[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45194-45196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21631]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-343-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -
300, -400, and -500 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 737-100, -
200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposal would 
require inspection of landing gear parts and/or their records to see 
that parts have serial numbers and that each part's number of flight 
cycles has been tracked; assignment of serial numbers and flight cycle 
use numbers if necessary; and removal of individual landing gear 
components from service when they reach their life limit. This action 
is necessary to prevent failure of landing gear parts, which could lead 
to landing gear collapse. This action is intended to address the 
identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 12, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-343-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232. 
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 
9-anm-

[[Page 45195]]

[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must contain 
``Docket No. 2000-NM-343-AD'' in the subject line and need not be 
submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached 
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or 
ASCII text.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207. This information may be examined at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Blilie, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2131; fax (425) 227-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Submit comments using the following format:
     Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a 
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the 
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
     For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed 
AD is being requested.
     Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each 
request.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2000-NM-343-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped 
and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 2000-NM-343-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The FAA has received reports that a check by the manufacturer of 
the list of Model 737 series airplane main and nose landing gear life-
limited parts revealed that some life-limited parts were not included 
on the list. Those life-limited parts have now been added to the 737 
Main Landing Gear and Nose Landing Gear Components Interchangeability 
Lists (drawings). Failure to remove ``safe life'' parts at their life 
limit could result in failure of landing gear parts, which could lead 
to landing gear collapse.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    The FAA has reviewed and approved Boeing Service Bulletin 737-32-
1322, dated September 30, 1999, which describes procedures for 
examining records and/or landing gear parts to verify that parts 
identified in this service bulletin have serial numbers on them; for 
assigning and marking serial numbers on parts if necessary; for 
examining records to find out if flight cycles for the landing gear 
parts identified in this service bulletin have been tracked; for 
assigning a number of flight cycles to parts for tracking purposes, if 
necessary; and for removing landing gear parts from service when they 
reach their life limit. Accomplishment of the actions specified in the 
service bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified 
unsafe condition.
    Boeing Service Bulletin 737-32-1322, dated September 30, 1999, 
refers to Boeing Drawing 65C73761--737 Main Landing Gear Components 
Interchangeability List, and Boeing Drawing 65C73762--737 Nose Landing 
Gear Components Interchangeability List, as additional sources of 
service information for accomplishment of the removal of landing gear 
parts from service when they reach their life limit.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the 
proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in 
the service bulletin described previously, except as discussed below.

Differences Between Proposed Rule and Service Bulletin

    Operators should note that, although the service bulletin 
recommends that the serial numbers assigned to parts must be different 
for each part, it does not define a process to ensure that duplicate 
serial numbers will not be issued. This proposal would require that the 
serialization of those parts' numbers be accomplished per a method 
approved by the FAA.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 3,132 airplanes of the affected design in 
the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 1,099 airplanes of U.S. 
registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take 
approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed 
actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on 
these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $65,940, or $60 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of 
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in 
the future if this proposed AD were not adopted. The cost impact 
figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time 
necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. 
These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as 
planning time, or time necessitated by other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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); 
and (3) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact, 
positive or negative,

[[Page 45196]]

on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation 
prepared for this action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it 
may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided 
under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Boeing: Docket 2000-NM-343-AD.

    Applicability: Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 
series airplanes, certificated in any category, line numbers 1 through 
3132, inclusive.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (g) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.
    To prevent failure of landing gear parts, which could lead to 
landing gear collapse, accomplish the following:

Inspection of Parts and/or Records

    (a) During the next gear overhaul, or within 10 years from the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, examine records and/
or landing gear parts in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 737-
32-1322, dated September 30, 1999, to determine whether parts have 
serial numbers and whether the number of flight cycles for each part 
has been tracked. If landing gear parts have serial numbers in 
accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 737-32-1322, dated September 
30, 1999, and the number of flight cycles has been tracked, no further 
action is necessary for paragraphs (a), (b), or (c) of this AD.

Assignment of Serial Numbers and Flight Cycles

    (b) If any part examined as mandated in paragraph (a) of this AD 
does not have serial numbers, during the next gear overhaul, or within 
10 years from the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, 
assign serial numbers to those parts using a method approved by the 
Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, and mark 
them on the parts in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 737-32-
1322, dated September 30, 1999.
    (c) If flight cycles for any part examined as mandated in paragraph 
(a) of this AD have not been tracked, during the next gear overhaul, or 
within 10 years from the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
later, assign a number of lifetime flight cycles to that part in 
accordance with Part 2. B. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Service Bulletin 737-32-1322, dated September 30, 1999.

Removal from Service at Life Limit

    (d) When any landing gear part has reached its life limit number of 
flight cycles, as described in Part 2. B. of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-32-1322, dated September 
30, 1999, remove that part from service.

Spare Parts

    (e) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install on 
any airplane a landing gear part unless it has been assigned a serial 
number and a lifetime flight cycle number in accordance with the 
requirements of this AD.
    (f) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install on 
any airplane a landing gear part that has reached its life limit of 
flight cycles, in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 737-32-1322, 
dated September 30, 1999.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (g) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used 
if approved by the Manager, Seattle ACO. Operators shall submit their 
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Seattle ACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Seattle ACO.

Special Flight Permits

    (h) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the 
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 21, 2001.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-21631 Filed 8-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U