Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 13 (Friday, January 18, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4055-4057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00563]


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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; 
Amendment 39-17317; AD 2013-01-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
The Boeing Company Model 737-300, 737-400, 737-500, and 757-200 series 
airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of damage caused by 
electrical arcing to the wires that connect seat electronics boxes 
(SEBs). This AD requires installing a new relay and doing certain 
wiring changes of the entertainment control switch. 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.

DATES: This AD is effective February 22, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of February 22, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: 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

[[Page 4056]]

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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

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:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 20, 2012 (77 
FR 58325). That NPRM proposed to require installing a new relay and 
doing certain wiring changes of the entertainment control switch if 
necessary.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the proposal 
(77 FR 58325, September 20, 2012) and the FAA's response to each 
comment. Boeing concurred with the contents of the NPRM. American 
Airlines stated that it understands the basis for the proposed AD and 
that it does not operate any of the airplanes having serial numbers 
identified in the NPRM.

Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) Winglet Comment

    Aviation Partners Boeing stated that the installation of winglets 
per STC ST01518SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgSTC.nsf/Frameset?OpenPage) does not affect accomplishment of 
the proposed requirements.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the AD as proposed--except for minor editorial changes. We have 
determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (77 FR 58325, September 20, 2012) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (77 FR 58325, September 20, 2012).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 28 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this 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           1,190           1,190
 installation, and operational test      hour = $1,190.
 (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).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    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),
    (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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2013-01-03 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17317; Docket No.

[[Page 4057]]

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

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective February 22, 2013.

(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

    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].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-23-1302, dated 
August 24, 2009.
    (ii) Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-23-0107, 
Revision 1, dated May 16, 2012.
    (3) 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.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 4, 2013.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-00563 Filed 1-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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