[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 251 (Friday, December 30, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 82111-82113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32678]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-0996; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-068-AD;
Amendment 39-16899; AD 2011-26-09]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The
Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER
series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of excessive in-
service wear damage of the thumbnail fairing edge seal, and of the
panel rub strip and skin assembly of the fan cowl. This AD requires
replacement of the thumbnail fairing edge seals on both sides of the
engines with Nitronic 60 stainless steel alloy seals. We are issuing
this AD to prevent failure of the fire seal, which could allow a fire
in the fan compartment to spread beyond the firewall and reach the
flammable fluid leakage zones, resulting in an uncontrolled fire.
DATES: This AD is effective February 3, 2012.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of February 3,
2012.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this 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; email
[email protected]; Internet https:[sol][sol]www.myboeingfleet.com.
You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601
[[Page 82112]]
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:[sol][sol]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 (phone: (800) 647-5527) is 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: Chris Parker, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone:
(425) 917-6496; fax: (425) 917-6590; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products.
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on October 5, 2011 (76
FR 61643). That NPRM proposed to require replacement of the thumbnail
fairing edge seals on both sides of the engines with Nitronic 60
stainless steel alloy seals.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We have considered the comment received. Boeing supports the
NPRM (76 FR 61643, October 5, 2011).
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 989 airplanes of U.S. registry. We
estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace thumbnail faring edge seals. 6 work-hours x $85 per $2,032 $2,542 $2,514,038
hour = $510.
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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
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),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2011-26-09: The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-16899; Docket No. FAA-
2011-0996; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-068-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective February 3, 2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
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
737-54-1046, dated February 16, 2011.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 54: Nacelles/Pylons.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of excessive in-service wear
damage of the thumbnail fairing edge seal, and of the panel rub
strip and skin assembly of the fan cowl. We are issuing this AD to
prevent failure of the fire seal, which could allow a fire in the
fan compartment to spread beyond the firewall and reach the
flammable fluid leakage zones, resulting in an uncontrolled fire.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Replace the Thumbnail Fairing Edge Seals
Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, replace
the thumbnail fairing edge seals, on both the left side and the
right side of engine 1 and engine 2, with new Nitronic 60 stainless
steel alloy seals, in accordance
[[Page 82113]]
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention
Service Bulletin 737-54-1046, dated February 16, 2011.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(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. In accordance with 14
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the
attention of the person identified in the Related Information
section of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(i) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Chris Parker,
Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; phone: (425) 917-6496; fax: (425) 917-6590;
email: [email protected].
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) You must use the following service information to do the
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference (IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the
following service information on the date specified:
(i) Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-54-1046, dated
February 16, 2011.
(2) For service information identified in this 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; email
[email protected]; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
(3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (425) 227-1221.
(4) You may also review copies of the service information that
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at an NARA facility, 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 December 13, 2011.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-32678 Filed 12-29-11; 8:45 am]
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