[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 17, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41931-41934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17391]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-0032; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-236-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); reopening of
comment period.
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SUMMARY: We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive
(AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800,
and -900 series airplanes. That NPRM proposed to require inspecting the
orientation of both sides of the coil cord connector keyways of the
number 2 windows on the flight deck; re-clocking the connector keyways
to 12 o'clock, if necessary; and replacing the coil cord assemblies on
both number 2 windows on the flight deck. That NPRM was prompted by
reports of arcing and smoke at the left number 2 window in the flight
deck. This action revises that NPRM by changing the keyway position of
certain receptacle connectors and adding airplanes to the
applicability. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) to
prevent arcing, smoke, and fire in the flight deck, which could lead to
injuries to or incapacitation of the flightcrew. Since these actions
impose an additional burden over that proposed in the NPRM, we are
reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment
on these proposed changes.
DATES: We must receive comments on this supplemental NPRM by August 31,
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: 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, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-
5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; 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, WA. 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: Louis Natsiopoulos, Aerospace
Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; phone: 425-917-6478; 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-2011-0032;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-236-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 issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that
would apply to The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and
-900 series airplanes, as identified in Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010. That NPRM
published in the Federal Register on January 26, 2011 (76 FR 4567).
That NPRM proposed to require inspecting the orientation of both sides
of the coil cord connector keyways of the number 2 windows on the
flight deck; re-clocking the connector keyways to 12 o'clock, if
necessary; and replacing the coil cord assemblies on both number 2
windows on the flight deck.
Actions Since Previous NPRM (76 FR 4567, January 26, 2011) Was Issued
Since we issued the previous NPRM (76 FR 4567, January 26, 2011),
we have received three reports by operators of wire connectors at the
two ends of the coil cord rubbing each other. These operators had
accomplished the actions described in Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010 (or earlier
revisions), which was referred to in the previous NPRM as the
appropriate source of service information. The rub condition occurs
when the window opens or is in the fully open position. The rub
condition can possibly cause damage to the wire connector and the coil
cord and cause arcing, smoke, and fire in the flight deck, which could
lead to injuries to or incapacitation of the
[[Page 41932]]
flightcrew. As a result of these findings, Boeing has issued Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 4, dated November 3,
2011, to correct the rubbing condition. The SNPRM will specify Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 4, dated November 3,
2011 as the appropriate source of service information for accomplishing
the proposed actions.
This SNPRM also adds airplanes to the applicability, which includes
Model 737-900ER airplanes and airplanes that have accomplished the
actions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058,
Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010, in production.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to comment on the previous NPRM
(76 FR 4567, January 26, 2011). The following presents the comments
received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment.
Support for Previous NPRM (76 FR 4567, January 26, 2011)
American Airlines (American) and Delta Airlines (Delta) stated they
have no objections to the previous NPRM (76 FR 4567, January 26, 2011).
Request To Use Revised Clocking Positions
Boeing requested that clocking of the connectors for the left
window be changed to the 9 o'clock position, and the 3 o'clock position
for the right window. Boeing stated that this will provide better
separation between the two ends of the coiled cord when the windows are
in the open position. Boeing stated that Special Attention Service
Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010, will be revised
to reflect this change.
We agree. The proposed change prevents coil cord damage resulting
from the close proximity of the two ends of the cord when the windows
are in the open position. Without this change, the unsafe condition
that originally prompted the previous NPRM (76 FR 4567, January 26,
2011) would not be corrected. We have changed the SNPRM to reference
the actions specified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-
30-1058, Revision 4, dated November 3, 2011.
Request To Revise Certain Service Information
American stated that Paragraph 1.K.1. of Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010, states
that the only affected publication is the Boeing Model 737 illustrated
parts catalog (IPC). But American pointed out that the wiring diagram
manual (WDM) also needs to be revised, because Figures 2 and 7 of
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 3,
dated July 7, 2010, show the new wiring diagram after the installation
of the new coil cord assembly.
We agree that the WDM is affected by wiring changes shown in
Figures 2 and 7 of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-
1058, Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010. As previously described, we have
updated this supplemental NPRM to refer to Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 4, dated November 3, 2011.
Paragraph 1.K.1. of that service bulletin does include the WDM as an
affected reference.
Request To Revise Service Information Reference
American stated that, in Figures 4 and 9 of Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010,
Section 20-10-11 of the standard wiring practices manual (SWPM) is
referenced as an accepted procedure for adjusting the connector keyway
if it needs to be re-clocked. American pointed out that this SWPM
section does mention connectors, but does not reference clocking of
keyways. Therefore, the more appropriate reference would be Section 20-
60-06 of the SWPM, which covers the installation of electrical
connectors.
We agree that Section 20-10-11 of the SWPM does not provide
instructions for setting the keyway or re-clocking the connectors.
Those instructions are included in Section 20-60-06 of the SWPM.
However, re-clocking or resetting the connector keyway is a misnomer of
the intended action. According to Boeing, the intended action in
Figures 4 and 9 of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-
1058, Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010, is the repositioning of the
connector, not re-clocking or resetting the connector keyway. Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 4, dated
November 3, 2011, deletes the wording ``re-clocking or resetting the
connector keyway,'' and replaces it with text more clearly describing
the intended action. As explained previously, we have changed the SNPRM
to reference Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058,
Revision 4, dated November 3, 2011.
FAA's Determination
We are proposing this SNPRM 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.
Certain changes described above expand the scope of the previous NPRM
(76 FR 4567, January 26, 2011). As a result, we have determined that it
is necessary to reopen the comment period to provide additional
opportunity for the public to comment on this SNPRM.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 712 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Number of Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product airplanes operators
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Keyway inspection and 6 work-hours x $1,608 $2,118 712 $1,508,016
installation of new cord $85 per hour =
assemblies on both sides of $510.
the flight deck (Group 1,
Configuration 1 airplanes).
Adjustment of receptacles on 4 work-hours x 0 340 404 137,360
both sides of the flight deck $85 per hour =
(Group 1, Configuration 1, $340.
and Group 2 airplanes).
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According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue
[[Page 41933]]
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-2011-0032; Directorate Identifier
2010-NM-236-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by August 31, 2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(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
737-30-1058, Revision 4, dated November 3, 2011.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 30, Ice and Rain Protection.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of arcing and smoke at the left
number 2 window in the flight deck. We are issuing this AD to
prevent arcing, smoke, and fire in the flight deck, which could lead
to injuries to or incapacitation of the flightcrew.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Inspection and Replacement for Group 1, Configuration 1 Airplanes
For Group 1, Configuration 1 airplanes, as identified in Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 4, dated
November 3, 2011: Within 48 months after the effective date of this
AD, do the actions in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD.
(1) Do a general visual inspection of the orientation of the
coil cord connector keyways on the captain's and first officer's
sides of the flight compartment, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 4, dated November 3, 2011. If the
orientation is not at the specified position, before further flight,
turn the receptacle connector to the correct position, in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 4, dated November 3, 2011.
(2) Replace the coil cords with new coil cords on both sides of
the flight deck, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions
of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision
4, dated November 3, 2011.
(h) Inspection and Replacement for Group 1, Configuration 2, and Group
2 Airplanes
For Group 1, Configuration 2, and Group 2 airplanes, as
identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058,
Revision 4, dated November 3, 2011: Within 48 months after the
effective date of this AD, install the receptacle connector with
changed keyway position on both sides of the flight deck, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 4, dated November
3, 2011.
(i) Credit for Previous Actions
This paragraph provides credit for the replacement required by
paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, if the replacement was performed before
the effective date of this AD using the service information
specified in paragraph (i)(1), (i)(2), (i)(3), or (i)(4) of this AD,
provided that the actions required by paragraph (h) of this AD are
done in accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin
737-30-1058, Revision 4, dated November 3, 2011, for Group 1,
Configuration 2, and Group 2 airplanes.
(1) Boeing Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, dated July 27, 2006,
which is not incorporated by reference.
(2) Boeing Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 1, dated June
18, 2007, which is not incorporated by reference.
(3) Boeing Service Bulletin 737-30-1058, Revision 2, dated
February 13, 2009, which is not incorporated by reference.
(4) Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-30-1058,
Revision 3, dated July 7, 2010, which is not incorporated by
reference.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 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 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.
(k) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Louis
Natsiopoulos, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-
130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind
Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6478; 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, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-
5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; 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,
[[Page 41934]]
WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call 425-227-1221.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 6, 2012.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-17391 Filed 7-16-12; 8:45 am]
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