[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 46 (Monday, March 9, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13581-13583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04660]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0107; Product Identifier 2019-NM-205-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: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2019-03-06, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-300, 
-400, and -500 series airplanes. AD 2019-03-06 requires installing 
lanyard assemblies to the passenger service units (PSUs) and, for 
certain airplanes, on the life vest panels. Since AD 2019-03-06 was 
issued, the FAA has determined that additional actions are necessary 
for five airplanes. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of 
AD 2019-03-06 and require installation of lanyard assemblies to the 
life vest panels on those five airplanes. The FAA is proposing this AD 
to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 23, 
2020.

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 https://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 NPRM, contact Boeing 
Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services (C&DS), 
2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-5600; 
telephone 562-797-1717; internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may 
view this service information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 
2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also 
available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0107.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0107; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Craig, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin 
Safety and Environmental Systems Section, FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 
South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3566; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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-2020-0107; 
Product Identifier 2019-NM-205-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because of those comments.
    The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. 
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The FAA issued AD 2019-03-06, Amendment 39-19558 (84 FR 5587, 
February 22, 2019) (``AD 2019-03-06''), for certain Boeing Model 737-
300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. AD 2019-03-06 requires installing 
lanyard assemblies to the PSUs and, for certain airplanes, to the life 
vest panels. AD 2019-03-06 was prompted by a report indicating that the 
PSUs became separated from their attachments during several survivable 
accident sequences. The FAA issued AD 2019-03-06 to address the 
potential for a PSU to detach and fall into the cabin, which could lead 
to passenger injuries and impede egress during an evacuation.

Actions Since AD 2019-03-06 Was Issued

    Since AD 2019-03-06 was issued, the FAA made a determination, based 
on additional information provided by Boeing, that lanyard assemblies 
must also be installed to the life vest panels on additional airplanes. 
That action was not specified for these additional airplanes in 
previous service information or required by AD 2019-03-06.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-25-
1728, Revision 1, dated November 26, 2019. The service information 
describes procedures for installing lanyard assemblies to the PSUs and 
life vest panels, as applicable to the airplane group.
    This proposed AD would also require Boeing Requirements Bulletin 
737-25-1758 RB, dated November 8, 2017, which the Director of the 
Federal Register approved for incorporation by reference as of March 
29, 2019 (84 FR 5587, February 22, 2019).
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal

[[Page 13582]]

course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is proposing this AD because the agency 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 retain all requirements of AD 2019-03-06. 
This proposed AD would also require installation of lanyard assemblies 
to the life vest panels on certain airplanes. Therefore, this proposed 
AD would require accomplishment of the actions identified as ``RC'' 
(required for compliance) in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-25-1728, Revision 1, dated 
November 26, 2019, and the actions identified in the Boeing 
Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1758 RB, dated November 8, 2017, described 
previously, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the 
regulatory text of this proposed AD.
    For information on the procedures and compliance times, see this 
service information at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0107.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 221 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The new actions in this proposed AD apply to only 5 
airplanes, none of which is registered in the U.S. The FAA estimates 
the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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                                                                                  Cost per      Cost on U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost            Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lanyard assembly installation.....  Up to 124 work-hours   Up to $11,000.......    $21,540  Up to $4,760,340.
                                     x $85 per hour = Up
                                     to $10,540.
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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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA has 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 that the proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2019-03-06, Amendment 39-19558 (84 FR 5587, February 22, 2019), and 
adding the following new AD:

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2020-0107; Product Identifier 
2019-NM-205-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by April 23, 
2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2019-03-06, Amendment 39-19558 (84 FR 5587, 
February 22, 2019) (``AD 2019-03-06'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -
500 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in 
the service information specified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of 
this AD.
    (1) Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-25-1728, 
Revision 1, dated November 26, 2019.
    (2) Boeing Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1758 RB, dated November 
8, 2017.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 25, Equipment/
furnishings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report indicating that the passenger 
service units (PSUs) became separated from their attachments during 
several survivable accident sequences. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the potential for the PSU to detach and fall into the cabin, 
which could lead to passenger injuries and impede egress during an 
evacuation.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For airplanes identified in Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 737-25-1728, Revision 1, dated November 26, 2019: At the 
applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E., ``Compliance,'' of 
Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-25-1728, Revision 1, 
dated November 26, 2019, do all applicable actions identified as 
``RC'' (required for compliance) in, and in accordance with, the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service 
Bulletin 737-25-1728, Revision 1, dated November 26, 2019.
    (2) For airplanes identified in Boeing Requirements Bulletin 
737-25-1758 RB, dated November 8, 2017: Except as required by 
paragraph (h) of this AD, at the applicable times specified in the 
``Compliance''

[[Page 13583]]

paragraph of Boeing Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1758 RB, dated 
November 8, 2017, do all applicable actions identified in, and in 
accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1758 RB, dated November 8, 2017.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g)(2):  Guidance for accomplishing the 
actions required by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD can be found in 
Boeing Service Bulletin 737-25-1758, dated November 8, 2017, which 
is referred to in Boeing Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1758 RB, dated 
November 8, 2017.

(h) Exception to Service Information Specifications

    Where Boeing Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1758 RB, dated 
November 8, 2017, uses the phrase ``the original issue date of the 
Requirements Bulletin (RB),'' this AD requires using March 29, 2019 
(the effective date of AD 2019-03-06).

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, if those actions were performed before 
the effective date of this AD using Boeing Service Bulletin 737-25-
1728, dated October 10, 2016.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle ACO Branch, 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 certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (k)(1) 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, modification, or alteration required by this AD 
if it is approved by The Boeing Company Organization Designation 
Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Seattle 
ACO Branch, FAA, to make those findings. To be approved, the repair 
method, modification deviation, or alteration deviation must meet 
the certification basis of the airplane, and the approval must 
specifically refer to this AD.
    (4) For service information that contains steps that are labeled 
as Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraphs 
(j)(4)(i) and (ii) of this AD apply.
    (i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step 
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply 
with the AD. If a step or substep is labeled ``RC Exempt,'' then the 
RC requirement is removed from that step or substep. An AMOC is 
required for any deviations to RC steps, including substeps and 
identified figures.
    (ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted 
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection 
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC 
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done 
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy 
condition.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Scott Craig, 
Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Section, 
FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 
phone and fax: 206-231-3566; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data Services 
(C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110-SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740-
5600; telephone 562-797-1717; internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th 
St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.

    Issued on March 1, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-04660 Filed 3-6-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P