[Federal Register: January 25, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 16)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 3359-3361]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ja07-7]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-24691; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-051-AD;
Amendment 39-14901; AD 2007-02-14]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -
800, and -900 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series
airplanes. This AD requires testing the electrical resistance of the
bond between the bulkhead fitting for the fuel feed line and the front
spar of the left and right wings, inspecting an adjacent bonding jumper
to make sure it is installed correctly, and performing corrective and
other specified actions as applicable. This AD results from fuel system
reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to
prevent arcing or sparking in the fuel tank in the event of a lightning
strike, which could result in an uncontrolled fire or explosion.
DATES: This AD becomes effective March 1, 2007.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of March 1,
2007.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle,
Washington 98124-2207, for the service information identified in this
AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Pegors, Aerospace Engineer,
[[Page 3360]]
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone
(425) 917-6504; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Examining the Docket
You may examine the airworthiness directive (AD) docket on the
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management
Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office
(telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif
Building at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.
Discussion
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Boeing Model
737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. That NPRM was
published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2006 (71 FR 26423). That
NPRM proposed to require testing the electrical resistance of the bond
between the bulkhead fitting for the fuel feed line and the front spar
of the left and right wings, inspecting an adjacent bonding jumper to
make sure it is installed correctly, and performing corrective and
other specified actions as applicable.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.
Request To Cite Revised Service Information
AirTran Airways (AirTran) supports the NPRM. AirTran asks that if
the NPRM is changed to refer to Revision 1 of Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 737-28-1225 (which was being drafted when the comment
was submitted), credit be given for accomplishing the inspection and
modification in accordance with the original issue of the service
bulletin. The NPRM referred to Boeing Special Attention Service
Bulletin 737-28-1225, dated January 12, 2006, as the source of service
information for accomplishing the specified actions.
Boeing asks that paragraphs (c) and (f) of the NPRM be changed to
reference Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-1225,
Revision 1, dated October 30, 2006. Boeing notes that Revision 1
corrects the illustrations that show the routing of the bonding
jumpers, as well as the illustration views that show the locations of
the electrical bond resistance equipment probes. (At the time this
comment was submitted, Revision 1 was not yet issued.) Boeing adds that
its request is to eliminate the need for an alternative method of
compliance (AMOC) request. Boeing also states that credit should be
given for accomplishing the actions in accordance with the original
issue.
We agree with these requests. We have reviewed Revision 1 of the
referenced service bulletin, which specifies that no more work is
necessary on airplanes changed as shown in the original issue of the
service bulletin; the changes in Revision 1 are mainly editorial.
Therefore, we have changed paragraph (f) of the AD to add Boeing
Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-1225, Revision 1, dated
October 30, 2006, as the source of service information for
accomplishing the requirements in that paragraph, and we have added a
new paragraph (g) to the AD to give credit for the actions done before
the effective date of this AD in accordance with Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-1225, dated January 12, 2006. We have
also changed the applicability in paragraph (c) of the AD to reference
Revision 1.
Request To Correct Certain Grammar
Boeing also asks that we correct the grammar specified in paragraph
(f) of the NPRM by deleting the language ``by doing all of the actions
specified.'' We agree and have changed the specified language.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 1,541 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 591 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The required actions take about 4 work hours per airplane, at an
average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the
estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $189,120, or $320 per
airplane.
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 AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
(3) 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13
[[Page 3361]]
by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
2007-02-14 Boeing: Amendment 39-14901. Docket No. FAA-2006-24691;
Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-051-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective March 1, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800,
and -900 series airplanes, certificated in any category; as
identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-1225,
Revision 1, dated October 30, 2006.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent arcing or sparking
in the fuel tank in the event of a lightning strike, which could
result in an uncontrolled fire or explosion.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Test, Inspection, and Corrective and Other Specified Actions
(f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, test
the electrical resistance of the bond between the bulkhead fitting
for the fuel feed line and the wing front spar on the left and right
wings, do a general visual inspection of adjacent bonding jumpers to
make sure they are installed correctly, and do all applicable
corrective and other specified actions. Do all the actions in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-1225, Revision 1, dated October
30, 2006. All applicable corrective actions and other specified
actions must be done before further flight after the electrical
resistance test.
Credit for Actions Accomplished Previously
(g) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in
accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-
1225, dated January 12, 2006; are considered acceptable for
compliance with the actions required by paragraph (f) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-
28-1225, Revision 1, dated October 30, 2006, to perform the actions
that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1
CFR part 51. Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707,
Seattle, Washington 98124-2207, for a copy of this service
information. You may review copies at the Docket Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet
at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 11, 2007.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-898 Filed 1-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P