[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2090-2091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00842]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 11 / Friday, January 16, 2026 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 2090]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-5403; Project Identifier AD-2025-01167-T]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Proposed rule; correction.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is correcting a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
that was published in the Federal Register. The NPRM proposed to issue
an airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to certain The Boeing
Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series
airplanes. As published, the docket number referenced throughout the
NPRM is incorrect. This document corrects that error. In all other
respects, the original document remains the same; however, for clarity,
the FAA is publishing the entire proposed rule in the Federal Register.
DATES: The last date for submitting comments on the NPRM (91 FR 931,
January 9, 2026) remains February 23, 2026.
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 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.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-5403; 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 ``proposed rule; correction,'' the mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and
other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed
above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For Boeing material identified in this proposed 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; website myboeingfleet.com. It is
also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-5403.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raymond Vital, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-
231-3521; 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 using a method listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``FAA-2025-5403; Project
Identifier AD-2025-01167-T'' at the beginning of your comments. The
most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal,
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date
and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to
Raymond Vital, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA 98198; phone: 206-231-3521; email: [email protected].
Any commentary that the FAA receives that is not specifically
designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this
rulemaking.
Background
The FAA issued an NPRM (91 FR 931, January 9, 2026) that would
apply to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -
900, and -900ER series airplanes.
The NPRM proposed to require measuring the freeplay of the
horizontal stabilizer pivot hinges and the jackscrew, and applicable
on-condition actions. The NPRM was prompted by reports from multiple
operators of pitch oscillations events due to excessive horizontal
stabilizer freeplay. The FAA is proposing this AD to address excessive
horizontal stabilizer freeplay. The unsafe condition, if not addressed,
could lead to a flutter event, which can result in loss of control of
the airplane.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-55A1104 RB,
dated June 12, 2025. This material specifies procedures for measuring
freeplay of the left and right horizontal stabilizer pivot hinges and
the jackscrew to determine freeplay value, and applicable on-condition
actions. On-condition actions include determining total horizontal
stabilizer freeplay, repeating the freeplay measurement procedure of
the horizontal stabilizer pivot hinges and the jackscrew, and
[[Page 2091]]
replacement or repair of any worn parts. This material is reasonably
available because the interested parties have access to it through
their normal course of business or by the means identified in the
ADDRESSES section.
Need for the Correction
As published, the docket number referenced throughout the NPRM is
incorrect. The NPRM incorrectly references ``Docket No. FAA-2025-
0540.'' The correct docket number is ``Docket No. FAA-2025-5403.''
Although no other part of the preamble or regulatory information
has been corrected, for clarity the FAA is publishing the entire
proposed rule in the Federal Register.
The comment due date of the NPRM remains February 23, 2026.
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 [Corrected]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA-2025-5403; Project Identifier AD-
2025-01167-T.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by February 23, 2026.
(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 Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-
55A1104 RB, dated June 12, 2025.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 55, Stabilizers.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports from multiple operators of pitch
oscillations events due to excessive horizontal stabilizer freeplay.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address excessive horizontal
stabilizer freeplay. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could
lead to a flutter event, which can result in loss of control of the
airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Except as specified by paragraph (h) of this AD: At the
applicable times specified in the ``Compliance'' paragraph of Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-55A1104 RB, dated June 12, 2025, do
all applicable actions identified in, and in accordance with, the
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin
737-55A1104 RB, dated June 12, 2025.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for accomplishing the actions
required by this AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin
737-55A1104, dated June 12, 2025, which is referred to in Boeing
Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-55A1104 RB, dated June 12, 2025.
(h) Exception to Requirements Bulletin Specifications
Where the ``Effectivity'' paragraph and the Boeing Recommended
Compliance Time columns of the tables in the ``Compliance''
paragraph of Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-55A1104 RB,
dated June 12, 2025, refer to the original issue date of the
Requirements Bulletin 737-55A1104 RB, this AD requires using the
effective date of this AD.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety 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
responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the Continued Operational
Safety Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in
paragraph (j) of this AD. Information may be emailed to:
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector,
the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(2) 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, AIR-
520, Continued Operational Safety 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.
(j) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Raymond Vital,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA
98198; phone: 206-231-3521; email: [email protected].
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-55A1104 RB, dated
June 12, 2025.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For Boeing material 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; website myboeingfleet.com.
(4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St.,
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].
Issued on January 13, 2026.
Peter A. White,
Deputy Director, Integrated Certificate Management Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-00842 Filed 1-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P