[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 16, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3365-3367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00801]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1317; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-194-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 Airplanes Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, 
-400, -500, -600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report that the seat track attachment of 
body station 520 flexible joint is structurally deficient in resisting 
a 9g forward emergency load condition in certain seating 
configurations. This proposed AD would require replacing the pivot link 
assembly on certain seats, and modifying or replacing the seat track 
link assemblies on certain seats. Also, for certain airplanes, this 
proposed AD would require installing a new seat track link assembly. We 
are proposing this AD to prevent seat detachment in an emergency 
landing, which could cause injury to occupants of the passenger 
compartment and affect emergency egress.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 4, 2013.

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

[[Page 3366]]

review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 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: Sarah Piccola, Aerospace Engineer, 
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-
3356; phone: 425-917-6483; 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-2012-1317; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-194-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 that the seat track attachment of body station 
520 flexible joint is structurally deficient in resisting a 9g forward 
emergency load condition in certain seating configurations. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in seat detachment in an 
emergency landing and cause injury to occupants of the passenger 
compartment and affect emergency egress.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1244, Revision 5, dated 
July 27, 2011, for Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series 
airplanes. This service bulletin, among other things, describes 
procedures for installing new, improved pivot link assemblies.
    We have also reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 
737-53-1260, dated May 7, 2007, for Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -
400, and -500 series airplanes. This service bulletin describes 
procedures for modifying or replacing the seat track link assemblies.

Concurrent Service Bulletin

    Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1260, dated May 7, 
2007, specifies, for certain airplanes, prior or concurrent 
accomplishment of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1120, Revision 1, 
dated May 13, 1993, for modifying or installing new seat track link 
assemblies.

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 1,281 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                               U.S.
               Action                      Labor cost              Parts cost          Cost per product     airplanes        Cost on U.S. operators
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement or modification........  Up to 41 work-hours x   Up to $15,478........  Up to $18,963........        1,281  Up to $24,291,603.
                                      $85 per hour = $3,485.
Concurrent installation or           Up to 60 work-hours x   Up to $18,089........  Up to $23,189........          214  Up to $4,962,446.
 modification (Groups 1, 2, 4, and    $85 per hour = $5,100.
 5 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),

[[Page 3367]]

    (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

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):

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2012-1317; Directorate Identifier 
2011-NM-194-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by March 4, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) 
and (c)(2) of this AD certificated in any category.
    (1) The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, 
and -500 series airplanes, as identified in Boeing Special Attention 
Service Bulletin 737-53-1260, dated May 7, 2007.
    (2) The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -
900 series airplanes, as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-
53-1244, Revision 5, dated July 27, 2011.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that a Boeing study found that 
the seat track attachment of body station 520 flexible joint is 
structurally deficient in resisting a 9 g forward emergency load 
condition in certain seating configurations. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent seat detachment in an emergency landing, which could 
cause injury to occupants of the passenger compartment and affect 
emergency egress.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Repair or Replacement of Seat Track Link Assembly

    Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, do the 
actions specified in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, as 
applicable.
    (1) For Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series 
airplanes: Install new, improved pivot link assemblies, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service 
Bulletin 737-53-1244, Revision 5, dated July 27, 2011.
    (2) For Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series 
airplanes: Modify or replace, as applicable, the seat track link 
assembly, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1260, dated May 7, 
2007.

(h) Concurrent Actions

    For airplanes in Groups 1, 2, 4, and 5, as identified in Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1260, dated May 7, 2007: 
Before or concurrently with the accomplishment of the actions 
specified in paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, install a new seat track 
link assembly or modify the seat track link assembly, as applicable, 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service 
Bulletin 737-53-1120, Revision 1, dated May 13, 1993.

(i) 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.
    (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 The 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization 
(ODA) that 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Sarah Piccola, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, 
ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: 425-917-6483; 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, 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, WA. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 10, 2013.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-00801 Filed 1-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P