[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6692-6694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3036]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0110; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-148-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and 
-500 series airplanes equipped with analog transient suppression 
devices (ATSDs) installed in accordance with Supplemental Type 
Certificate number ST00146BO. This proposed AD was prompted by multiple 
reports of corrosion on ATSDs. This proposed AD would require revising 
the maintenance program to incorporate certain limitations. We are 
proposing this AD to detect and correct corrosion on ATSDs, which could 
result in the loss of high voltage transient protection (e.g., 
lightning protection) in the fuel tanks and consequent fuel tank 
explosion and loss of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 26, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Goodrich Corporation, Sensors and Integrated Systems, 100 Panton Road, 
Vergennes, Vermont 05491; phone: 802-877-4580; fax: 802-877-4444; 
email: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.goodrich.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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marc Ronell, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine and Propeller Directorate, ANE-150, FAA, New England Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
Massachusetts 01803; phone: 781-238-7776; fax: 781-238-7170; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0110; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-148-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 at least six reports of corrosion on the housings 
of ATSDs. This condition, if not corrected, could result in the loss of 
high voltage transient protection (e.g., lightning protection) in the 
fuel tanks and consequent fuel tank explosion and loss of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Goodrich Principal Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness Manual for the Analog Transient Suppression Device 
Installation Applicable to Boeing 737-100 through -500 Airplanes 
Supplemental Type Certificate--ST00146BO, Document T3044-0010-0101, 
Revision D, dated September 26, 2011, which describes various 
limitations, including Critical Design Control Limitations (CDCCL), 
inspections, and checks of the ATSD, ground straps, and safe-side 
harness.

FAA's Determination

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

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 384 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 6693]]



                                                 Estimated costs
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                                                                                                  Cost on U.S.
              Action                    Labor cost           Parts cost      Cost per product      operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise maintenance program.......  1 work-hour x $85                   $0                $85            $32,640
                                    per hour = $85.
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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 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),
    (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.

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 
airworthiness directive (AD):

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2012-0110; Directorate Identifier 
2011-NM-148-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by March 26, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -
200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes, certificated in any 
category, with an original airworthiness certificate or original 
export certificate of airworthiness issued before September 26, 
2011, equipped with analog transient suppression devices (ATSDs) 
installed in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate number 
ST00146BO.

    Note 1 to paragraphs (c), (g), and (h):  This AD requires 
revisions to certain operator maintenance documents to include new 
actions (e.g., inspections and/or Critical Design Configuration 
Control Limitations (CDCCLs). Compliance with these actions is 
required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have been 
previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas addressed by 
these inspections, the operator may not be able to accomplish the 
inspections described in the revisions. In this situation, to comply 
with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance (AMOC) according to paragraph (i) 
of this AD. The request should include a description of changes to 
the required actions that will ensure the continued operational 
safety of the airplane.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 2841, Fuel Quantity Indicator.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by multiple reports of corrosion on ATSDs. 
We are issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion on ATSDs, 
which could result in the loss of high voltage transient protection 
(e.g., lightning protection) in the fuel tanks and consequent fuel 
tank explosion and loss of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Maintenance Program Revision

    Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, revise the 
maintenance program to incorporate the limitations specified in 
Goodrich Principal Instructions for Continued Airworthiness Manual 
for the Analog Transient Suppression Device Installation Applicable 
to Boeing 737-100 through -500 Airplanes Supplemental Type 
Certificate--ST00146BO, Document T3044-0010-0101, Revision D, dated 
September 26, 2011. The initial compliance time for accomplishing 
each task is at the applicable time specified in Goodrich Principal 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness Manual for the Analog 
Transient Suppression Device Installation Applicable to Boeing 737-
100 through -500 Airplanes Supplemental Type Certificate--ST00146BO, 
Document T3044-0010-0101, Revision D, dated September 26, 2011, or 
within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever 
occurs later.

    Note 2 to paragraph (g): Components that have been identified as 
airworthy or installed on the affected airplanes before the revision 
of the maintenance program, as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, 
do not need to be reworked in accordance with the CDCCLs. However, 
once the maintenance program has been revised, paragraph (g) of this 
AD requires that future maintenance actions on these components must 
follow the CDCCLs.

(h) No Alternative Actions Intervals, and/or Critical Design 
Configuration Control Limitations

    After accomplishing the revision required by paragraph (g) of 
this AD, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections), intervals, and/
or CDCCLs may be used other than those specified in Goodrich 
Principal Instructions for Continued Airworthiness Manual for the 
Analog Transient Suppression Device Installation Applicable to 
Boeing 737-100 through -500 Airplanes Supplemental Type 
Certificate--ST00146BO, Document T3044-0010-0101, Revision D, dated 
September 26, 2011, unless the actions, intervals, and/or CDCCLs are 
approved as an AMOC in accordance with the procedures specified in 
paragraph (i) of this AD.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (1) The Manager, Boston 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,

[[Page 6694]]

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.
    (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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Marc Ronell, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine and Propeller Directorate, ANE-150, FAA, 
New England Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; phone: 781-238-
7776; fax: 781-238-7170; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Goodrich Corporation, Sensors and Integrated Systems, 100 Panton 
Road, Vergennes, Vermont 05491; phone: 802-877-4580; fax: 802-877-
4444; email: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.goodrich.com/TechPubs. 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 23, 2012.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-3036 Filed 2-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P