[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 16, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3365-3367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00801]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-1317; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-194-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 Airplanes Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300,
-400, -500, -600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This
proposed AD was prompted by a report that the seat track attachment of
body station 520 flexible joint is structurally deficient in resisting
a 9g forward emergency load condition in certain seating
configurations. This proposed AD would require replacing the pivot link
assembly on certain seats, and modifying or replacing the seat track
link assemblies on certain seats. Also, for certain airplanes, this
proposed AD would require installing a new seat track link assembly. We
are proposing this AD to prevent seat detachment in an emergency
landing, which could cause injury to occupants of the passenger
compartment and affect emergency egress.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 4, 2013.
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
[[Page 3366]]
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: Sarah Piccola, Aerospace Engineer,
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; phone: 425-917-6483; 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-2012-1317;
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-194-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 that the seat track attachment of body station
520 flexible joint is structurally deficient in resisting a 9g forward
emergency load condition in certain seating configurations. This
condition, if not corrected, could result in seat detachment in an
emergency landing and cause injury to occupants of the passenger
compartment and affect emergency egress.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1244, Revision 5, dated
July 27, 2011, for Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series
airplanes. This service bulletin, among other things, describes
procedures for installing new, improved pivot link assemblies.
We have also reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin
737-53-1260, dated May 7, 2007, for Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -
400, and -500 series airplanes. This service bulletin describes
procedures for modifying or replacing the seat track link assemblies.
Concurrent Service Bulletin
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1260, dated May 7,
2007, specifies, for certain airplanes, prior or concurrent
accomplishment of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1120, Revision 1,
dated May 13, 1993, for modifying or installing new seat track link
assemblies.
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 1,281 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
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U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product airplanes Cost on U.S. operators
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Replacement or modification........ Up to 41 work-hours x Up to $15,478........ Up to $18,963........ 1,281 Up to $24,291,603.
$85 per hour = $3,485.
Concurrent installation or Up to 60 work-hours x Up to $18,089........ Up to $23,189........ 214 Up to $4,962,446.
modification (Groups 1, 2, 4, and $85 per hour = $5,100.
5 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),
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(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
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2012-1317; Directorate Identifier
2011-NM-194-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by March 4, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to the airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1)
and (c)(2) of this AD certificated in any category.
(1) The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400,
and -500 series airplanes, as identified in Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 737-53-1260, dated May 7, 2007.
(2) The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -
900 series airplanes, as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-
53-1244, Revision 5, dated July 27, 2011.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report that a Boeing study found that
the seat track attachment of body station 520 flexible joint is
structurally deficient in resisting a 9 g forward emergency load
condition in certain seating configurations. We are issuing this AD
to prevent seat detachment in an emergency landing, which could
cause injury to occupants of the passenger compartment and affect
emergency egress.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Repair or Replacement of Seat Track Link Assembly
Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, do the
actions specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, as
applicable.
(1) For Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series
airplanes: Install new, improved pivot link assemblies, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service
Bulletin 737-53-1244, Revision 5, dated July 27, 2011.
(2) For Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series
airplanes: Modify or replace, as applicable, the seat track link
assembly, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1260, dated May 7,
2007.
(h) Concurrent Actions
For airplanes in Groups 1, 2, 4, and 5, as identified in Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1260, dated May 7, 2007:
Before or concurrently with the accomplishment of the actions
specified in paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, install a new seat track
link assembly or modify the seat track link assembly, as applicable,
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service
Bulletin 737-53-1120, Revision 1, dated May 13, 1993.
(i) 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.
(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used for any repair required by this AD if it is approved by The
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization
(ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle ACO, to make
those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the repair must
meet the certification basis of the airplane and 14 CFR 25.571,
Amendment 45, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Sarah Piccola,
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch,
ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind
Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6483; 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, WA. For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 10, 2013.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-00801 Filed 1-15-13; 8:45 am]
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