[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 236 (Monday, December 10, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69600-69601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23458]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-29031; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-130-AD; 
Amendment 39-15284; AD 2007-25-03]
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 repetitive inspections of either the aft 
side or forward side of the aft pressure bulkhead for oil can 
conditions or bulges, a one-time inspection of the aft pressure 
bulkhead to identify any previously installed web repair, and 
corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from web oil can 
conditions found on the aft pressure bulkhead of several airplanes. We 
are issuing this AD to detect and correct oil can conditions, bulges, 
or previous repairs in the aft pressure bulkhead, which could lead to 
web cracks and consequently result in rapid decompression of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 14, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of January 14, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.

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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Hall, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
917-6430; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 August 24, 2007 (72 FR 48594). 
That NPRM proposed to require repetitive inspections of either the aft 
side or forward side of the aft pressure bulkhead for oil can 
conditions or bulges, a one-time inspection of the aft pressure 
bulkhead to identify any previously installed web repair, and 
corrective actions if necessary.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the two comments received. 
Boeing and Continental Airlines support the NPRM.

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 as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 1,755 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 600 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The required inspection takes about 6 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 $288,000, or $480 per 
airplane, per inspection cycle.

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:

[[Page 69601]]

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 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2007-25-03 Boeing: Amendment 39-15284. Docket No. FAA-2007-29031; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-130-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective January 14, 2008.

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 Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1253, dated May 
18, 2007.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from web oil can conditions found on the aft 
pressure bulkhead of several airplanes. We are issuing this AD to 
detect and correct oil can conditions, bulges, or previous repairs 
in the aft pressure bulkhead, which could lead to web cracks and 
consequently result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

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.

Repetitive Inspections

    (f) At the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E. of 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1253, dated May 18, 2007, 
except as provided by paragraph (g) of this AD: Do repetitive 
general visual inspections of either the aft side or forward side of 
the aft pressure bulkhead for oil can conditions or bulges and a 
one-time general visual inspection of the aft pressure bulkhead to 
identify any previously installed web repair, and do all applicable 
corrective actions, by accomplishing all of the applicable actions 
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 737-53A1253, dated May 18, 2007, except as provided by 
paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD.

Exceptions to Compliance Times

    (g) Where Tables 1 and 2 of paragraph 1.E. of Boeing Alert 
Service Bulletin 737-53A1253, dated May 18, 2007, specify a 
compliance time of ``at or before 15,000 total flight cycles or 
within 1,200 flight cycles'' for the general visual inspections, 
this AD requires accomplishing the applicable inspection at the 
later of those compliance times. Where Tables 1 and 2 of paragraph 
1.E. of the service bulletin specify counting the compliance time 
from the ``release date of this service bulletin'' or ``after the 
date on this service bulletin,'' this AD requires starting the 
compliance time from the effective date of this AD. Where Table 2 of 
paragraph 1.E. of the service bulletin specifies to determine the 
FAA-approved, follow-on inspection procedures, thresholds, and 
repeat intervals and to incorporate them into the airplane 
maintenance program within 12 months after accomplishing the 
inspection given in Section 53-80-08-2R of the Boeing 737-600/700/
700C/800/900 Structural Repair Manuals (SRMs), this AD requires that 
those corrective actions, if applicable, be done within 12 months 
after accomplishing the one-time general visual inspection of the 
aft pressure bulkhead for any previously installed web repair as 
required by paragraph (f) of this AD.

Exceptions to Corrective Actions

    (h) If any crack or bulge is found during any inspection 
required by paragraph (f) of this AD and Boeing Alert Service 
Bulletin 737-53A1253, dated May 18, 2007, specifies to contact 
Boeing for repair instructions, before further flight, repair 
according to a method approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), FAA, or according to data meeting the 
certification basis of the airplane approved by an Authorized 
Representative for the Boeing Delegation Option Authorization 
Organization who 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. If a previously installed aft 
pressure bulkhead web repair is found during any inspection required 
by paragraph (f) of this AD, and the FAA-approved supplemental 
inspection program cannot be determined from either the Boeing 737-
600/700/700C/800/900 SRMs or the service bulletin, and the service 
bulletin specifies to contact Boeing for further instructions, 
within 12 months after accomplishing the inspection contact the 
Manager, SACO, or an Authorized Representative for the Boeing 
Commercial Airplanes Delegation Option Authorization Organization to 
develop a supplemental inspection program.

No Reporting Requirement

    (i) Although Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1253, dated 
May 18, 2007, specifies to submit certain information to the 
manufacturer, this AD does not require that action.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j)(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO, 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.
    (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 an 
Authorized Representative for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes 
Delegation Option Authorization Organization who 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1253, 
dated May 18, 2007, 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 
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington; or at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 23, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23458 Filed 12-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P