[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 183 (Thursday, September 20, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58325-58327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23150]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0987; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-130-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 737-300, 737-400, 737-500, and 757-200 
series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of damage 
caused by electrical arcing to the wires that connect seat electronics 
boxes (SEBs). This proposed AD would require installing a new relay and 
doing certain wiring changes of the entertainment control switch if 
necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent power from being 
supplied to passenger seats when the entertainment control switch is in 
the OFF position, which could cause an electrical shock hazard 
resulting in serious or fatal injury to maintenance personnel.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 5, 
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 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 
P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H-65, Seattle, WA 98124-2207; telephone 206-544-
5000, extension 1; fax 206-766-5680; 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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

[[Page 58326]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Binh Tran, Aerospace Engineer, Systems 
and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-
6485; fax: 425-917-6590; 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-2012-0987; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-130-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 received a report of an electrical arcing from a seat track 
cover. An investigation found that there was damage to the wires that 
connect SEBs caused by electrical arcing at a terminator. The airplane 
manufacturer found that the entertainment control switch has no effect 
on removing electrical power from the SEBs. This condition, if not 
corrected, could supply power when the entertainment control switch is 
in the OFF position, which could cause an electrical shock hazard 
resulting in serious or fatal injury to maintenance personnel.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-23-1302, 
dated August 24, 2009 (for Model 737-300, -400, -500 series airplanes); 
and Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-23-0107, Revision 1, 
dated May 16, 2012 (for Model 757-200 series airplanes). The service 
information describes procedures for installing a new relay and doing 
certain wiring changes of the entertainment control switch if 
necessary.

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 these same type 
designs.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously, except as discussed 
under ``Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service 
Information.''

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information

    Note 1 in Paragraph 3.A. of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-23-1302, dated August 24, 
2009, allows the sequence of steps to be changed. This proposed AD 
would not allow the step sequence to be changed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 28 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wire bundle change, relay               29 work-hours x $85 per               $0          $2,465          $2,465
 installation, and operational test      hour = $2,465.
 (one Group 1 Model 737 airplane).
Wire bundle change, relay               14 work-hours x 85 per                 0           1,275           1,275
 installation, and operational test      hour = 1, 275.
 (one Group 2 Model 737 airplane).
Wire bundle change, relay               34 work-hours x 85 per                 0           2,890          75,140
 installation, and operational test      hour = 2,890.
 (26 Model 757 airplanes).
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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:


[[Page 58327]]


    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-2012-0987; Directorate Identifier 
2012-NM-130-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by November 5, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -
500 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-23-1302, dated August 
24, 2009; and Model 757-200 series airplanes, certificated in any 
category, as identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 
757-23-0107, Revision 1, dated May 16, 2012.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 23, Communications.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of damage caused by electrical 
arcing to the wires that connect seat electronics boxes. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent power from being supplied to passenger 
seats when the entertainment control switch is in the OFF position, 
which could cause an electrical shock hazard resulting in serious or 
fatal injury to maintenance personnel.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Installation of New Relay and Wiring Bundle Change

    Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD: Change the 
wire bundle route, and install a new relay and applicable wiring of 
the entertainment control switch, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the service information specified in 
paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, as applicable.
    (1) For Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes: Use 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-23-1302, dated August 
24, 2009.
    (2) For Model 757-200 series airplanes: Use Boeing Special 
Attention Service Bulletin 757-23-0107, Revision 1, dated May 16, 
2012.

(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

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Binh Tran, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6485; fax: 425-917-6590; email: 
[email protected].
    (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; 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 7, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-23150 Filed 9-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P