[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 183 (Thursday, September 20, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58325-58327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23150]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0987; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-130-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 737-300, 737-400, 737-500, and 757-200
series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of damage
caused by electrical arcing to the wires that connect seat electronics
boxes (SEBs). This proposed AD would require installing a new relay and
doing certain wiring changes of the entertainment control switch if
necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent power from being
supplied to passenger seats when the entertainment control switch is in
the OFF position, which could cause an electrical shock hazard
resulting in serious or fatal injury to maintenance personnel.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 5,
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, 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, 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.
[[Page 58326]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Binh Tran, Aerospace Engineer, Systems
and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-
6485; 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 proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0987;
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-130-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 a report of an electrical arcing from a seat track
cover. An investigation found that there was damage to the wires that
connect SEBs caused by electrical arcing at a terminator. The airplane
manufacturer found that the entertainment control switch has no effect
on removing electrical power from the SEBs. This condition, if not
corrected, could supply power when the entertainment control switch is
in the OFF position, which could cause an electrical shock hazard
resulting in serious or fatal injury to maintenance personnel.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-23-1302,
dated August 24, 2009 (for Model 737-300, -400, -500 series airplanes);
and Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-23-0107, Revision 1,
dated May 16, 2012 (for Model 757-200 series airplanes). The service
information describes procedures for installing a new relay and doing
certain wiring changes of the entertainment control switch if
necessary.
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 require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information described previously, except as discussed
under ``Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service
Information.''
Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information
Note 1 in Paragraph 3.A. of the Accomplishment Instructions of
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-23-1302, dated August 24,
2009, allows the sequence of steps to be changed. This proposed AD
would not allow the step sequence to be changed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 28 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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Wire bundle change, relay 29 work-hours x $85 per $0 $2,465 $2,465
installation, and operational test hour = $2,465.
(one Group 1 Model 737 airplane).
Wire bundle change, relay 14 work-hours x 85 per 0 1,275 1,275
installation, and operational test hour = 1, 275.
(one Group 2 Model 737 airplane).
Wire bundle change, relay 34 work-hours x 85 per 0 2,890 75,140
installation, and operational test hour = 2,890.
(26 Model 757 airplanes).
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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:
[[Page 58327]]
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-2012-0987; Directorate Identifier
2012-NM-130-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by November 5, 2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -
500 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-23-1302, dated August
24, 2009; and Model 757-200 series airplanes, certificated in any
category, as identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin
757-23-0107, Revision 1, dated May 16, 2012.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 23, Communications.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of damage caused by electrical
arcing to the wires that connect seat electronics boxes. We are
issuing this AD to prevent power from being supplied to passenger
seats when the entertainment control switch is in the OFF position,
which could cause an electrical shock hazard resulting in serious or
fatal injury to maintenance personnel.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Installation of New Relay and Wiring Bundle Change
Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD: Change the
wire bundle route, and install a new relay and applicable wiring of
the entertainment control switch, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of the service information specified in
paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, as applicable.
(1) For Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes: Use
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-23-1302, dated August
24, 2009.
(2) For Model 757-200 series airplanes: Use Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 757-23-0107, Revision 1, dated May 16,
2012.
(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 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.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Binh Tran,
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA,
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6485; 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; 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 September 7, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-23150 Filed 9-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P