[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2840-2842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-862]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 18, 2011 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 2840]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-1313; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-158-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, 
-700C, -800, -900, and -900ER Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting to determine the 
clearance and any wire bundle damage between wire bundle W443 and the 
left forward rudder quadrant, followed by adjusting the minimum 
clearance between the wire bundle and the left forward rudder quadrant, 
and repairing any wire bundle damage. This proposed AD results from 
reports of contact between wire bundle W443 and the left forward rudder 
quadrant. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct contact 
between the wire bundle and the left forward rudder quadrant. Damage to 
the wire bundle could result in uncommanded stabilizer trim and 
autopilot disconnects due to shorted wires from contact between the 
wire bundle and the left forward rudder quadrant, potentially affecting 
the capability of the flight crew during high work load and 
consequently reducing control of the airplane. Restricted free movement 
of the rudder quadrant at full right rudder travel would reduce 
controllability of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 4, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, 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; e-mail [email protected]; 
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 (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 917-6409; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-1313; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-158-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 reports of interference between the left forward 
rudder quadrant and wire bundle W443 during full right rudder travel. 
This condition was found on an airplane during a pre-flight check when 
a pilot reported interference during full-right rudder travel. Twenty 
airplanes out of 32 that were inspected were found to have non-
conforming installations for wire bundle W443, which increase the 
likelihood for interference during full right rudder movement. 
Investigation showed that while the interference condition was not 
present on the 20 airplanes, the wire bundle was installed with too 
much slack between clamps. Restricted control surface movement can 
occur from insufficient clearance between the wire bundle and the left 
forward rudder quadrant, and if the wire bundle is damaged, uncommanded 
stabilizer or autopilot disconnects could occur due to shorted wires 
from contact between the wire bundle and the left forward rudder 
quadrant, potentially affecting the capability of the flight crew 
during high work load and consequently reducing control of the 
airplane. Restricted free movement of the rudder quadrant at full right 
rudder travel, if not corrected, would reduce controllability of the 
airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-27-
1282, Revision 1, dated June 14, 2010. The service bulletin describes 
procedures for a detailed inspection of wire bundle W443 for damage and 
repairing any damage, and measuring and adjusting the minimum clearance

[[Page 2841]]

between the wire bundle and the left forward rudder quadrant.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design. 
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in 
the service information described previously

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 870 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.

                                             Table--Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Number  of
                                                   Average labor     Cost per          U.S.-
             Action                 Work-hours     rate per hour      product       registered      Fleet cost
                                                                                     airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection......................               2             $85            $170             870        $147,900
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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), 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.
    You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of 
compliance in the AD Docket.

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

    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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2010-1313; Directorate Identifier 
2010-NM-158-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by March 4, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -
700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes, certificated in any 
category, as identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 
737-27-1282, Revision 1, dated June 14, 2010.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27: Flight 
controls.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from reports of contact between wire bundle 
W443 and the left forward rudder quadrant. We are proposing this AD 
to detect and correct contact between the wire bundle and the left 
forward rudder quadrant. Damage to the wire bundle could result in 
uncommanded stabilizer trim and autopilot disconnects due to shorted 
wires from contact between the wire bundle and the left forward 
rudder quadrant, potentially affecting the capability of the flight 
crew during high work load and consequently reducing control of the 
airplane. Restricted free movement of the rudder quadrant at full 
right rudder travel would reduce controllability of the airplane.

Compliance

    (f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Wire Bundle W443 Inspection and Clearance Measurement

    (g) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD: Do a 
detailed inspection of wire bundle W443 for damage and measure for 
sufficient clearance in accordance with Part 1 of the Work 
Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-27-
1282, Revision 1, dated June 14, 2010. If the wire bundle is 
undamaged, and sufficient clearance exists, no further action is 
required by this AD.

Wire Bundle W443 Undamaged: Clearance Adjustment

    (h) If the clearance of wire bundle W443 in the inspection 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD is found to be insufficient, 
before further flight adjust the wire bundle clearance in accordance 
with Part 2 of the Work Instructions of Boeing Special Attention 
Service Bulletin 737-27-1282, Revision 1, dated June 14, 2010.

Wire Bundle W443 Damaged: Repair, and Clearance Adjustment

    (i) If wire bundle W443 is found to be damaged in the inspection 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD, before further flight repair 
the damaged wire bundle and adjust the wire bundle clearance in 
accordance with Part 3 of the Work Instructions of Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 737-27-1282, Revision 1, dated June 14, 
2010.

Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    (j) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-27-
1282, dated March 15, 2007, are considered acceptable for compliance 
with

[[Page 2842]]

the corresponding action specified in this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k)(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. Send information to 
ATTN: Dean Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment 
Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6409; fax (425) 917-6590. 
Information may be e-mailed to: [email protected].
    (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 principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or 
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a 
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. 
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington on January 10, 2011.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-862 Filed 1-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P