[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 6, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31202-31204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10878]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28355; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-062-AD]
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: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800 and -900 series 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting ground blocks 
GD261 and GD264 for corrosion, measuring the electrical bond resistance 
between the ground blocks and the airplane structure, separating the 
ground wires for the fuel boost pump circuit between ground blocks 
GD261 and GD264, and doing corrective actions if necessary. This 
proposed AD results from a report of random flashes of the six fuel 
pump low pressure lights and intermittent operation of the fuel boost 
pumps. We are proposing this AD to prevent the simultaneous malfunction 
of all six fuel boost pumps, which could cause the engines to operate 
on suction feed and potentially flame out.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 23, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov

[[Page 31203]]

and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207, for the service information identified in this 
proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Binh Tran, Aerospace Engineer, Systems 
and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 
(425) 917-6485; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2007-
28355; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-062-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of 
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the 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 DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System 
receives them.

Discussion

    We have received a report of random flashes of the six fuel pump 
low pressure lights and intermittent operation of the fuel boost pumps. 
This was caused by an electrical ground block with poor continuity to 
ground. This condition, if not corrected, could cause the engines to 
operate on suction feed and potentially flame out.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-
1257, dated February 26, 2007. The service bulletin describes 
procedures for the following actions:
     Inspecting ground blocks GD261 and GD264 for corrosion;
     Measuring the electrical bond resistance between the 
ground blocks and the airplane structure;
     Separating the fuel boost pump grounds by removing three 
fuel boost pump ground wires from ground block GD261 and installing 
them in ground block GD264.
     Repairing corrosion damage; and
     Replacing the ground block with a new one if any corrosion 
is found or if the electrical bond resistance exceeds 0.001 ohm.
    Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is 
intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes 
of this same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, 
which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 1,871 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                  Number of U.S.-
           Work hours             Average labor       Parts          Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                  rate per hour                      airplane        airplanes
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1..............................             $80  None...........             $80             702         $56,160
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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 have 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 that the proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;

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    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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 proposed 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, 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:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Boeing: Docket No. FAA-2007-28355; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-
062-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by July 23, 
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 737-28-1257, 
dated February 26, 2007.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of random flashes of the six 
fuel pump low pressure lights and intermittent operation of the fuel 
boost pumps. We are issuing this AD to prevent the simultaneous 
malfunction of all six fuel boost pumps, which could cause the 
engines to operate on suction feed and potentially flame out.

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.

Inspection

    (f) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD: Do a 
general visual inspection of ground blocks GD261 and GD264 for 
corrosion, measure the electrical bond resistance, and separate the 
ground wires for the fuel boost pump circuit between ground blocks 
GD261 and GD264. Do these actions in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 737-28-1257, dated February 26, 2007. Do applicable 
corrective actions before further flight in accordance with the 
service bulletin.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g)(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) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 25, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-10878 Filed 6-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P