drain
tube assemblies and support clamps on the aft fairing of the engine
struts. That AD resulted from reports of failure of the drain tube
assembly and clamp on the aft fairings of an engine strut. We issued
that AD to prevent failure of the drain tube assemblies and clamps on
the aft fairings of the engine struts. Failure of the drain tube
assemblies could allow leaked flammable fluids in the drain systems to
discharge onto the heat shields of the aft fairings of the engine
struts, which could result in an undetected and uncontrollable fire.
Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued
AD 2008-08-24, Amendment 39-15478 (73 FR 21242, April 21, 2008),
refers to Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-1043, dated
May 2, 2007, as the appropriate source of service information for the
required actions.
Boeing then issued Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-1043,
Revision 1, dated October 19, 2009, to replace the drain tube assembly
of the engine strut aft fairing and support clamp.
Since we issued AD 2008-08-24, Amendment 39-15478 (73 FR 21242,
April 21, 2008), an airplane on which the actions specified in Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-1043, Revision 1, dated
October 19, 2009, had been incorporated in production, was reported to
have a broken drain tube assembly on the aft fairing of the left engine
strut at the clamp support location under the aft fairing compartment,
inside the heat shield cavity of the aft fairing (the same location
identified in the existing AD).
[[Page 34880]]
This airplane had accumulated 4,127 total flight cycles and 6,845 total
flight hours. There have also been reports of tube wear at the clamp
location.
Boeing subsequently issued Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-
54-1043, Revision 2, dated November 4, 2011, which describes procedures
for replacing the drain tube assembly of the engine strut aft fairing
with a new one which includes an integral support clamp made of nickel
alloy 625.
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-1043, Revision 2,
dated November 4, 2011, includes Model 737-900ER series airplanes,
which were not included in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin
737-54-1043, dated May 2, 2007.
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 these same type
designs.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would retain none of the requirements of AD 2008-
08-24, Amendment 39-15478 (73 FR 21242, April 21, 2008). This proposed
AD would add airplanes to the applicability statement of the existing
AD. This proposed AD would also require accomplishing the actions
specified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-1043,
Revision 2, dated November 4, 2011, described in this NPRM.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 1,098 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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Replacement....................... 14 work-hours x $85 per $12,326 $13,516 $14,840,568
hour = $1,190.
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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 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),
(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 removing airworthiness directive
(AD) 2008-08-24, Amendment 39-15478 (73 FR 21242, April 21, 2008), and
adding the following new AD:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2012-0591; Directorate Identifier
2012-NM-015-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by July 27,
2012.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD supersedes AD 2008-08-24, Amendment 39-15478 (73 FR
21242, April 21, 2008).
(c) Applicability
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
737-54-1043, Revision 2, dated November 4, 2011.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 54, Nacelles/pylons.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of a broken drain tube assembly
on the aft fairing of the left engine strut at the clamp support
location under the aft fairing compartment, inside the heat shield
cavity of the aft fairing. There have also been reports of tube wear
at the clamp location on additional airplanes. We are issuing this
AD to prevent failure of the drain tube assemblies and clamps on the
aft fairings of the engine struts. Such failure could allow leaked
flammable fluids in the drain systems to discharge onto the heat
shields of the aft fairings of the engine struts, which could result
in an undetected and uncontrollable fire.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Replacement
Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, replace
the drain tube assemblies and support clamps on the aft fairing of
the struts of engines 1 and 2 with new drain tube assemblies and
clamps, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-1043, Revision 2, dated
November 4, 2011.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if
[[Page 34881]]
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 emailed 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.
(3) AMOCs approved previously in accordance with AD 2008-08-24,
Amendment 39-15478 (73 FR 21242, April 21, 2008), are not approved
as AMOCs with this AD.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Ansel James,
Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6497; fax: 425-917-6590;
email: [email protected].
(2) 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; email
[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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 31, 2012.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-14245 Filed 6-11-12; 8:45 am]
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