Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6663-6665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1152]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20354; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-166-AD; 
Amendment 39-14476; AD 2006-03-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -
300, -400, and -500 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series 
airplanes. This AD requires an inspection for chafing of certain wire 
bundles located above the center fuel tank, corrective actions if 
necessary, and replacement of wire bundle clamps with new clamps. This 
AD also requires an inspection for damage to the fuel vapor barrier 
area located below the wire bundles, and corrective action if 
necessary. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent chafed wire bundles 
near the center fuel tank, which could cause electrical arcing through 
the tank wall and ignition of fuel vapor in the fuel tank, and result 
in a fuel tank explosion.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 16, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of March 16, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, 
room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207, for service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Binh Tran, Aerospace Engineer, Systems 
and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone 
(425) 917-6485; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in person at the Docket Management Facility office between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket 
Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the 
plaza level of the Nassif Building at the street address stated in the 
ADDRESSES section.

[[Page 6664]]

Discussion

    The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to all Boeing 
Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. That 
supplemental NPRM was published in the Federal Register on December 1, 
2005 (70 FR 72083). That supplemental NPRM proposed to require an 
inspection for chafing of certain wire bundles located above the center 
fuel tank, corrective actions if necessary, and replacement of wire 
bundle clamps with new clamps. That supplemental NPRM also proposed to 
require an inspection for damage to the fuel vapor barrier area located 
below the wire bundles and, corrective action if necessary.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment received. The 
commenter supports the supplemental NPRM.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD as proposed in the supplemental NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 2,871 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                 Number of
                                                          Average                                    Cost per      U.S.-
                  Action                   Work  hours   labor rate              Parts               airplane    registered           Fleet cost
                                                          per hour                                               airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection...............................            2          $65  None........................         $130        1,042  $135,460.
Replacement of wire bundle clamps and                5          $65  $688 or $1,245 depending on     $1,013 or        1,042  Between $1,055,546 and
 installation of protective sleeve                                    applicable kit.                   $1,570                $1,635,940.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES 
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-03-12 Boeing: Amendment 39-14476. Docket No. FAA-2005-20354; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-166-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective March 16, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -
300, -400, and -500 series airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the 
manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent chafed wire bundles 
near the center fuel tank, which could cause electrical arcing 
through the tank wall and ignition of fuel vapor in the fuel tank, 
and result in a fuel tank explosion.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Inspection of Wire Bundles and Fuel Vapor Barrier and Corrective 
Actions

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD: Do a 
detailed inspection for chafing of the wire bundles located below 
the passenger compartment, above the center fuel tank, aft of 
station 540 to approximately station 663.75, right buttock line 
(RBL) and left buttock line (LBL) 24.50; do a detailed inspection 
for damage to the fuel vapor barrier area located below the wire 
bundles, as applicable; and do any applicable corrective actions; by 
accomplishing all of the applicable actions specified in the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-28-1208, 
Revision 1, dated August 25, 2005. Any corrective actions must be 
done before further flight.


[[Page 6665]]


    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''

Adjustment/Replacement of Wire Bundle Clamps and Installation of 
Protective Sleeve

    (g) After performing the actions required by paragraph (f) of 
this AD: Before further flight, adjust and replace, as applicable, 
the wire bundle clamps located aft of station 540; and install a 
protective sleeve on the upper bundle of the bundle run at station 
616, RBL and LBL 24.50; by accomplishing all of the applicable 
actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 
Service Bulletin 737-28-1208, Revision 1, dated August 25, 2005.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Boeing Service Bulletin 737-28-1208, Revision 
1, dated August 25, 2005, to perform the actions that are required 
by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this 
document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
Contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-2207, for a copy of this service information. You 
may review copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif 
Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call 
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 30, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-1152 Filed 2-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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