Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10350-10352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03610]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0831; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-125-AD; 
Amendment 39-17763; AD 2014-04-05]
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 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 
series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of chaffing, arcing, 
and burning damage to the control cabin overhead wiring and ducting 
with smoke and fire caused by metal clamps installed on certain hoses. 
This AD requires inspecting for the presence of metal clamps, replacing 
metal clamps installed on the hoses to the air conditioning temperature 
sensor, gasper air outlet, and diffuser on the left side of the control 
cabin with plastic tie straps, and inspecting for and repairing damaged 
wire bundles. We are issuing this AD to prevent damage to wire bundles, 
which could cause electrical arcing that could result in a fire or 
smoke in the control cabin of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective April 1, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 1, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: 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. You

[[Page 10351]]

may view this 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-
0831; 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 Docket 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: Marie Hogestad, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; 
phone: (425) 917-6418; fax: (425) 917-6590; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain The Boeing Company 
Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. The 
NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 26, 2013 (78 FR 
59304). The NPRM was prompted by reports of chaffing, arcing, and 
burning damage to the control cabin overhead wiring and ducting with 
smoke and fire caused by metal clamps installed on certain hoses. The 
NPRM proposed to require inspecting for the presence of metal clamps, 
replacing metal clamps installed on the hoses to the air conditioning 
temperature sensor, gasper air outlet, and diffuser on the left side of 
the control cabin with plastic tie straps, and inspecting for and 
repairing damaged wire bundles. We are issuing this AD to correct 
incorrectly installed metal clamps, which could cause wire bundle 
damage and electrical arcing that could result in a fire or smoke in 
the control cabin of the airplane.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal 
(78 FR 59304, September 26, 2013) and the FAA's response to that 
comment.

Statement of Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) Effect on 
Applicability

    Aviation Partners Boeing stated that the installation of winglets 
per STC ST01219SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgstc.nsf/0/BE866B732F6CF31086257B9700692796?OpenDocument&Highlight=st01219se) does 
not affect the accomplishment of the proposed requirements.
    We have re-designated paragraph (c) of the NPRM (78 FR 59304, 
September 26, 2013) as paragraph (c)(1) in this final rule and added 
new paragraph (c)(2) to this final rule to state that installation of 
STC ST01219SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgstc.nsf/0/BE866B732F6CF31086257B9700692796?OpenDocument&Highlight=st01219se) does 
not affect the ability to accomplish the actions required by this AD. 
Therefore, for airplanes on which STC ST01219SE is installed, a 
``change in product'' alternative method of compliance (AMOC) approval 
request is not necessary to comply with the requirements of 14 CFR 
39.17.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD with the change described previously and minor editorial 
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> [Agr]re consistent with the intent that was proposed in 
the NPRM (78 FR 59304, September 26, 2013) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (78 FR 59304, September 26, 2013).
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 426 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Cost on U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost         Parts cost      Cost per  product       operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection and Replacement........  2 work-hours x $85                 $0  $170 per replacement.         $72,420
                                     per hour = $170 per
                                     replacement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide 
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD. We 
have no way of determining the number of products that may need these 
actions.

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,

[[Page 10352]]

    (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):

2014-04-05 The Boeing Company: Amendment 39-17763 ; Docket No. FAA-
2013-0831; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-125-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective April 1, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    (1) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -
200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes, certificated in any 
category, as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-21-1186, 
dated April 17, 2012.
    (2) Installation of Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 
ST01219SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgstc.nsf/0/BE866B732F6CF31086257B9700692796?OpenDocument&Highlight=st01219se) 
does not affect the ability to accomplish the actions required by 
this AD. Therefore, for airplanes on which STC ST01219SE is 
installed, a ``change in product'' alternative method of compliance 
(AMOC) approval request is not necessary to comply with the 
requirements of 14 CFR 39.17.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 21, Air 
conditioning.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of chaffing, arcing, and burning 
damage to the control cabin overhead wiring and ducting with smoke 
and fire caused by metal clamps installed on certain hoses. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent damage to wire bundles, which could cause 
electrical arcing that could result in a fire or smoke in the 
control cabin of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection, Replacement, and Repair

    For airplanes identified in Groups 1 and 2 in Boeing Service 
Bulletin 737-21-1186, dated April 17, 2012: Within 60 months after 
the effective date of this AD, do the actions in (g)(1) and (g)(2) 
of this AD.
    (1) Do a general visual inspection to determine if any metal 
clamp is installed on the hoses to the air conditioning temperature 
sensor, gasper air outlet, and diffuser on the left side of the 
control cabin at station (STA) 259.5, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-21-1186, 
dated April 17, 2012. If any metal clamp is found installed, before 
further flight, replace each metal clamp with a plastic tie strap, 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service 
Bulletin 737-21-1186, dated April 17, 2012.
    (2) Do a general visual inspection for damage to the adjacent 
wire bundles and repair any damaged wire bundles, in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 737-21-
1186, dated April 17, 2012. Do all applicable repairs before further 
flight.

(h) Inspection, Replacement, and Repair

    For airplanes identified in Group 3 in Boeing Service Bulletin 
737-21-1186, dated April 17, 2012: Within 60 months after the 
effective date of this AD, replace any metal clamp installed on the 
hoses to the air conditioning temperature sensor, gasper air outlet, 
and diffuser on the left side of the control cabin at STA 259.5, and 
inspect adjacent wire bundles and repair any damage, before further 
flight, using a method approved in accordance with the procedures 
specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.

(i) Parts Installation Prohibition

    For all airplanes: As of the effective date of this AD, no 
person may install a metal clamp on the hoses to the air 
conditioning temperature sensor, gasper air outlet, and the diffuser 
on the left side of the control cabin at STA 259.5.

(j) 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 paragraph (k) 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 the approval must 
specifically refer to this AD.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Marie Hogestad, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
WA 98057-3356; phone: (425) 917-6418; fax: (425) 917-6590; email: 
[email protected].

(l) 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 Service Bulletin 737-21-1186, dated April 17, 2012.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (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, WA. 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 February 10, 2014.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-03610 Filed 2-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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