[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 187 (Thursday, September 26, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59304-59306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23444]
[[Page 59304]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0831; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-125-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. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of
chaffing, arcing, and burning damage to the control cabin overhead
wiring and ducting with smoke and fire caused by metal clamps installed
on certain hoses. This proposed AD would require inspecting for the
presence of metal clamps, replacing metal clamps installed on the hoses
to the air conditioning temperature sensor, gasper air outlet, and
diffuser on the left side of the control cabin with plastic tie straps,
and inspecting for and repairing damaged wire bundles. We are proposing
this AD to prevent damage to wire bundles, which could cause electrical
arcing that could result in a fire or smoke in the control cabin of the
airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 12,
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, 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.
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: Marie Hogestad, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356;
phone: (425) 917-6418; 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-2013-0831;
Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-125-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 numerous reports of incorrectly installed metal
clamps on the hoses to the air conditioning temperature sensor, gasper
air outlet, and diffuser on the left side of the control cabin at
station (STA) 259.5, many of which have led to wire bundle chaffing and
in several cases led to arcing and burning damage to the control cabin
overhead wiring and ducting with smoke and fire. Incorrectly installed
metal clamps, if not corrected, could cause wire bundle damage and
electrical arcing that could result in a fire or smoke in the control
cabin of the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 737-21-1186, dated April 17,
2012. For information on the procedures, see this service information
at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. FAA-2013-
0831.
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 identified previously, except as discussed
under ``Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service
Information.''
Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information
While Boeing Service Bulletin 737-21-1186, dated April 17, 2012
does not specify a compliance time, this proposed AD would require
doing the inspection and replacement within 60 months after the
effective date of this AD.
While Boeing Service Bulletin 737-21-1186, dated April 17, 2012,
requires doing a general visual inspection for correct part number and
correct installation of metal clamps, this proposed AD would require
doing a general visual inspection to determine if any metal clamp is
installed on the hoses to the air conditioning temperature sensor,
gasper air outlet, and diffuser on the left side of the control cabin
at STA 259.5.
While Boeing Service Bulletin 737-21-1186, dated April 17, 2012,
allows the continued use of metal clamps, this proposed AD would
require operators to replace each metal clamp with a plastic tie strap.
While Boeing Service Bulletin 737-21-1186, dated April 17, 2012,
specifies to contact Boeing for instructions for certain airplanes,
this proposed AD would require that those actions be done in one of the
following ways:
In accordance with a method that we approve; or
Using data that meets the certification basis of the
airplane, and that has been approved by the Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Organization
[[Page 59305]]
Designation Authorization (ODA) whom we have authorized to make those
findings.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 426 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection and Replacement....... 2 work-hours x $85 per $0 $170 per $72,420
hour = $170 per replacement.
replacement.
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We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this proposed
AD. We have no way of determining the number of products that may need
these actions.
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
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-2013-0831; Directorate Identifier
2013-NM-125-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by November 12, 2013.
(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, as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-21-1186,
dated April 17, 2012.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 21, Air conditioning.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of chaffing, arcing, and burning
damage to the control cabin overhead wiring and ducting with smoke
and fire caused by metal clamps installed on certain hoses. We are
issuing this AD to prevent damage to wire bundles, which could cause
electrical arcing that could result in a fire or smoke in the
control cabin of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Inspection, Replacement, and Repair
For airplanes identified in Groups 1 and 2 in Boeing Service
Bulletin 737-21-1186, dated April 17, 2012: Within 60 months after
the effective date of this AD, do the actions in (g)(1) and (g)(2)
of this AD.
(1) Do a general visual inspection to determine if any metal
clamp is installed on the hoses to the air conditioning temperature
sensor, gasper air outlet, and diffuser on the left side of the
control cabin at (station) STA 259.5, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-21-1186,
dated April 17, 2012. If any metal clamp is found installed, before
further flight, replace each metal clamp with a plastic tie strap,
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service
Bulletin 737-21-1186, dated April 17, 2012.
(2) Do a general visual inspection for damage to the adjacent
wire bundles and repair any damaged wire bundles in accordance with
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-21-
1186, dated April 17, 2012. Do all applicable repairs before further
flight.
(h) Inspection, Replacement, and Repair
For airplanes identified in Group 3 in Boeing Service Bulletin
737-21-1186, dated April 17, 2012: Within 60 months after the
effective date of this AD, replace any metal clamp installed on the
hoses to the air conditioning temperature sensor, gasper air outlet,
and diffuser on the left side of the control cabin at STA 259.5, and
inspect adjacent wire bundles and repair any damage, before further
flight, using a method approved in accordance with the procedures
specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.
(i) Parts Installation Prohibition
For all airplanes: As of the effective date of this AD, no
person may install a metal clamp on the hoses to the air
conditioning temperature sensor, gasper air outlet, and the diffuser
on the left side of the control cabin at STA 259.5.
(j) 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,
[[Page 59306]]
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 the approval must
specifically refer to this AD.
(k) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Marie Hogestad,
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA,
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
WA 98057-3356; phone: (425) 917-6418; 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 18, 2013.
Ross Landes,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-23444 Filed 9-25-13; 8:45 am]
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